This has been an explosive summer—markets in turmoil, cities in flames, politics in meltdown. So it’s a relief to enjoy and learn from an explosion of a different sort—the explosion of creativity taking place this August in Edinburgh, Scotland, at the renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The festival, a one-time icon of artistic rebellion, is now the largest arts gathering in the world. It is also an entertaining case study in the power of grassroots innovation and open-source creativity—a positive symbol of how unchecked human energy, shaped by a few simple rules, can unleash truly amazing results.
Here’s my take on how “The Fringe Beats the Mainstream,” on my HBR blog.
