Past Events

Doors open: 7pm. Show starts: 7.30pm

Many of us would like to think that we're not prejudiced. Not racist, sexist, culturalist, agist, disablist or any other kind of "ist". But most social scientists would agree this simply isn't the case and there are cunning methods like the Implicit Association Tests to prove it. Indeed, prejudice in its literal sense - to pre-judge - is a natural and unavoidable part of being human, and an efficient mechanism for many situations. Without pre-judging we would, for example, have to double-check that every object that looked like a chair really was a chair before we attempted to sit on it. Given all this, how do we best manage the ugly side of prejudice?

Panellists and entertainment to be confirmed.

Doors open: 7pm. Show starts: 7.30pm

Most of us in the modern Western world spend a remarkably small amount of time thinking about food other than what we fancy eating and, perhaps, how it effects our personal health. This wasn't always so, and still isn't in many parts of the world where religions and cultures celebrate various aspects of food and agriculture due to its undeniable importance - we can't live without it. In this Café we explore issues such as world hunger, food miles, food aid, food security and fair trade.

And we'll be chowing down on some great food too.

Panellists and entertainment to be confirmed.

Ticket price: £12 if booked online in advance, £15 on the door (including a delicious and wholesome hot meal).

At the last minute, we've been asked by Zero Carbon Bristol to hold a Café of Ideas on the topic of "Green Leadership in Bristol". On the panel we have Paul Rainger (Head of Sustainable Bristol City-Region Programme at Forum for the Future), David Saunders (Zero Carbon Bristol), Darren Hall (Green Capital Partnership Manager) and Thomas Quero (Sustainable Development Manager for Nantes - winners of the European Green Capital award 2013).

This evening event complements a conference during the day that Café of Ideas is also co-producing. Delicious hot food will be provided by Zazu's Kitchen. Entertainment from singer/songwriter Dirk Landish.

Does the current capitalist system work pretty well, all things considered? Was the recent economic meltdown the sign of a system that's fundamentally had it's day, or was it just a temporary blip and we can now get back to business as usual? Or could we create a new social order that's more responsible, just and humane and that better supports human flourishing?

"If you think money can't buy happiness, you don't know where to shop."

Anon

We all want happiness, of course. And yet, after thousands of years of culture - of philosophy, of religion, of science - we still don't seem to have much idea how to get it. So what really does make a human being happy? And how can we organise our lives and our society for optimal happiness?

With Chris Johnstone, Jewels Wingfield, Liz Zeidler and Miriam Akhtar on the panel, the The Blood Choir and Light Box performing.

Political power. Personal power. Economic power. Sexual power. Spiritual power. What's behind our desire for it? Who has it? Who wants it? Who needs it?
 

Is it true that "power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely"?

Political power. Personal power. Economic power. Sexual power. Spiritual power. What's behind our desire for it? Who has it? Who wants it? Who needs it?
 

Is it true that "power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely"?

Story underpins human existence. Although there have been great societies throughout history that did not use the wheel, there have been no societies that did not tell stories.

This event brought together an eclectic group of panellists from various disciplines including the narrative arts, business and psychology.

Story underpins human existence. Although there have been great societies throughout history that did not use the wheel, there have been no societies that did not tell stories.

This event will bring together an eclectic group of panellists from various disciplines including the narrative arts, business and psychology.

Though there is and always will be risk, Western society right now is safer for its citizens than its ever been. So what are people so afraid of? Are there political and market drivers that keep us needlessly afraid? Of the "terrorist"? Of a less-than-perfect body? And how different might things be if we were only afraid of the truly fearful?

"What are fears but voices airy? Whispering harm where harm is not. And deluding the unwary. Till the fatal bolt is shot!"
Wordsworth

To achieve results in any field of endeavour, I must have a clear vision. But vision alone is not enough. Unless I also take action, and enrol others to do so, all I have is a dream. So what are the key characteristics of a strong vision and/or an enrolling visionary leader?

"The dreamer has a vision but cannot act. The puppet acts but has no vision. The player moves the world."
Er, Me

Most of us seek some outlet through which to express ourselves creatively - we seek to draw, paint, movie-make, sing, play, write, act, build, garden, digitise, invent, postulate, transform, scientise, entrepreneurise and such like. What do we get out of this? What drives us?

On the panel we had Kathy Hinde (technically innovative installation artist), Molly van der Weij (Dutch professional visual artist who applies her skills to visualising future scenarios), Gareth L Powell (acclaimed science fiction writer from the West Country) and Clive de Carle (retired businessman who now focuses in researching practial solutions to the world's current crises).

On the panel we Dr. Sue Tate (feminist art historian), Wolfgang "Wolf" Kettler (erotic portrait photographer) and Spencer Maybe (songwriter and burlesque striptease artist). Performing we had the Bath Spa String Quartet, Kitty Kane (burlesque striptease artist) and Spencer Maybe (aforementioned).

On the panel we had Keith Bradley (senior partner in Feilden Clegg Bradley architects, 2008 Stirling Prize winners), Rhodri Samuel (Regeneration Manager for BANES Council), Gitte Dawson (chief "King Bladdud's Pigs" organiser) and Francis Moran (area coordinator for Bath Greenpeace). On top of them (not literally) we had great songs, juggling, unicycling and lovely food.

On the panel we had Matthew Graham (co-creator of Life on Mars and Bonekickers), scriptwriter and film director Max Newsom and Gavin Maxwell, Producer and Director of two of the programmes in the BBC2 documentary series "Wild China". The evening featured music by local experimental duo "The Blood Choir", a screening of "The Making of Bonekickers", a teaser trailer for Max's new film "Loved Up", great food and relaxed socialising.