Future City: Bristol Ideas

Bristol Ideas celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, we’ll be looking at the findings of a major research project conducted with Bennett Institute, Cambridge that looks at the impact of Bristol Ideas and its work over the last 30 years.

Bristol Ideas is 30 years old in 2023. In that time, the organisation – owned and managed by Bristol City Council, Business West, University of Bristol and University of the West of England – has been responsible for opening and launching At Bristol (now We The Curious) and supporting the cultural renewal of Harbourside, and has worked on projects including Encounters festival, Bristol 2008 Capital of Culture Bid, Brunel 200, the 2010 Year of Aerospace: BAC100, Bristol 2014, Chatterton and Poetry, Film 2021 and 10 Great Reading Adventures. It has also run 18 years of the Festival of Ideas, five Festivals of the Future City, 12 Festivals of Economics, and has published 30 books and contributed to mini film festivals, theatre productions, exhibitions and activities in communities across the city.

How do you measure the impact of Bristol Ideas? What has it achieved over three decades? And – critically – how is it renewing itself for the future as it faces major challenges? This session looks at the findings of two major research projects undertaken by Andrew Kelly – Director of Bristol Ideas 1993-2023 – about culture and cities: social capital and culture for Bennett Institute, University of Cambridge and culture and inclusive growth for the Inclusive Growth Network, Centre for Progressive Policy. The session will also see the launch of the new Bristol Ideas programme for 2023-2025.

Tickets are free.

We have restricted the number of tickets that can be booked to two per transaction to limit the number of ‘no shows’ and ensure as many people as possible can attend.

There will be a returns queue on the day and any empty seats will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis a few minutes before the start of the event.

Events start punctually and, out of consideration to other audience members and speakers, our policy is not to admit latecomers. Full Terms and Conditions here.

Accessibility

• Watershed’s main entrance and Box Office are both on the ground floor which is accessible via a ramped, electronically assisted entrance door.
• There are two Blue Badge parking spaces to the rear of Watershed on Canons Road.
• Guide dogs and hearing dogs are very welcome.
• The first floor of Watershed is accessible via lift from the main entrance and includes level access to all areas, including the cinemas and event spaces.
• The cinemas and event spaces have induction loops.
• There is an accessible toilet (with baby changing facilities) near Cinema 1. Follow the signs for the Cinemas and the accessible toilet is just on your left through the double doors before Cinema 1.
• There are gender neutral toilets in the cinema corridor on the first floor.

for more information.

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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Watershed, 1 Canon's Road, Bristol, United Kingdom