Bristol Transformed

Arts and culture are the lifeblood of a healthy society. How can we not only ensure their survival during austerity, but organise to build for the future? This panel will bring a wide variety of artists, educators, practitioners and venue operators together to discuss the past, present and future in Bristol and beyond.

Chair: Annie McGann. Panel: Melissa Chemam, Dave Randall, Viki Browne, Soweto Kinch

What lessons can we learn from socialism's struggles and solutions across the globe? This panel will examine international movements and consider the ways in which we can stand in solidarity with our comrades abroad, while also using their tactics of resistance here at home.

Chair: Marcus Barnett. Panel: Susannah O'Sullivan, Sasha Josette, Nina Franklin, Alia Malak.

Bristol has played a particularly central role within the history of British Empire and racism from Bristol's growth and enrichment fueled by the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, to the Bristol Bus Boycott and the St Paul's riots. Racism continues today - as evidenced through police harassment, anti-immigrant attitudes and legislation, the Windrush deportations, Islamophobia, Anti-Semitism and the rise of fascism - and we are still discussing the status of Winston Churchill in history and removing slave-trader Colston's name in Bristol. Our panel will discuss the consequences of Empire and explore ideas of how we dismantle the structural racism found in our institutions and communities.

Chair: Edson Burton, Panel: Sado Jirde, Ras Judah, Madge Dresser, Sasha Josette, Dalia Gebrial

In recent years many have been calling the prevailing Neoliberal order of politics and economics into question. We were told by the people in charge that this was the most efficient and equitable way to organise a successful society and economy, but we are surrounded by evidence that this isn't so and people are increasingly challenging this narrative. This panel will explore alternatives based on local democratic control, worker owned cooperatives and decommodification.

Chair: Hettie O'Brien, Panel: Dr Julian Manley, Cat Hobbs (We Own It), Frankie Langeland, Ben Moss (Bristol wood recycling project) and Noah Tucker (Haringey council)

We judge our economy not be the presence of billionaires but by the absence of poverty." -Jeremy Corbyn

This panel will explore how the challenge of neoliberal capitalism can be overcome with an effective socialist economy that looks toward the future of work.

Chair: Harriet Bradley. Panel: Aaron Bastani (Novara, FALC), Grace Blakeley (IPPR, New Statesman), Susan Newman (UWE), Maud Perrier (University of Bristol), Will Stronge (Autonomy)

How do we transform Bristol's housing to create more affordable and sustainable communities for all our residents - rather than for the profit of private landlords and developers?
Chair: Zoe Goodman, Panel: Sasha Sadjady, Ben Beach, Owen Hatherley, Paul Smith, Oona Goldsworthy

How can the left craft its own story in a media landscape dominated by Billionaire Media Barons? It will explore how to build our own media institutions which we can use push for a true consensus around socialist ideas. It will also look at how we create our own narratives within a mainstream media that is systemically stacked against us by playing them at their own game.

Chair: Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley (Ujima Radio). Panel: Dawn Foster, Matt Turner (Evolve Politics), Steve Howell (Comms advisor to Corbyn GE2017 and Aurhor) and Alon Aviram (The Bristol Cable)

How do we approach the drastic changes that are required to mitigate climate change and the destruction of the natural planet in the short time span left to us? How do we do this without putting the onus on individuals or the global south whilst corporations go on unfettered? How do we create structural changes that allow participatory, sustainable futures which improve the wellbeing of everyone and can be embraced by trade unions?
Chair: Rob Wotherspoon, Panel: Chris Saltmarsh, James Meadway, Kerry McCarthy MP, Skeena Rathor, Sakina Sheikh

There is currently a 8% real terms cut in school funding and cuts to FE, and expected cuts to universities this year. With reduced local accountability, and years of cuts to pay and conditions for staff, this panel will be discussing these issues, how we can fightback in Bristol & South Glos, and campaigns that have worked elsewhere.

Chair: George Angus, Panel: Dani Wijesinghe (Early Years Practitioner), Leo Nikolaidis (Bristol NEU teacher), Ollie Turnbull, Amelia Horgan and Nina Franklin.