How about diving into Geneva’s socio-cultural scene? I am excited to tell you about Association Octopode. It is a non-profit organization. A group of friends founded it on January 11 2011. They wanted to organize music events in Geneva. The association promotes the canton’s socio-cultural life through music and performing arts. It also values volunteer work.
Association Octopode has several goals. It organizes music and performance events. It encourages socio-cultural and intergenerational action. It promotes skill sharing and values volunteering. The association facilitates access to culture through free events. It supports emerging artists. It connects young people with performing arts professionals. This is done through internships. Octopode provides volunteers with enriching experiences. It also transmits skills within its staff.
The association organizes several events. These include Dubquake in July 2010 and Estivales in September 2011. The Octopode Festival took place from August 2012 to 2022. Association Octopode also hosts an iPod Battle at the Makhno. It organizes concert nights at Undertown and the Terreau. You can also find them at Groove and Meyrin-les-Bains.
In 2022 the Commune de Meyrin provided the association with premises. Besides associative spaces a rehearsal room was set up. It allows music groups to rehearse in good conditions. Association Octopode supports local bands in their administrative procedures.
Sadly due to a lack of financial support the Octopode Festival ended in 2024. The association decided to rename itself after the festival. This stopped the confusion between Sub-Session and the Octopode Festival.
The Octopode Festival was a free event. It took place at the end of summer in Geneva from 2012 to 2022. The organizing committee was 100% volunteer-based. It was supported by the Octocrew and the Commune de Meyrin.
The Octopode Festival featured local and international artists. It showcased diverse musical styles. Offering free quality concerts by local and international artists was a key goal. The festival prioritized local partnerships. Beverages food trucks and mandated companies were all from Romandy. This supported ecology. The festival used dry toilets no disposable products and reusable cups. Festivalgoers could respect the environment.
Octopode is entirely organized by volunteers. Since 2011 the association has worked for Geneva’s socio-cultural life. Its members are mainly young people aged 20 to 30. The committee is mixed with both women and men. They come from diverse professional backgrounds. Octopode aims to organize music and performance events. It offers culture for all. It ensures knowledge transfer through volunteering. These goals are achieved through the Octopode project.
The committee of Association Octopode has seven members. Its strength lies in the cultural and professional diversity of its active members. The committee includes professionals like social workers teachers IT specialists sound engineers sociologists and midwives. They have training in IT literature psychology sociology technical fields and social work. Each member brings their skills and contributes to a common goal. The current board members are Gregory Trolliet Sarah Günther and Sophie Leclère. Other committee members include Baptiste Paracchini Caroline Camen Lucie Censier and Manuel Tiercy.
The association is proud to present an abyssal rock night. This event will feature bands benefiting from its rehearsal space. Split Minded Naufrage Automobile Club and Beau Diable will perform. This promises to be a wild and fiery evening.