Initiative Forum is a destination. Many have come from lands outside Sweden to share in a meeting of ways. We (YIP9) have come on a different journey, one of planning kitchen schedules, picking up contributors and painting signs.

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However we’ve travelled, we find ourselves now all together, for some a familiar comfort, for others something exciting and fresh; but we are all leaving our usual boundaries behind us to explore new borders.

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After opening the forum in spectacular style with local dance company Medmänniskor, we introduced ourselves and the topic of Initiative Forum 2017: Beyond Borders.

Formalities preceded the hustle and bustle of meal practicalities: food serving, discussions over a hot plate of dahl, camaraderie in cleaning – where the real meeting and magic of a gathering happens. 

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In the between times, little circles of old and new friends peppered the lawns outside Kulturhuset as the sun set, and explosive energy of a new football match could be heard across the grounds. 

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Finally, with a cinnamon bun from the Night Cafe in hand, it was time to close the day with music. The YIP family’s very own Manik led an explorative group singing session, which blended then into groovy evening jamming full of prog-rock guitars, tribal vocals and drums and just the right amount of easy shaker holding the rhythm together, spearheaded by SOMA AGE .

 

Closing the evening, Pablo sweeping, sometimes surreal, always funky beats wedded with psychedelic lights on the traditional wooden stage, giving a new feeling to music fusion.

Initiative Forum: Beyond Borders has begun.

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