Talking Birds‘ Podcasts

Nestival of Ideas Ep. 7 - Fair Pay - Balancing Creativity and Wage Labour

Panel discussion with Mandip Seehra, freelance photographer & part of the panel convened to draw up Fair Pay Principles for Coventry during 2021; Charlotte Jones, CEO of Independent Theatre Council (ITC), and Duncan Whitley, freelance artist & part of team that drafted “Creating the Conditions for Creation“. Chaired by Philippa Cross, Talking Birds. Held at The Nest, Coventry, 15th November 2024

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Nestival of Ideas Ep. 6 Rest: Necessity, Resistance or Privilege?

Rest: Necessity, Resistance or Privilege? – a panel discussion exploring the notion of Rest as Resistance, but also considering the complexity of choice (and who has, or is able to exercise, it) in relation to rest. The panel: Sym Mendez, Samantha Holley-Horseman and Jaz Morrison, chaired by Janet Vaughan. Held at the Nest, Coventry 17th May 2024.

 

Nestival of Ideas Ep. 5 Inside or Out? Where’s the best place to instigate change?

All sorts of people make change in all types of ways, and for all kinds of reasons, but if you want to change something, is it better to work from the inside or the outside?

 

In this panel discussion we explore the relative merits and challenges of making change from a position inside or outside of an organisation or system; how the circumstances and environment might affect how an individual might approach making change and how successful they might be; and whether particular people might be best suited to one method or another.

 

In the latest of our Nestival of Ideas conversations, we unpick some of this with the help of our brilliant panel, which includes: Ola Animashawun, Laura Nyahuye and Hardish Virk. Chaired by Janet Vaughan, Co-Artistic Director of Talking Birds.

 

 

Ola Animashawun is a National Theatre Associate and Connections Dramaturg and the co-founder and Creative Director of the playwriting consultancy, Euphoric Ink. Ola is also a former Associate Director of the Royal Court Theatre.

 

Laura Nyahuye is a multi-disciplinary artist, storyteller, designer/maker, writer, curator, performer, changemaker and advocate. Challenging societal perceptions affecting minoritised groups, her work seeks to find the common thread that connect humans from all backgrounds and create a culture of solidarity and coexistence.

 

Hardish Virk has worked in the arts and cultural sectors since the 1980s as a DJ, actor, director, producer and author. The main focus of his work over the last 25 years has been on advising artists, arts companies and cultural institutions on organisational and audience development – specifically around access and equality.

Nestival of Ideas Ep. 4 War & Peace - can civic society make a difference?

When conflict strikes, ordinary citizens are often the first to suffer the consequences, and will continue to live with the legacy of war well beyond the conclusion of hostilities. Reflecting on recent and current events, our expert panel will explore the role of citizens acting both individually and collectively to repair damaged communities and rebuild international bonds.

Panel: the Very Reverend John Witcombe, Dean of Coventry Cathedral; Laura Payne from the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations at Coventry University; and artist and activist Dr Seyedeh Naseriniaki, founder of Chrysalis Craft; chaired by Talking Birds' Co-Artistic Director Derek Nisbet.

Nestival of Ideas Ep. 3 My Place, My Art. The joys and pains of artist-led spaces

We unpick some of the myths and practicalities of artist-led spaces with the help of our brilliant panel: Sandra Hall from Friction Arts based at The Edge in Birmingham, Julia Negus from Theatre Absolute and the Shop Front Theatre in Coventry, Amahra Spence from Maia Group and Yard Art House in Birmingham, and Jon Wakeman from East Street Arts and the Art Hostel in Leeds.

My Place, My Art: the joys and pains of artist-led spaces

Until the creation of The Nest, our shared making space, Talking Birds was – like many arts organisations – peripatetic: taking up temporary residence to make work in meanwhile spaces, and often moving from place to place – in unheated, damp offices or lodging with friends.

With this conversation, we want to explore the different routes artists have taken to inhabit or create spaces in which to make work – a place to belong – whether these are squats, meanwhile spaces, shared with arts or non-arts organisations, legitimate rentals or purchases.

What are the different motivations for creating artist-led spaces/why do we do it? Are artists naturally drawn to collective working? Is it about power in numbers, making a new commons, sharing resources? Is the drive to create these kinds of spaces unique to artists, or just the art version of an essential human characteristic? What part does chance, hunch and gentrification play in the spaces artists inhabit or build? What is it about spaces shaped by and for artists that sets them apart? Do artist-led spaces have clear characteristics in common, or is each space as unique as the artist(s) that created it? What are the different ways that these spaces can be financed? What are the pros and cons of different methods? Do these kinds of spaces have a shelf-life? How do they evolve when the founders move on? And what is it about the nesting instinct (sorry) that is so strong for artists anyway?

Nestival of Ideas Ep. 2 - Green Revolution or Greenwashing

Nestival of Ideas talk/panel discussion held at The Nest 16th Sept 2022

Green Revolution or Greenwashing? Can artists really change the world?

With the Climate Emergency having truly (finally) hit the mainstream, this panel discussion seeks to explore the impact art and artists can actually have on changing behaviour and combating the climate emergency. We’ve long been told that the arts are the best tool for awareness raising – but is this enough? When awareness is raised, how is action galvanised? Where do the arts go next?

There’s a growing interest in making ‘green’ work, and increased funding available – but what are the funders’ motivations, and expectations? How do we spot virtue signalling or avoid our projects being derailed by others’ agendas? Many supposedly green projects are not made in a sustainable way, or are blatant greenwashing – and of course the arts are not alone in this – but what are the ethics here? If such a project succeeds in creating positive change, does that make it ok? Is anything that slows the handcart allowed, or must artists making green projects that seek to change people’s behaviour be beyond reproach?

We’re interested in untangling some of this, and provoking a lively discussion which will give people lots to think about afterwards (and hopefully lead to some lasting behaviour change!).

On the panel:

Farah Ahmed, Climate Justice Lead and Events Coordinator at Julie’s Bicycle; Amanda Roberts, Independent Producer, formerly Green Futures lead at Coventry 2021; and Mish Weaver, Artistic Director and originator of Parade of Horribles. The discussion will be chaired by Janet Vaughan, Co-Artistic Director of Talking Birds.

Nestival of Ideas Ep. 1 - Artist Manifestos

Nestival of Ideas talk/panel discussion held at The Nest 18th March 2022

Words Into Actions: Can artist-led manifestos create real change?

Artists create manifestos as artworks, tools, provocations, rallying points, handbooks.... 

Just how effective are manifestos at creating change? And what can we do to make them more effective? 

What does a manifesto look like and what happens when it is finished? How do we galvanise people behind a manifesto? What are some of the barriers to change, and can artist-led manifestos creatively overcome these? 

Are artist-led manifestos any more or less effective than other kinds of manifestos (or action)? Are manifestos something that artists in particular are drawn to? 

How do we use manifestos to keep momentum and can we achieve real change through manifestos alone, or are they more effective as part of a suite of actions? 

How do we use the manifesto to keep actively pushing at things even when they drop off the news agenda? How do we avoid empty words, good intentions or virtue signalling?

The panel includes Elizabeth Lawal, whose work includes More Than A Moment Pledge for action with and for Black creatives; Dan Thompson, who most recently pulled together the Coventry Artists' Manifesto for Access; and Derek Nisbet, composer, film-maker and Co-Artistic Director of Talking Birds, talking about The Virtual Fringe (2004). Chaired by Philippa Cross, General Manager of Talking Birds.

Words and Music Recorded (BBC R3) live in Coventry (extract)

Music by Derek Nisbet; Lyrics by Liz Mytton (Scir Burna; Grandma's Song) and Peter Cann (I Dream of Flying). Performed by Amy Kakoura (vox), Simon Chalk (fiddle, BVs), Derek Nisbet (piano).

Into The (Russian) Ice

New Orkestrion created & played by Slava Mishin; Piano composed & played by Derek Nisbet

Into The Ice

Composed and played by Derek Nisbet