Two events explore culture in Southampton on Thursday (June 9): the CHAOS Conference at Central Hall during the day, and the Culture City Fringe event at The Stage Door in the evening.

 

As reported, the CHAOS Conference, at Central Hall from 9.30am – 4pm, offers a day of “conversation and collaboration: exploring the impact of creatives and creativity on a city; how we sustain and retain the arts; and develop future creative career pathways in Southampton.”

The CHAOS Network is an informal community of practice, which brings together creative, heritage and arts organisations in Southampton. More information and booking details are here.

'Culture and creativity has been happening in the city for many years in all sorts of interesting spaces and places'

 

Meanwhile a Culture City Fringe Event at The Stage Door from 7pm offers an evening of conversation with Catherine Wright, Angela Chicken and Rebecca Kinge, which will include interviews with race and diversity pioneer Don John and collaborative artist Sarah Filmer.

Involvement

“By holding an evening event, Dangerous Ideas Southampton… decided we want to give people a chance to be involved in the Culture City day in an informal and fun way. We want to shine a light on existing creative talent and celebrate the positive activities that are already happening in the city,” said Rebecca Kinge from Dangerous Ideas.

“The Guildhall Square area has recently been designated the city’s ‘Cultural Quarter’, but culture and creativity has been happening in the city for many years in all sorts of interesting spaces and places. Sometimes it is not very well known and the existing talent in our city can be overlooked.

Conversations

“One of the intentions of Dangerous Ideas Southampton is to celebrate the people of our city and give more chances for people to come together. This is the start of a series of ‘In Conversations with Ourselves’ events, and complements the work that CHAOS and the cultural trust are doing with their events."

More details, and links to book a place at the fringe event, are here.

Main image is cropped from an original by Mike, taken at the East Street Arts Festival on September 26, 2015. It is of the Hobgoblin music shop window, where Sarah Filmer asked passers-by “What does music mean to you?” People had the chance to draw and write their response to this question on window in chalk pens. It was part of an initiative supported by Southampton Solent University’s Showcase Gallery, where local artists used their skills to decorate local shop windows as part of the one-day festival.