Sharing ideas

Over the years, we’ve been proud to bring together hundreds of artists, writers, philosophers, academics and more at our annual symposium. To further our aim of sharing new thoughts and ideas in relation to art, literature and philosophy, we make all of our content available completely free on YouTube channel.

2024 - On Language

We gathered together in Tuscany, Italy to explore the development and meaning of langauge. We were joined by a selection of exceptional speakers from around the world, including from our partner Bard College and the Open Society University Network.

John McWhorter, Ayishat Akanbi and Roger Berkowitz 'Language and Race: The Words We Live In'

Jana Mader, Tatiana Shchyttsova with Andrew Huddleston 'Choosing a Mother Tongue'

Patricia Cohen and Iain Martin in Conversation with Alan Lawson 'Language and Propaganda'

Sukhdev Sandhu and Simon Strauss 'Language and Lonliness'

Hanako Footman and Mike Lesslie 'Mixed Race and Tongue Tied'

Alpine Fellowship Philosophy Prize Winners

Martin Puchner and Jacob Burda 'Why Language?'

Alpine Fellowship Refugee Scholar Prize Winners

2023 - On Flourishing

We gathered together in Fjällnäs, Sweden to explore the importance and challenge of human flourishing. We were joined by a selection of exceptional speakers from around the world, including from our partner Bard College and the Open Society University Network.

Aloe Blacc: Music is Food for the Soul

Let Go and Feel Free: An immersive experience with Ben Ahrens, Rich Hardisty and Vika Victoria

Tara Abdullah in Conversation with Sue Grayson Ford

Andrew Huddleston - Flourishing in Philosophy

Martin Aylward in Conversation with Jacob Burda

Toby Tricks and Maria Zanella: Alpine Fellowship Academic Prize Winners

Artificial intelligence with Allison Stanger and Nazam Laila

Ben Ahrens - Ready, Set, Rewire- Training Your Brain To Heal Your Body

2022 - On Freedom

We gathered together at Ellenborough Park, UK to explore the timely and fascinating topic of Freedom. We were joined by a selection of exceptional speakers for around the world, including from our partner Bard College and the Open Society University Network..

On Polarization: Yuval Noah Harari and Esther Perel in Conversation

Andrew Graham-Dixon: Reflections on Freedom

Ayishat Akanbi, Rob Rinder and Toby Young: Freedom of Speech and Censorship

Stephen Batchelor Freedom and Ethics: A Secular Buddhist Perspective

Professor Clare Chambers: Freedom, Choice, and the Unmodified Body

John Burnside: As freedom is a breakfastfood: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Haplessness

Jamie Bartlett and Iain Martin: On Technology and Freedom

Jacob Burda - Symposium 2022 Opening remarks

2019 - On Identity

We gathered together in Fjällnäs, Sweden to explore the the complex and often illusive subject of Identity. We heard from many different people all of whom explored difference aspects of their own and our shared human identity.

The challenge of identifying' Douglas Murray, Damian Le Bas, Maajid Nawaz, chair: Iain Martin

Jessica Swale in conversation with Charity Wakefield and Nell Leyshon

Josh Tetrick in conversation with Jacob Burda: We are what we eat

Iman Amrani ' Is Masculinity in Crisis: How to discuss issues facing men'

Dominic Thomas in conversation with Sukhdev Sandhu and Cristina Ali Farah

John Burnside. 'For he himself has said it: Englishness and Masculinity, from 1945 to Brexit'

2018 - On Childhood

In our final year in Venice we explored the theme of Childhood. We enjoyed a weekend of discussion and debate that encompassed nostalgia, memory, idealisation, art, poetry and much more.

Andrew Graham Dixon. 'Reflections on Childhood'

Panel Discussion. 'The Potential of Childhood'.

John Burnside 'The Bat Poet: Children and Animals in the Poetry of Randall Jarrell

Nell Leyshon . 'A Glastonbury Childhood'

Julian Spalding .The Art of Wonder

Drawing Out Character a Children's Picture Workshop with Bridget Strevens Marzo

2017 - On Landscape

We returned to Venice, a perfect setting to discuss Landscape, including it’s impact on the dramatic form, the impact of the virtual and the impact of sound on setting.

John Burnside '"The power of the visible is the invisible"

Panel Discussion. 'The Promise of Landscape' with Roger Scruton, Julia Marton Lefevre, Luc Jacquet,

Nonny de la Peña 'Virtual Landscapes'

Jessica Swale on 'Landscape and The Dramatic Form'

Christine Jones on 'Landscape and The Dramatic Form'

Andreas Dorschel 'Listening to Landscape: A Romantic Evocation of Sound and Mood'

2016 - On Ephemera

In our first year in Venice, we gathered in the Fondazione Giorgio Cini, on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore. Bathed in summer sunlight that flickers up of the famous waters, we discussed spirituality, transcendence, art, music and much more.