Full programme revealed for Bristol's first Big Tent Ideas Festival

Full programme revealed for Bristol's first Big Tent Ideas Festival

Posted on: 24 May 2022

A packed lineup features input from prominent politicians, business people, artists and key representatives of Bristol's cultural sector.

 

The Big Tent Ideas Festival is set to make its Bristol debut next month, combining political debate with art, entrepreneurship and more as part of an all-day event on Saturday 11 June.

 

Taking place on Queen Square, the festival will showcase a forward-thinking lineup of hosts and guest speakers, including government ministers, members of the shadow cabinet, UN representatives, social media executives and charity leaders.

 

The Big Tent is a charitable foundation set up to create space for non-partisan conversation about policy issues, giving a voice to places and people often left out of the conversation or overlooked.

 

Tickets for their first-ever Bristol festival are still available in limited numbers - find out more and get yours here.

 

 

Organised to catalyse and curate new conversations around real, transformational and lasting renewal and regeneration, the Big Tent movement is dedicated to making a difference. 

 

At its core, the project aims to take an active role in new conversations and shine a light on the approaches and leaders required to refresh our political discourse.

 

Bristol's inaugural Big Tent Ideas Festival will see a handful of current and former ministers get involved in a broad range of debates and conversations.

 

Science, Research and Innovation Minister George Freeman MP, Shadow Leader of the Commons Thangam Debbonaire MP, and Lib Dem Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Layla Moran MP all appear on the programme, as well as Chief Executive of the UN's Refugee Agency, Emma Cherniavsky.

 

The festival is themed around four key areas: net zero, achieving equality, better public services and new media.

 

Topics on the agenda cover everything from the climate crisis and big data to ownership of culture and the arts, politics and business, digital poverty, community development, culture as a driver for change, and much more.

 

Attendees are encouraged to challenge leading politicians - including a selection of Bristol-based policymakers alongside those listed above - and shape the discussion.

 

With a focus on constructive, non-partisan conversation, ticketholders can tell George Freeman what businesses really need to thrive, ask Thangam Debbonaire how policy can be more inclusive, or discuss responses the Ukraine conflict with Layla Moran.

 

 

Alongside the debates programme, attendees can enjoy a Community Fayre, Dragon's Den-style pitching competition, live art showcases and more.

 

Speaking on the recent launch of the festival programme, Radix Big Tent CEO Ben Rich said: “We are thrilled with the level of our speakers and the range of topics we will be covering this year.

 

“You can go from a discussion on how we could solve the housing crisis to whether climate change can be fixed by new technology or how the education system should be transformed.

 

“There really is something for everyone – and I urge all to check out the programme and start planning their day now!”

 

A comprehensive programme for Bristol's Big Tent Ideas Festival, taking place on Saturday 11 June, can be found here.

 

Tickets for the festival are still available in limited numbers. Find out more and get yours here, or find Big Tent Ideas Festival on Twitter to follow news and updates.

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Article by:

Matt Robson

 

Editor - 365Bristol.com & LOUD Magazine
 

Matt is a Journalism graduate and writer, passionate about supporting Bristol music, art and independent business. Get in touch via email at matt@365bristol.com.