Genesis Foundation announces Genesis Conversations
7 September 2022
New series of debates with cultural leaders and emerging artists launches this month
The Genesis Foundation launches its new series of conversations, in partnership with the Barbican, Bristol Old Vic and the Greater London Authority.
Genesis Conversations gather cultural leaders around a key issue of the cultural world today and match established well-known figures with emerging talent and mid-career artists. The Genesis Conversations are free events, and those who aren’t able to attend in person can either watch the live-stream or a playback on the Genesis Foundation channels.
The new series of Genesis Conversations will start on 21 September (6.30pm) at the Barbican Centre with a debate on NETWORKS: this first conversation will explore the power of creative networks, both from the perspective of those helping to foster new connections, and those artists working within new networks to open doors and create new pathways to success.
Chaired by Will Gompertz, Artistic Director of the Barbican, the panel for NETWORKS will include Sue Emmas, Associate Artistic Director Young Vic, and Creators Programme lead; Jack Gamble, Theatre Director and Founder of the Public Campaign for the Arts; Pip Jamieson, Founder & CEO of The Dots, Jamie Njoku Goodwin, CEO of UK Music; Shanice Mears, Co-founder and Head of Talent, Elephant Room and Audrey Solvar, Founder of Black Creators Matter.
John Studzinski, Founder and Chairman of the Genesis Foundation, said:
“The Genesis Foundation is delighted to present its new series of Genesis Conversations. Drawing on our exceptional network of talented artists and visionary art leaders, these talks are intended as free resources of the highest quality for artists to thrive in an increasingly tough industry. Providing healthy debates on key issues of our time, an exchange of ideas and practices from emerging artists as well as established, well-known figures, the Genesis Conversations aim to equip audiences with a new perspective and hopefully useful advice to take their practice forward. Who better to chair the first in this new series of Cultural Conversations at the Barbican Centre than Will Gompertz. We have admired Will’s astonishing career for a long time and greatly value his pioneering work to open up the arts to the widest public firstly at Tate, then at the BBC and now with the Barbican.”
Will Gompertz, Artistic Director of the Barbican, said:
“We’re really excited to be part of the next edition of Genesis Conversations. Some of the most significant cultural moments of our time have been made possible due to the power of creative collaborations and networks. This series of discussions feels particularly relevant at a time when our individual resources are limited, and we require better knowledge exchange and new pathways to create value and opportunities for artists and audiences.”
The Genesis Foundation previously sponsored six Cultural Conversations in 2020 and 2021, hosted by William Russell at the Mansion House when he was Lord Mayor of the City of London. Originally conceived as live events, they continued throughout the Covid-19 crisis and were held online enabling audience participation via chat and video. The panel discussions gathered leaders and artists who included Sir Nicholas Serota, Kwame Kwei-Armah, Sharon Ament, Ayanna Witter-Johnson, Lemn Sissay, Dame Julia Payton-Jones CBE and many more. Leading arts journalists including Kirsty Lang and Farah Nayeri chaired debates about Cultural Technology and Innovation, Philanthropy, Youth and Access, the Economic impact of the Creative industries.
Further talks in this new series of Genesis Conversations will be held in 2022 and 2023 at Bristol Old Vic (15 November 2022) and at the Headquarters of the Greater London Authority (2023). Themes, Chairs and Panellists will be announced soon: follow the Genesis Foundation channels for more information.
