eavesdropping symposium: season 2

symposium /sɪmˈpəʊzɪəm/ n.

1. A conference or meeting to discuss a particular subject.

2. A drinking party or convivial discussion, especially as held in ancient Greece after a banquet.

The eavesdropping season culminates in a weekend-long symposium which will be an opportunity for local and visiting artists alike to reflect together on 'creative activism: radical responses within new music'. The symposium is designed to be open, inclusive and positive in its approach to this theme: the programme will feature a broad variety of papers, presentations, performances and discussions reflecting the diversity of issues and responses within the international new music scene. Keynote speakers Sarah Nicolls, Laura Bowler and Marlo De Lara will be offering thoughts on, respectively, ‘The Musical Activist’, ‘Composing a Response to the Climate Crisis’ and ‘Sonic Acts of Resistance’, and special guest Cathy Eastburn will be filling the chapel with the therapeutic resonances of a gong bath focusing on reconnection. The programme will also feature several discussions and a selection of shorter contributions, gathered through a ‘Call for Papers’ (to be published on 5 December 2019).

GENERAL INFORMATION

The whole weekend takes place in the little wooden chapel up in the eaves of Oxford House in Bethnal Green (see other info).

TICKETS

All are welcome!

Full-price weekend admission: £40 (NB excludes final event in the series on Friday night.

Concession weekend admission (full-time undergraduate students, under 18s, participants): £25.

Ticket price includes access to the full weekend of symposium events and all food and drink listed in the programme of events.

No single-day tickets are available — this is to encourage participation in the whole weekend.

BOOKING — NOT YET OPEN

Tickets for the symposium can be reserved by email. For the moment, reservations are limited to two tickets. Capacity is limited (to c.45) so advance booking is strongly recommended.

FOOD

As the Ancients knew, good food and drink is crucial to proceedings. We are taking this element seriously: there will be hearty fare to inspire body and mind. Morning coffee will be provided upon arrival both days, as will a hot vegetarian lunch and afternoon tea.

ACCOMMODATION

If you need help with accommodation, please let us know. No promises, but we will do our best to help. (If you live in London and fancy hosting a visitor, do drop us a line!)

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

• The main purpose of the eavesdropping symposium is to foster community and fruitful debate.
• The symposium is open to individuals of all gender identities and gender expressions.
• The theme is intentionally open-ended and potentially sensitive: the idea is to expose the dominant issues, explore common ground and begin to imagine how we might shape our community for the better. 
• We are all responsible for creating an atmosphere that is supportive and engaged. All contributions that are offered in the spirit of positive engagement are most welcome.