Southbank Centre Talks Events

A Room for London

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Spend an extraordinary night above the Thames

A Room for London is a major new collaboration between Artangel and Living Architecture, in association with Southbank Centre. It is a one-bedroom architectural installation in the form of a riverboat. Taking inspiration from Joseph Conrad’s book Heart of Darkness and Roi de Belges (the boat he captained in the Congo in 1890) it was designed by David Kohn Architects, in collaboration with artist Fiona Banner.

Throughout 2012, Artangel has invited London’s leading artists of all disciplines to take part in an extraordinary year of new writings, readings, performances, podcasts and live music webcasts from the capital’s most intimate temporary venue. From Bogotá to Bamako, Toronto to Frankfurt, New York to Stockholm, these world-renowned voices will use the Room as their studio to reflect on the city's place in the world in 2012.

The programme includes a series of live music webcasts entitled ‘Sounds from a Room’, a series of monthly writings and recordings called ‘A London Address’ artist Fiona Banner’s presentation of Orson Welles’ screenplay of ‘Heart of Darkness’, and ‘Ideas for London’, a competition in association with the London Evening Standard to uncover Londoners’ most remarkable ideas to make their city a better place.

Built by Living Architecture as part of their programme of making great architecture available to the public, A Room for London will be in situ throughout 2012 and occupied by members of the public who have pre-booked to stay there. The Artangel programme is part of the London 2012 Festival.

Start Date:

Sunday 1 January 2012 - 10:00

End Date:

Monday 31 December 2012

Externally ticketed

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I'm Not Like Tracy Beaker

p.goudal

A seminar on the experiences of children growing up in care led by YoungMinds, the UK's leading charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing of all children and young people.

In 2010 there were approximately 64,000 children in care living in England. This seminar showcases the work that Looked After Young People have created and explores the benefits of ensuring that young people are given opportunities to express themselves creatively.

Poet Lemn Sissay, who has firsthand experience of the care system, as well as a representative from Flourish, a project showcasing artwork by care-experienced children, and Jenny Clifton, Principal Policy Adviser (Safeguarding) at the Office of the Children's Commissioner, also share their thoughts and experiences.

Suitable for adults and young people aged 14 and over.

Please note - this free event requires a ticket. You can reserve your ticket online (£1.75 transaction fee) or by phone 0844 847 9910 (£2.75 transaction fee). Transaction fees apply per transaction, not per ticket. You can also reserve your seat without a transaction fee by visiting one of our Southbank Centre Ticket Offices in person.

Start Date:

Monday 13 February 2012 - 17:00

End Date:

Monday 13 February 2012

Ticket Prices:

Free (ticket required)

Best Available

Facility Description:

Level 5 Function Room

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Nancarrow in the 21 Century

International study days exploring the continuing influence of Conlon Nancarrow

This conference brings together some of the most important Nancarrow scholars and commentators from around the world to explore the composer's continuing and developing influence on contemporary musical thinking.

Featuring key-note presentations from Charles Amirkhanian, Artistic Director of Other Minds, and Kyle Gann, author of The Music Of Conlon Nancarrow, plus presentations from Felix Meyer of the Paul Sacher Foundation and sound sculptor Trimpin, the conference is aimed at both academics and enthusiasts alike.

Of particular note is a short presentation by Yoko Sugiura-Nancarrow, the widow of Conlon.

The conference sessions are timed so delegates can also attend the majority of the Perfect constructions - The Music of Conlon Nancarrow festival events as well.

Start Date:

Saturday 21 April 2012 - 10:00

End Date:

Sunday 22 April 2012

Ticket Prices:

£15

Concession/Group Prices:

50% off (limited availability)

Best Available

Facility Description:

Level 5 Function Room

Tali Sharot

Tali Sharot takes an in-depth look at how the brain generates hope and what happens when it fails. Her book, The Optimism Bias, looks at how the brains of optimists and pessimists differ and why we are terrible at predicting what will make us happy. It considers how anticipation and dread affect us, and how our optimistic illusions affect our decisions. She discusses her findings and takes questions from the audience.

Start Date:

Wednesday 15 February 2012 - 19:45

End Date:

Wednesday 15 February 2012

Ticket Prices:

£8

Concession/Group Prices:

50% off (limited availability)

Best Available

Facility Description:

Level 5 Function Room

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Think Outside the Box

p.goudal

Tours of 'Boxed' Coffin Exhibiiton

Enjoy three free tours of the 'Boxed' coffin exhibition, with tours at 12 noon, 12.45pm and 1.30pm.

At 12 noon David Crampton, Director of Vic Fearn Co Ltd, talks about the rise of the Crazy Coffin phenomenon in Nottingham and the UK.

At 12.45pm Paul Fisher, Crazy Coffin joiner and designer, discusses the design and manufacture of the coffins.

At 1.30pm you can meet some of the coffins' owners, with 'tour guide' Mr John Voce (joiner). Hear people talk about their coffins, and the reasons why they chose to commission unusual shapes and designs.

Tours start from the entrance by the 'Boxed' coffin exhibition on Level 2 of Royal Festival Hall. Capacity is limited due to the layout of the exhibition, so access to the tours is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Start Date:

Saturday 28 January 2012 - 12:00

Free

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New Maps For An Island Planet

peter.mallon

Doreen Massey, Andrew Simms, Carolyn Steel and Lemn Sissay

Join us for a discussion about the creation of new maps for navigating the complex challenges presented by global economic and ecological crises. The panel, consisting of geographer Doreen Massey, architect Carolyn Steel, and campaigner and writer Andrew Simms draw on their own contributions to the publication ATLAS: Architecture, geography and change in an interdependent world. Poet Lemn Sissay also performs at this event, which is chaired by broadcaster Quentin Cooper.

Start Date:

Tuesday 13 March 2012 - 18:30

End Date:

Tuesday 13 March 2012

Ticket Prices:

£10

Concession/Group Prices:

50% off (Limited availability)

Facility Description:

Purcell Room

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Chibundu Onuzo and Noo Saro-Wiwa

peter.mallon

Noo Saro-Wiwa and Chibundu Onuzo explore their native land of Nigeria through travelogue and fiction, sharing their stories of Lagos and beyond.

Saro-Wiwa's activist father took her back to Nigeria each year when she was a child. In Looking for Transwonderland she journeys through a country of extreme contrasts, of eccentricity, kitsch and modernity, to become reconciled with her homeland.

Onuzo's debut novel, The Spider King's Daughter, explores the daring and unexpected love affair between Abike Johnson, from the elite of Lagos society, and a young hawker she meets from the city's slums. The novel looks at the rifts and tensions in Nigerian society.

Start Date:

Thursday 22 March 2012 - 19:45

End Date:

Thursday 22 March 2012

Ticket Prices:

£8

Concession/Group Prices:

50% (limited availability)

Best Available

Facility Description:

Level 5 Function Room

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Nadine Gordimer

m.critcher

Nadine Gordimer talks about her life and writing. Gordimer won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1991, and is widely recognized for her activism and for confronting moral and political issues in her writing. She published her first novel in 1953, and has since gone on to publish short stories, plays and criticism in over 40 books, including The Conservationist, which won the Booker Prize in 1974. This is the first of a series of events with Index on Censorship, which focuses on the continuing importance of free expression across the world. Gordimer's latest novel, published to coincide with this event, is No Time Like the Present.

Start Date:

Wednesday 14 March 2012 - 19:30

End Date:

Wednesday 14 March 2012

Ticket Prices:

£15 £12

Concession/Group Prices:

50% off (limited availability)

Facility Description:

Queen Elizabeth Hall

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Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult, one of the world's best-selling authors, makes a rare UK appearance to discuss her latest novel Lone Wolf and take questions from the audience.

The novel follows the life of Luke Baxter, who abandons his family to live amongst wolves. Upon his return he struggles to cope with everyday human life.

The break-up of his family and their divided loyalties are at the heart of the book, which is tense, emotional and riven with life and death questions.

Start Date:

Wednesday 28 March 2012 - 19:45

End Date:

Wednesday 28 March 2012

Ticket Prices:

£10

Concession/Group Prices:

50% off (limited availability)

Facility Description:

Purcell Room

Robert Winston

Professor Robert Winston is famous for his work on science. Watch him make the subject come alive at this family event, where he demonstrates amazing scientific facts and some explosively fun activities from his book Science Experiments. From crushing cans to rocket launches and scientific tugs-of-war, this show is guaranteed to get your family's brains whirring and help your child get to grips with science. Suitable for ages six and over.

Start Date:

Thursday 16 February 2012 - 11:00

End Date:

Thursday 16 February 2012

Ticket Prices:

£8 (adults) £4 (children)

Concession/Group Prices:

50% off (limited availability)

Facility Description:

Queen Elizabeth Hall

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