Festival of Debate: Autumn Season Beginning This Month

Thank you to everyone who came down to the Festival of Debate spring season in March, April and May, which was coordinated by Opus Independents, the social enterprise behind Now Then. We were once again overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and depth of engagement shown by audiences at all events. We have so much to say as a city and we hope the festival can go some way towards reflecting this. We are back for another season, running from September to November, with plenty of events scheduled in with the help of local partners. As ever, while we don’t claim to be representative of all issues or viewpoints, we hope you find something of interest in the autumn season programme. We believe that, through the process of talking things over and exploring new approaches, we can work towards informed consensus and hope for the future. We’ve picked out a few September and October events here, but grab a copy of the brochure around town or go online for the full 42-event programme, alongside ticket links. Most events are free, but please sign up on the relevant Eventbrite links via the website, so we’ve got an idea of attendance. BETWEEN THE EXTREMES: NICK CLEGG Fri 16 Sep | 6pm | Pennine Lecture Theatre | £8/£6 Part of Off The Shelf Festival of Words Sheffield MP Nick Clegg, now Lib Dem spokesman on the EU, gives a frank account of his experiences of politics, power and defeat. Part memoir, part road-map, Clegg argues our future will rely more than ever on collaboration, compromise and cooperation. PECHAKUCHA SHEFFIELD VOL#22: ‘TOGETHER’ Wed 21 Sep | 7-11pm | 92 Burton Road | £6/£9/MOTD A fun evening of 20x20 challenge talks, short films and live performance exploring the show’s theme. We’re told of endless divisions, of imaginary lines on maps, of ‘our differences’, but a truth once cherished still shines through. We’re all in this together. It’s one big ship and we can steer it on to the right course. YES TO CO-OPERATION, EQUALITY AND INDIVIDUAL CREATIVITY Fri 23 Sep | 7:30-9:30pm | Freeman College | Free (donations) Dr John Carlisle, former visiting professor at Sheffield Business School, puts forward these principles as workable alternatives to the malign neoliberal practices of monetising and commodifying everything in the public and private realms. SPEAK UP ON CLIMATE CHANGE Sat 1 Oct | 12:30-5pm | Quaker Meeting House | Free In association with Sheffield Climate Alliance Come and join us for training, inspiration and to plan creative lobbying, then get involved in putting it all into practice. Speakers and workshop leaders including Paul Blomfield MP, Hope For The Future, Youth Climate Champions and Christian Aid. Sessions led by and for young people, but all are welcome. LINDA KAUCHER Thu 6 Oct | 6:30pm | Quaker Meeting House | Free With a broad educationalist background and 16 years of focusing on the EU’s trade agreements, Linda Kaucher works to raise public awareness of the dangers inherent in these deals and to oppose them. Of concern now are EU deals in which the UK is still a key player, with continuing liabilities after Brexit, plus new deals that the government is set to negotiate. THE GLOBAL VOTE Tue 11 Oct | 5pm | Star House | Free In association with Good Country The Global Vote lets anyone anywhere vote in any election. It’s the beginning of a more connected, more accountable, more caring world. This session is a unique opportunity to discuss the Global Vote and the Good Country movement with its founder, Simon Anholt. HUGH FEARNLEY-WHITTINGSTALL Wed 12 Oct | 7pm | Pennine Lecture Theatre | £8/£6 Part of Off The Shelf Festival of Words Writer, broadcaster and campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall talks about his new book, The River Cottage A-Z, an authoritative and glorious collection of more than 350 ingredients and 350 recipes, as well as some of the issues raised in his timely and important BBC series, Hugh’s War on Waste. BREXIT: SHEFFIELD DIVIDED, WHAT NOW? Thu 13 Oct | 7pm | St Mary’s Church | Free In association with Process Work Sheffield The Brexit vote was a shock to some and great news for others. Sheffield voted 51% ‘leave’, but most neighbourhoods were either strongly leave or remain. As the dust settles, the city is no less divided. What now? What are our aspirations and our fears? This facilitated event provides an opportunity to talk and explore together, welcoming all views and contributions, hoping to understand who we are and what matters to us. festivalofdebate.com | @FestOfDebate )