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Mission
The Bristol Festival of Ideas aims to stimulate people’s minds and passions with an inspiring programme of discussion and debate throughout the year.
Background
Established in 2005, the Bristol Festival of Ideas emerged out of Bristol’s bid to be Capital of Culture in 2008. Although this was not successful in terms of winning the bid, the partners behind the project made the commitment to deliver as much of the programme as possible. By 2008 much of the programme had been delivered.
The Bristol Festival of Ideas is an initiative of Bristol Creative Projects - BCP - (formerly Bristol Cultural Development Partnership): Arts Council England, Bristol City Council and GWE BusinessWest.
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It brings together many of the cultural organisations in the city along with universities and others (the responsibility for the programme is BCP’s alone). It seeks to provide an annual festival of debate and discussion in May with special events through the year. Overall, it is keen to link arts and sciences, as much of BCP work does. It does not shy away from controversial issues and speakers and seeks to engage widely in the city. The festival has adopted a freedom of speech policy to show our commitment to debate and discussion, which can be viewed here.
The Festival of Ideas is one of several projects run by BCP. Others include the formation and management in the early stages of At-Bristol; Brief and Animated Encounters Festivals; Digital Arts Development Agency; South West Arts Marketing; Brunel 200; the Bristol Great Reading Adventure. Coming up are such projects as Darwin 200 in 2009, and BAC 100 in 2010 which will celebrate 100 years of aerospace production in the West of England.
Future
As well as bringing the best speakers to Bristol, the festival has a number of themes annually. For 2009 the festival will be focussing on three key themes: 30 years of Thatcherism; Darwin and Darwinism; and Arts and Science 50 years after C P Snow’s ‘Two Cultures’ lecture. For 2010 it will be looking at science and technology.
Feedback
We are always keen to hear from those who have attended events and welcome suggestions for speakers and subjects for future sessions. Please submit any comments, suggestions or ideas to: ideas@gwebusinesswest.co.uk or contact us here. Alternatively, you can write to us at the following address:
Bristol Festival of Ideas
Bristol Creative Projects
Leigh Court, Abbots Leigh, Bristol BS8 3RA