Storytelling and song
Taking Liberties
The writing on the wall: Tony Benn and Roy Bailey
Sunday 1 February 2009
One of our greatest political voices, Tony Benn, joins acclaimed songwriter and musician Roy Bailey for their history of dissent in words and song. An alternative view of how we got where we are today, from the Peasants' Revolt.
Winner of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Live Act
Event Time: 14.30 -17.00
Location: Conference Centre, British Library
Price: £10 (concessions £7.50) (advance booking recommended)
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Taking Liberties Study Day
Monday 2 February 2009
Join leading historians, social scientists, politicians, campaigners and writers for a day of lively discussion and debate through exploring issues raised in our Taking Liberties exhibition. The study day will offer seminars and lectures which will consider changing constitutional and philosophical issues in human rights, the freedom of expression, subversion and the idea of 'Britishness' and identity as well as offering an opportunity to visit the exhibition itself. Key speakers and participants will include Lord Lester QC who is advising the British and Irish governments on the Bills of Rights, Professor Barbara Taylor who is a leading expert on women's cultural, social and intellectual history and the active human rights campaigner and writer Peter Tatchell.
Event Time: 10.00 -16.00
Location: Conference Centre, British Library
Price: £25 (concessions £15)
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Panel discussion
Taking Liberties
A kingdom united? The making and breaking of Britain
Monday 2 February 2009
Despite their long union, the nations of the United Kingdom retain distinct identities, increasingly so since the establishment of devolved governments in 1999. Is the trend for greater political and cultural independence now threatening the union, and what does this mean for the debate on Britishness?
Panellists include singer-songwriter Billy Bragg, political activist and author of The Progressive Patriot (2006); Scottish theoretician of globalisation and nationalism Tom Nairn, whose many books include Global Matrix: Nationalism, globalism and state terrorism (2005), The Enchanted Glass: Britain and its monarchy (1994) and After Britain (2000); and Vernon Bogdanor, one of Britain's foremost constitutional experts and professor of government at Oxford University. His books include Devolution In the United Kingdom (2001). The discussion will be moderated by Kenneth Calman, chair of the independent Commission on Scottish Devolution.
Event Time: 18.30 -20.00
Location: Conference Centre, British Library
Price: £6 (concessions £4) (advance booking recommended)
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Panel discussion & film screening
Taking Liberties
Who loves hate speech?
Tuesday 3 February 2009
In recent years the government has introduced a raft of new speech crimes, including incitement to religious hatred and incitement to sexual hatred. They claim that this kind of ‘hate speech', which disregards our values of tolerance and mutual respect, is beyond the pale and should be outlawed in the interests of community cohesion. However, many campaigners believe that free speech is a non-negotiable human right, even where it causes serious offence. Writers who investigate the tensions in the contemporary politics of race, religion and sexuality often find themselves on the front line of this powerful social conflict. Germaine Greer, Francesca Klug, Rex Bloomstein and Peter Tatchell ask: Should we criminalise racism, religious hatred and sexual hatred? Or should we trust in society to find the right balance between competing versions of freedom? Chaired by Lisa Appignanesi, President of English PEN.
Followed by a screening of Rex Bloomstein's new documentary An Independent Mind in which eight people from around the world attempt to exercise their right to free expression.
Event Time: 18.30 -22.00
Location: Conference Centre, British Library
Price: £6 (concessions £4) (advance booking recommended)
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Gallery Talks
What if? How the history of 17th century Britain might have been different
with curator Arnold Hunt
Tuesday 3 February 2009
Discover more about Taking Liberties by coming along to one of our 30 minute gallery talks given by the exhibition's curators.
Event Time: 13.00 – 13.30
Location: PACCAR Gallery
Price: Tickets are free but must be booked in advance. Spaces are limited (these talks are not seated)
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Comedy Event
Taking Liberties
Political animal
Wednesday 4 February 2009
Featuring cutting-edge political comedy from an exciting mix of performers, this acclaimed BBC Radio 4 show is insightful, wide-ranging and unpredictable. Expect some biting satire. The host is Andy Zaltzman (The Late Edition, writer on Bremner, Bird and Fortune), and participants will include Chris Addison (Perrier Award nominee and star of The Thick of It and Lab Rats) and Paul Sinha.
Event Time: 18.30 -20.30
Location: Conference Centre, British Library
Price: £7.50 (concessions £5) (advance booking recommended)
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Taking Liberties
Talk and Discussion
'Of the people, by the people, for the people'
Monday 9 February 2009
Abraham Lincoln's Legacy in the 21st Century. Abraham Lincoln, America's 'Great Emancipator' was born 200 years ago this month. He led the USA through a civil war, and paid for with his life for his stand on the issues that divided the nation. The issues of freedom, equality, enfranchisement, engagement and discrimination continue to be critically important to the modern citizen, and a transatlantic panel of speakers, including Professor Charles Bullock of the University of Georgia and Professor Tony Badger, Master of Clare College, Cambridge, will discuss the nature of these challenges in today's political world.
Presented by the Eccles Centre for American Studies, The British Library, with the support of the US Embassy, London.
Event Time: 18.30-20.00
Location: The British Library, Conference Centre
Price: £6 (concessions £4)
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Gallery Talks
Highlights of Taking Liberties
with curator Mathew Shaw
Tuesday 10 February 2009
Discover more about Taking Liberties by coming along to one of our 30 minute gallery talks given by the exhibition's curators.
Event Time: 13.00 – 13.30
Location: PACCAR Gallery
Price: Tickets are free but must be booked in advance. Spaces are limited (these talks are not seated)
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Music at the British Library
Mendelssohn and the record industry: A bicentennial reflection
Tuesday 10 February 2009
At the start of the recording era Mendelssohn's critical reputation was probably approaching its lowest point. However, did he continue to be more popular with the public than with the critics? In this illustrated talk Peter Ward Jones will sample the historical legacy of early recordings and consider the role they have played in the critical re-evaluation of Mendelssohn's work.
A reception will be held after this event.
Event Time: 18.30-19.30
Location: The British Library, Conference Centre
Price: £7.50 (concessions £5) (Free seats on production of Student ID on the night)
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Film Screening
Taking Liberties
The life story of David Lloyd George
Sunday 15 February 2009
This compelling epic biography of the great Liberal Prime Minister was made in 1918, but incredibly not shown in public until 1996, having been suddenly and mysteriously withdrawn before its first trade screening. Solicitors, presumably acting for the government, paid £20,000 to remove the film from the offices of Ideal, the film's production company. It was thought that both copies had been lost or destroyed until 1994, when the complete negative was found among material supplied by Viscount Tenby, Lloyd George's grandson, for examination by the Wales Film and Television Archive. It will be screened with a live piano score by Neil Brand, following an introduction by a prominent Liberal Democrat politician.
‘An exceptional film, with an enthralling mystery behind it ... a film made with passion and imagination' film historian Kevin Brownlow
Presented in partnership with the National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales
Event Time: 14.00 -17.00 (Including one interval)
Location: Conference Centre, British Library
Price: £6 (concessions £4) (advance booking recommended)
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Family event
Taking Liberties
Storytelling for families
Monday 16 - Friday 20 February 2008
Free family drop-in sessions will be taking place every day in half term as Sef Townsend tells stories and legends about people who have struggled for freedom.
Suitable for families with children aged 7 – 14 years
To find out more about Tours or Storytelling:
+ 44 (0)20 7412 7797
learning@bl.uk
www.bl.uk/takingliberties
Event Time: 10.30 - 11.30 | 14.30 - 15.30
Location: PACCAR gallery, British Library
Price: Free, no booking required
Concert
After Cage
Monday 16 February 2009
This concert begins a short season celebrating the work and influence of John Cage, the pioneer experimental composer. The concert, hosted at the Conway Hall, and performed by Apartment House, will feature works by Pauline Oliveros, Robert Ashley and Alvin Curran. In a pre-concert talk, composer David Berhman will discuss working with Cage.
Presented by the Eccles Centre for American Studies, The British Library.
Tickets available on the door
For more information phone the Eccles Centre:
T + 44 (0)20 7412 7757 or email Eccles-Centre@bl.uk
Event Time: 18.30 – 19.30 Pre-concert talk
19.30 – 21.30 Concert
Location: Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL
Price: £10 (concessions £5)
Talk and Discussion
Taking Liberties
The Lost Liberty of the English Revolution
Quentin Skinner
Wednesday 18 February 2009
The constitutional upheavals of the 17th century gave rise to the view of individual liberty to which we have basically subscribed ever since; that our liberty consists in our not being unnecessarily interfered with in the pursuit of our chosen ends. The lecture will argue that the entrenchment of this conception involved the rejection of a broader and more democratic view of what it means to be a free citizen. The lecture seeks to reconstruct the elements of this lost vision of freedom and invites us to consider its relevance for our present lives.
Quentin Skinner is professor in the humanities at Queen Mary, University of London
Event Time: 18.30 -20.00
Location: Conference Centre, British Library
Price: £6 (concessions £4) (advance booking recommended)
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Conference
'Mapping visual diversity in Canada: Historical and contemporary perspectives'
Monday 23 February 2009
Focusing on photographic representations of Canadian landscape and peoples from the 19th century to the present, this one-day conference will bring together leading Canadian authorities on the history of photography and photographic archives with UK-based researchers on historical and contemporary Canadian photography.
Presented by the London Conference for Canadian Studies and the Eccles Centre for American Studies, The British Library.
For more information and booking, contact :
Dr Richard Dennis,
Department of Geography
UCL
Gower Street
London
WC1E 6BT
r.dennis@geog.ucl.ac.uk
Event Time: 10.00 – 17.00
Location: The British Library, Conference Centre
Price: £35 / £20 students
Poetry Event
The Josephine Hart Poetry Hour
Philip Larkin
Monday 23 February 2009
Join us for another of the acclaimed poetry hours exploring the works of Philip Larkin.
Drawing on literary and theatrical friends, novelist Josephine Hart matches readers with poets and prefaces each reading with her own insightful commentary.
Event Time: 18.30-20.00
Location: The British Library, Conference Centre
Price: £7.50 (concessions £5)
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The Inspiring Entrepreneurs' series
Blueprints for business: A proven route to success
Tuesday 24 February 2009
Are you an aspiring entrepreneur in search of an idea?
Have you launched a business and want to expand?
Are you a budding entrepreneur seeking to build a venture based on a proven formula?
Are you, in short, looking for your own blueprint for business success?
‘Blueprints for Business' is an opportunity to hear from four highly successful entrepreneurs who have built personal and business success on the back of franchising.
The panel will include: Toni Mascolo co-founded the hugely successful hairdresser brand Toni & Guy. Sophie Atkinson is managing director of Autosmart, the 2008 ‘Franchisor of the Year'. Jamal Hirani is the chief executive and founder of the Indian restaurant chain Tiffinbites. Atul Pathak set up his first McDonald's franchise in 2003 and now runs ten restaurants.
Supported by HSBC, the world's local bank.
Event Time: 18.15 – 21.00
Location: The British Library, Conference Centre
Price: £10 (concessions £7.50) to include a networking reception.
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Music and Spoken Word
Woody Guthrie: Hard times and hard travellin'
Wednesday 25 February 2009
A live musical programme that sets the songs of Woody Guthrie in the context of the American 1930s - the Dust Bowl, the Depression, the New Deal and the state of popular music itself. Will Kaufman brings such hard-hitting Guthrie songs as 'Vigilante man', 'Pretty boy Floyd' and 'I ain't got no home' into conversation with other songs of the Depression Era - from Joe Hill's 'The preacher and the slave' to 'Brother, can you spare a dime?'. These renditions, buttressed by detailed historical commentary, exemplify the blending of music and radical politics that marks Guthrie's most powerful and evocative work.
Will Kaufman is from New Jersey and is professor of American literature and culture at the University of Central Lancashire. He has published widely on many aspects of American culture and has been a semi-professional folksinger and musician for over thirty years. He comes from a musical family (his brother, Steve Kaufman, is one of America's most celebrated bluegrass guitarists) and he is equally at home on the guitar, fiddle, banjo and mandolin.
In 2008, Will was awarded the Woody Guthrie Research Fellowship from the BMI Foundation and the Woody Guthrie Foundation.
Presented by the Eccles Centre for American Studies, the British Library.
Event Time: 18.30 -20.00
Location: Conference Centre, British Library
Price: £6 (concessions £4) (advance booking recommended)
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Study Day
City of Dreams: Vienna, 1900-1935
Saturday 28 February 2009
Join us for a study day exploring the musical and cultural heritage of early 20th-century Vienna. The day will feature a series of talks and performances exploring the music of Mahler, Schoenberg, Zemlinsky and Berg in its historical and social contexts.
Presented in collaboration with the Philharmonia Orchestra and coincides with a major concert series presented at the Royal Festival Hall in London and the Konzerthaus in Vienna .
Event Time: 10.00 – 16.30
Location: The British Library, Conference Centre
Price: £12; call the Philharmonia Orchestra Box Office (+44 (0)800 652 6717).
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