Episodes

Friday Nov 18, 2022
Friday Nov 18, 2022
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?

Friday Sep 16, 2022
Nestival of Ideas Ep. 2 - Green Revolution or Greenwashing
Friday Sep 16, 2022
Friday Sep 16, 2022
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.

Thursday Mar 24, 2022
Nestival of Ideas Ep. 1 - Artist Manifestos
Thursday Mar 24, 2022
Thursday Mar 24, 2022
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.

Monday Feb 21, 2022
Words and Music Recorded (BBC R3) live in Coventry (extract)
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Monday Feb 21, 2022
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).

Thursday Jan 20, 2022
Into The (Russian) Ice
Thursday Jan 20, 2022
Thursday Jan 20, 2022
New Orkestrion created & played by Slava Mishin; Piano composed & played by Derek Nisbet

Thursday Jan 20, 2022

Thursday Jan 20, 2022

Monday Sep 20, 2021
Resilience & Remembering Installation Extract
Monday Sep 20, 2021
Monday Sep 20, 2021
Part of piece created for Coventry Moves as part of Coventry 2021, a multi-speaker installation in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral.

Friday Sep 03, 2021
Montague‘s Song Listen Along
Friday Sep 03, 2021
Friday Sep 03, 2021
To mark the 105th anniversary of the loss of Coventry Violinist Montague Johnson at the Somme.
Words: Chris O'Connell
Music: Derek Nisbet
Singer: Elinor Middleton
Producer / Textile Artist: Julia Negus
Sound: Bungle
You can see Montague's medal on display with Julia's stitched cushion in the War Memorial Park visitor centre.

Friday Aug 01, 2014
A Conversation with Ickworth : Researching Ickworth and the First World War
Friday Aug 01, 2014
Friday Aug 01, 2014
Our
first trial of the "Conversation with Ickworth" panel idea, the topic was ‘Researching Ickworth and the
First World War.’ Our panel comprised of Peter McGee, the volunteer who led this research
stream, Iris Taylor,
who also volunteers in the research team and Chloe Woodrow, Assistant House Manager. The Chair was Graham
Parker, an ‘Exemplar
Champion’ volunteer who has trialled the other ‘people phase’ concepts as well
as being a member of the research team.
Panel:
Peter McGee, Volunteer
Researcher
Iris Taylor, Volunteer Researcher
Chloe Woodrow, Assistant House Manager
Chair:
Graham Parker
Engineer:
Jonathan Blackford
Recorded at Ickworth House, Suffolk on 26.7.14
This panel discussion was convened as part of Ickworth's Exemplar
Project, and is one of the 6 ideas put together by Talking Birds as part
of the project. It is designed to disseminate the work of the volunteer
research team at Ickworth.