Talking Birds‘ Podcasts

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

Danse Macabre

Composed and played by Derek Nisbet

Resilience & Remembering Installation Extract

Part of piece created for Coventry Moves as part of Coventry 2021, a multi-speaker installation in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral.

Montague‘s Song Listen Along

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.