CounterPlay is a tribute to and an exploration of the many ways, in which a more playful approach can help us live better lives. We focus on the excitement, intense engagement and rich experiences of people involved in all kinds of playful experiences. This sparks an investigation of how play can be transformative, change our thinking, push our boundaries and lead us places, we never imagined CounterPlay is an international NGO, festival & community aiming to make the world more playful. We want to support and inspire anybody who (ought to) think about the potential role of play in their life and work. Games, play & being playful are means of cultural, societal, educational and commercial development and transformations as well as sources of joy. In a complex world of constant change and uncertainty, play is a way to cope, navigate, create and exist. We dream of a world in which the importance of playfulness is recognised, nurtured and considered our finest treasure. We also wish to be a part of creating that world. CounterPlay aims to grow a playful community & foster playful attitudes. Together we explore the meaning & role of play across domains, while challenging who can play where, how & with what purpose. CounterPlay inspires and embraces playfulness anywhere in society and specifically investigates the domains of “Playful Living”, “Playful Learning” and “Playful Working”. CounterPlay started as a festival, and is now also established as an NGO to host and support playful activities throughout the year. We still organise the festival, which consists of many different formats and activities, so you can always go listen to inspiring speakers from around the world, engage in active workshops or visit our playground with lots of playful stuff to try out. We also like to mix things up, experimenting with new formats, while always trying to increase the level of interactivity. We are here to promote a positive & playful culture, that is inclusive, welcoming and supports diversity. We do this by being honest, reliable and transparent, and by constantly listening and engaging in respectful conversations. CounterPlay is a framework for playful activities, and it’s open to be shaped by anybody who care. We’re an NGO with a small team, an executive committee and an international community. We’re working to become a financially sustainable non-profit, able to cover necessary expenses and secure the ongoing life of the festival, while supporting similarly playful activities. This is CounterPlay
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