New Bristol festival Forwards will debut its first-ever talks programme featuring voices from across the city.
Forwards is set to bring together prominent names, from campaigners, creatives, music industry names and more, in eight panel discussions, along with a music line-up including legendary headliners The Chemical Brothers and Jamie XX .
On Saturday (Sept 3), Bristol-based environmental campaigners and agency Enviral will share its change-making campaigns for leading industry clients such as Greenpeace and Surfers Against Sewage to discuss why creatives are crucial in shining a light on the climate crisis today.
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Also on Saturday, Izzy Cross, director of Noods Levels, and previously of NOODS Radio , will host a panel on breaking the class-ceiling in the music industry featuring music, portrait and documentary photographer Khali Ackford and vocalist Dread MC.
Bristol Drugs Project will take to the stage for a panel on the modern way to treat drugs, while founder of the volunteer-run festival of socialist politics, arts, and culture Bristol Transformed Isaac Kneebone-Hopkins will lead a talk on why' you can’t just change yourself, you have to change the world'.
On Sunday (Sept 4), Caring in Bristol, which works with people who are undergoing, or at risk of, homelessness will be join forces with Bristol’s housing activists to debate ‘is solving Bristol’s housing crisis even possible?’, in the midst of rising homeless numbers in the city. Black Excellence’s Harvey Watt will head the discussion about the organisation alongside Kaden Gardener, Bandyt and Dawn Limbu.
Sex industry rights campaigner Amélie will be joined by Euella Jackson from Rising Arts and Jess Herman, founder of the Sexual Health Circus to lead a discussion on making Bristol a sex-positive city , pleasure activism in practice and sex workers rights.
And Team Love’s Big Team CIC will run a discussion into how music festivals can be a force for change, by inviting leading event organisers to take to the stage to reflect on future developments.
The 'Information' area will be Forwards' space dedicated to activism, discussion and examination. This new programme will be dedicated to Bristolian voices and collectives who will join urgent conversations already announced led by renowned British thinkers such as author Lemn Sissay, food campaigner Jack Monroe, former England footballer John Barnes MBE and writer Shon Faye.
Information programmer Antonia Cross said: “Bristol is packed with strong voices who are all agents for change leading the way both nationally and internationally with ideas for the future. This is why we are so proud to be launching Forwards with and in Bristol, kickstarting a new breed of festivals that leaves a real legacy for the city.
“Local names are key to this and it’s a pleasure to give them a national platform at one of our biggest festivals to date. We want people to come together to have an epic time and leave Forwards feeling inspired to push for change for themselves and our community.”
For more information on the talks, visit the festival’s website here .
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