Stuart Hall Foundation Third Annual Public Conversation: Resistance

Our third Annual Public Conversation pursues this year's theme of Resistance through multiple lenses, providing a chance for questions and discussion, and punctuated with interventions and perspectives from a new generation of artists, scholars and cultural activists.

The event, taking place on Saturday 8th February, will be introduced by the Stuart Hall Foundation’s new Executive Director Ruth Borthwick, who will welcome multidisciplinary artist and designer Bahia Shehab to deliver the opening presentation. Journalist and author Jack Shenker will then take to the stage for a keynote speech. Drawing on his deep reporting on grassroots movements in different parts of the world over recent years, Jack will tell the story of two young people several thousand miles apart – one in Manchester, England, another in Cairo, Egypt – to explore how the children of the financial crisis are fighting to widen their political imaginations, and often paying a heavy price in return.

We are living through a period of profound political instability, in which old paradigms are crumbling, and new ones struggling to be born. At this moment of both possibility and danger, what does ‘resistance’ look like to those seeking it on the ground, and what exactly are the forces ranged against them?

Jack Shenker

Investigative journalist Rebecca Omonira-Oyekanmi and sociologist Yusef Bakkali will respond and discuss as a panelchaired by Professor Ethel Brooks, with an opportunity for the audience to ask questions and reflect on the day’s theme.   The event will draw to a close with a performance from jazz pianist and composer Nikki Yeoh, then a chance to continue the conversation over refreshments at Conway Hall.