The Mingle Point, a great experience of experiences, is a space exclusively created for the Mingle project within the International Festival of Nations held in Santander.
The Mingle Point, a tent installed at the festival for a month (08/09/2019 – 09/09/2019), was a space for integration and understanding between cultures and for the development of various exchange activities and creation of personal networks (objectives of the Mingling Experiences).
During the time that tha Mingle Point was active, 3 exhibitions (Mediusmundi and Red Cross) and 8 Mingling Experiences were held. In addition to the 132 participants in the various activities carried out, a large audience was able to enjoy the exhibitions and receive information about the Mingle project.
The development of the Mingle Point required collaboration and agreement between different institutions and organisations (Santurban and Santander City Council, Documenta, the organisation in charge of the Festival of Nations, organisations that work in the field of integration, migratory processes and defense of human rights). In this way, the creation of this space brought together the work of different entities and the media who collaborated in the dissemination and knowledge of the project and the Mingle Point.
Aim of the best practice:
The aim of the Mingle Point was the creation of a space for the development of different Mingling Experiences and a reference point for integration within the festival.
Objectives of the best practice:
The objectives of the Mingle Point were to become a space for cultural knowledge, exchange, learning and enjoyment for the different people who attended the Festival (around 300,000 visits to the festival site were registered).
The development of the different Mingling Experiences was a success of participation and dissemination thanks its integrating and intercultural character.
For the implementation of the Mingle Point, an agreement and joint work was necessary between different organisations, especially between the Santander City Council through Santurban, the organisation responsible for the Festival of Nations and Documenta.
In addition, the different organisations that participated in the Mingling Experiences were fundamental actors for the Mingle Point to become a reference for integration and interculturality within the festival (Red Cross, Medicusmundi, Intermon Oxfam, Alouda and CIMA).
Min: 10
Max: Unlimited
The Mingle Point and the entire infrastructure that the space has for integration, needs a minimum of fifteen days for the creation and start-up work to have an impact and can be developed in the right conditions.
For the start-up and development of the Mingle Point, it is necessary to have a series of resources:
Humans: staff who carry out the activities (Mingling Experiences) that are developed; staff who guard the space and the materials that are inside; staff in charge of installation and commissioning; staff to inform and invite attendees to participate in the various activities.
Materials: those necessary to carry out the exhibitions; furniture (tables, chairs); projector, screen and computer.
Infrastructures: large tent.
The Mingle Point is one of the activities developed within the Mingle project that has many strengths, since due to its infrastructure, situation and activities that took place in it, it became for a month a benchmark within the Festival of Nations of integration, knowledge and interculturality.
In addition, thanks to the dissemination of the activities carried out, the exhibitions and the festival itself, the Mingle Point managed to reach a large audience through different formats of communication and media.
Another strong point to highlight is the involvement of various organisations that work with the immigrant population or on issues related to social justice and human rights in the actions that were carried out, complementing and enhancing the Mingle Point.
Finally, the support received from different local authorities helped to promote and enhance the Mingle Point.
The Mingle Point is a best practice with some complexity, due to the infrastructure and resources it requires. In addition, it is important to note that for its implementation and development agreements and allies are needed, among which are public institutions, local entities and different organisations.
The support of different key actors in the society where it takes place is needed, as well as a dissemination and communication plan that helps to publicize the space and the activities carried out in it.
For the creation of a space such as Mingle Point, it is necessary to make previous agreements for its creation, especially with local entities and with those that develop festivals or fairs related to interculturality.
In addition, you must collaborate with organisations or associations that have attractive exhibits to bring the Mingle Point tent to life.
Finally, it is necessary that the activities carried out in this space are aimed at integration, cultural understanding, respect for human rights and issues that promote these values.