TCCE: Inside Out Festival 2014 unveils first line up

The Culture Capital Exchange is pleased to announce the first tranche of events to form part of this year’s Inside Out Festival. Returning this October with a characteristically sagacious and diverse mix of debates, performances, walks, talks, symposiums, screenings, and exhibitions, the Inside Out Festival 2014 in association with The Times Higher Education, invites the curious and inquisitive to immerse themselves in a rich cultural programme inspired by the work of London’s leading minds, each seeking to inspire, provoke, engage and entertain.

International political theorist Richard Ned Lebow will be in discussion with Professor of Psychology Emanuele Castano analyzing why nation states refuse to learn the lessons of history and continue to instigate violent conflict when, since 1945, almost 90% have failed, yet all unfailingly cause atrocities, death and destruction. The discussion will be chaired by Lawrence Freedman.

Dr Emily Butterworth from King’s College London will invite visitors to Somerset House to take part in a mass game of Chinese whispers in a contemporary and playful exploration of gossip and rumour in the French Renaissance, Professor of Computer Science and masquerading magician Peter McOwan reveals what mathematics can teach us about magic, and a pile of dumped electrical objects are reimagined in a statement about the perils of electronic waste.

Tate artist and specialist in learning Michelle Furier will debate with experts from London College of Communication, artsdepot and AgeUK on whether silver surfing really is the solution for social isolation.

Other highlights include the premiere of 72-82 made by celebrated artist and filmmaker Prof. William Raban, from London College of Communication, an illuminating documentary charting the history of the first ten years of the legendary Acme Studios. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with sculptor and former Acme resident, Richard Wilson. Conductor, singer and presenter Peter Knapp, who trains musicians at Trinity Laban, leads the audience on a riotous romp through the world of opera, funny stories, a company of dazzling singers and orchestra, and the chance for the audience to join in with some rousing opera choruses.

Choreographer Angela Woodhouse and sculptor Nathaniel Rackowe collaborate in an intimate performance installation, which embeds the artists and audience within it. Texts from some of the nineteenth century’s most compelling writers, Dickens, Poe and Stephenson are brought to life as Dr. Nadia Valman walks people through the streets of Soho evoking the spirit of Victorian London, using projection to display their words on the urban locations that inspired them as the sun went down and gas lamps illuminated the night.

With 800,000 people in the UK living with dementia, an exhibition and accompanying guide by research designer Dr Anke Jakob and occupational therapist Dr Lesley Collier brings new insight into how improved, thoughtful design can add value and meaning to multisensory environments for older people with dementia and their carers.

Further events include a daring and immersive performance by The Ossian Ensemble, made up of members of London’s major orchestras and formed at the Royal Academy of Music, which will see the audience led through Queen Mary University of London’s hallowed halls,a celebration of 50 years of illustration, a short series of half-day, agenda-setting and exploratory long table discussions on the subject of performance art criticism, and renowned self-published author Polly Courtney will be taking part in a lively debate and practical guide on how to sell your book online chaired by Emily Pedder, Course Director The Novel Studio, City University London.

Suzie Leighton, Director, The Culture Capital Exchange, says, “We are delighted to announce the first tranche of speakers and events which will form part of this year’s Inside Out Festival. This is our fifth year and we are really looking forward to shining a light on the remarkable work of our member universities. It is incredibly stimulating to work with such a wide variety of academics, artists, performers and speakers and to celebrate and share the vast contribution they make to the cultural and intellectual life of the capital.”

The Inside Out Festival is taking place from 20-26 October 2014

www.insideoutfestival.org.uk