Department: Imagination

Urban Hosts is a programme of events, which provokes and promotes practices and approaches to how we live in and govern cities. The programme brings together people who are actively producing alternatives to our existing city infrastructures, norms, and perceptions.

This year marks the 10th anniversary, which has taken place in Berlin, since 2013 and Bristol, since 2016. Bringing together practitioners from across both cities, this edition focuses on designing mass participative actions for urban, social and environmental change. Drawing on approaches from media art, civic tech, theatre making and climate action, invited guests give a short 10-min presentation about their work.

With presentations intentionally kept short, the aim of Urban Hosts is to generate conversations between and among guests. The purpose of which is to explore what it means to host and regularly rehearse, conversations that scaffold, the co-creation of collective, equitable urban futures.

Agenda & Guests:

• 18.30: Doors Open & Poster Exhibtion, BA Graphic Design Students
• 19.00: Welcome Teresa Dillon
• 19.10 Markus Bader [DE]. Co-founder of the architecture group raumlabor‘s Markus Bader, connects thinking on contemporary urban praxis with learnings from the groups role in co-designing large-scale civic projects.
• 19.20 Marcus Smith [UK]. Bridging location based storytelling, with more inclusive urban visions, broadcaster and media producer Marcus Smith, discusses accessible technology, listening and community histories.
• 19.30 George Lovesmith [UK]. Reimagining buildings use, architect and educator, George Lovesmith shares insights from processes developed through his working practice.
• 19.40: Open discussion. Moderation Teresa Dillon.
• 20.30: Drinks and Music by Rhys Ostler-Watts.
• 21.30: Close

Poster Exhibtion:

As part of the 10th anniversary programme in Bristol, we connected the key locations in which Urban Hosts takes place, Bristol and Berlin through a residency programme. Inviting practitioners whose work sits across design, art and media practice, scholarship, public discourse and education. From the 16-20th Oct, film maker, broadcaster and co-founder of Tactical Technology, Marek Tuszynski joined us. With Markus Bader our second resident (28th Nov-1st Dec). Showcasing the outcomes of Marek Tuszynski and Teresa Dillon’s workshop with third year, BA Graphic Design Students at UWE on digital society and the city. Outcomes of this two-day workshop will be exhibited as part of the evenings programme.

Support and Thanks:

This edition of Urban Hosts will take place at Bristol’s new art and culture venue, Sparks. With support from Goethe Institute, London, Digital Culture Research Centre and School of Art and Design, University of the West of England.

A welcoming space where fears & uncertainties about the climate & ecological crisis can be safely expressed.

What is a Climate Cafe?

A Climate Cafe is a supportive group space where people can come together to share their feelings about the climate and ecological crisis.

How to join a Bristol Climate Cafe:

• You don’t have to book a place, but you can book on Eventbrite if you want to, that way you will get some handy reminders in your inbox closer to the time, and it helps us anticipate numbers: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/bristol-climate-cafe-collective-67954513973
• Bring a reusable cup of you have one, we’ll provide the tea (we’ll have some spare cups too!).
• It’s free to attend.
• Please arrive on time, as entry to the climate cafe session will not be possible if you arrive more than 10 minutes late. This is in order to make the group a safe and comfortable space for talking about things that can feel difficult, so that we don’t have interruptions once the session has begun.
• We use the upstairs space at Sparks, if you wait at the bottom of the stairs we will come and collect you for the start of the session.

Writing and discussion to find what climate action to take.

This workshop will use creative writing exercises and discussion to support you to identify the role you could play on climate change.

The workshop is modelled around Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson’s tool of climate action venn diagrams.

You don’t need to be experienced or talented at writing to take part.

Poetry on Palestine with special guest Lowkey.

Bristol Palestine Film Festival is teaming up with Bristol’s dynamic live poetry night Raise the Bar for an evening of spoken word, film and discussion in support of Palestine, on the 75th anniversary of the Nakba. The event will be headlined by rapper and activist Lowkey with an acapella spoken word performance, as well as a lineup of Palestinian poets and writers including Hind Shoufani and Selma Dabbagh.

“One of the best poetry nights in the country.”

Rafeef Ziadah

“Out-loud reactions are encouraged…shaking off traditional theatre etiquette.”

Bristol 24/7

Click the link below to book now.

Join us for this fundraiser gig in support of Sparks Repair Cafe featuring prominent live musical bands & artists including Silky Disturbance, Fabio Ferri Quintet and BexX.

Brought to you by Free Severn Sound, some of Bristol’s finest live acts have come together, voluntarily, to offer an expansive 6 hours of back-to-back live performances, acting to raise funds for the Sparks Repair Cafe which offers free repairs to the community every Sunday.

Get your fix of Fabio Ferri Quintet’s locally renowned experimental fusions following the psychedelic folk explorations of Silky Disturbance; expect a night of truly incredible musical artists, explosive shimmerings of philanthropic wonder, chased with some set design and goats.

2:00 – 2:45 Cat’s Eye Moon
3:00 – 3.45 Seven Goats featuring Nicole Earley
4:00 – 4.45 Lindon
5:00 – 545 Fabio Ferri Quintet
6:00 – 6:45 Bexx
7:00 – 7:45 Silky Disturbance
8:00 – 8:30 Kap’n Stranger and the Whispering Prawns feat. The Special Goat Squadron

Join us for an unforgettable afternoon of MAKOSSA rhythms through holistic African dance for mental and physical health improvement secrets, tips, and hacks.

Discover the power of expressing emotions through the fusion of traditional rituals with a healing dance form. A groundbreaking concept that blends cultural heritage, self-healing and creativity.
Be prepared to be inspired and empowered to take control of of your health with this unique dance experience – and event.

The Party:

• Motivational talks, health tips and hacks.
• Grace’s exclusive short performance
• Dance session with Grace for all in attendance
• Goodie bag of healthy goodies…

Don’t miss out, get your ticket now.

We look forward to dancing with you!

A welcoming space where fears & uncertainties about the climate & ecological crisis can be safely expressed.

What is a Climate Cafe?

A Climate Cafe is a supportive group space where people can come together to share their feelings about the climate and ecological crisis.

How to join a Bristol Climate Cafe:

• You don’t have to book a place, but you can book on Eventbrite if you want to, that way you will get some handy reminders in your inbox closer to the time, and it helps us anticipate numbers: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/bristol-climate-cafe-collective-67954513973
• Bring a reusable cup of you have one, we’ll provide the tea (we’ll have some spare cups too!).
• It’s free to attend.
• Please arrive on time, as entry to the climate cafe session will not be possible if you arrive more than 10 minutes late. This is in order to make the group a safe and comfortable space for talking about things that can feel difficult, so that we don’t have interruptions once the session has begun.
• We use the upstairs space at Sparks, if you wait at the bottom of the stairs we will come and collect you for the start of the session.

A welcoming space where fears & uncertainties about the climate & ecological crisis can be safely expressed.

What is a Climate Cafe?

A Climate Cafe is a supportive group space where people can come together to share their feelings about the climate and ecological crisis.

How to join a Bristol Climate Cafe:

• You don’t have to book a place, but you can book on Eventbrite if you want to, that way you will get some handy reminders in your inbox closer to the time, and it helps us anticipate numbers: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/bristol-climate-cafe-collective-67954513973
• Bring a reusable cup of you have one, we’ll provide the tea (we’ll have some spare cups too!).
• It’s free to attend.
• Please arrive on time, as entry to the climate cafe session will not be possible if you arrive more than 10 minutes late. This is in order to make the group a safe and comfortable space for talking about things that can feel difficult, so that we don’t have interruptions once the session has begun.
• We use the upstairs space at Sparks, if you wait at the bottom of the stairs we will come and collect you for the start of the session.