Sat 26 August 2023
5:00 pm, North Wing Auditorium

Public debate Live

“How does self-censorship work for a writer?”
with Réka Borda, Bianca Bellová, Ferenc Czinki, Marina Warner
Moderator: Daljit Nagra

At a time of rising tension between the freedom of the artist and counter voices across Britain and Europe, writers from Hungary, Czech Republic and United Kingdom discuss the extent to which writers are limited in their creative expression. What responsibilities writers must consider while being aware that freedom of expression is becoming a politicised activity at a time of increasing nationalism.

Sat 26 August 2023
8:00 pm, The Griffin Bar

„Not so Black and White“ Talk with Kenan Malik Live

Kenan Malik’s latest book, “Not So Black and White”, is a history of ideas of race and identity. His main areas of interest are the history of ideas, political and moral philosophy, and the history and sociology of race and immigration.

Sat 26 August 2023
8:30 pm, The Griffin Bar

Café Climate with Cécile Wajsbrot Live

“Café Climate” is an open space format designed to encourage discussions and exchanges about the climate crisis and emergency. We sit all of us in small groups as in a café to exchange upon 1) Climate change and democracy 2) Climate change, culture and art 3) Climate change and impact upon our lives, our responsibility.
We would each time be: 1) pointing to facts 2) reflecting about issues 3) paving the way for solutions

Sun 27 August 2023
11:30 am, Upstairs Meeting Room

Workshop with Bhanu Kapil Live

“And what would you say if you could?” 

In this workshop, we will engage this question as part of a proprioceptive writing practice that will include reflection on art making itself as a place or site of liberation. Come with a notebook or device to write with. Writers from all genres are welcome.

Sun 27 August 2023
11:30 am, Drawing Room

Workshop with Bianca Bellová Live

“Conversation with my inexperienced self” 

What would I as an experienced author tell my younger inexperienced self? What matters the most, what are the shortcuts and what should I avoid when writing? 

Sun 27 August 2023
2:00 pm, Upstairs Meeting Room

Workshop with Mariah Whelan Live

“Writing eco-poetry”

Bringing together the themes of sustainability and free speech, in two interlinked workshops we will explore how to write eco-poetry. Not simply ‘nature poetry’, eco-poetry investigates the relationship between nature, culture and language. How do we write poems that are interested in nature in its own right? Is it okay to write poems that speak on behalf of the natural world? How can we centre the natural environment within our poetry?

Sun 27 August 2023
2:00 pm, Drawing Room

Workshop with Annelies Verbeke Live

”Looking at yourself”

Annelies Verbeke’s literature experiments with content and form. She likes to bring together different perspectives, and explores that of the outsider. She loves short story collections, going against the commercial demands of the market. For her novel “Thirty days” she chose a male main character of Senegalese origin, and her play “There we go again (white male privilege)” was set up as a zoo humain for white people. She is part of a writers’ collective that is concerned about how even widely acclaimed female writers tend to lose their status when the history of literature is written. A talk about touching the subjects of racism and sexism, looking at yourself, and why it’s liberating to write from an animal perspective every now and then.

Sun 27 August 2023
4.00 – 5.30 pm, North Wing Auditorium             

Public debate Live

„Who has the right to speak? Whose voice is heard?”
with Annelies Verbeke, Kenan Malik, Cécile Wajsbrot, Moderator: David Whitley

At a time of rising tension between the freedom of the artist and counter voices across Britain and Europe, this panel discuss the extent to which writers are limited in their creative expression. What responsibilities writers must consider while being aware that freedom of expression is becoming an increasingly politicised activity at a time of increasing extremism.