The annual City of London Festival has published its schedule, and below are a few personal picks of the lot.
Tickets go on sale on Tues 8th April for Festival Supporters, and on 15th April for the rest of us.
The full list is here, and my personal pick of the lot is below:
Tues 24th June
This debate focuses on London’s machinery of government, which is large and complex, with many interests at play.Who has the power when it comes to running London? Are they held to account? What influences do the media; politicians; the rich (and the super-rich); Brussels; the Met; and the voters have? Should any have a greater say that they already do?
Featured speakers Ben Rodgers (Director, Centre for London), Sarah Sands (Editor, Evening Standard) and Professor Tony Travers (Director, LSE London) will lead a lively audience on the topic “Who runs London?”
Wed 25th June (£8)
Is Money the Root of all Evil?
Today, we live in a world dominated by money. ‘For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil’ So said Paul, the Apostle. Today, we live in a world dominated by money. Greed, equality and a lack of morals have been blamed for the banking crisis. Would the world be a better place and we better people, if we didn’t love money so much?
This debate features Claire Foster-Gilbert (Director, Westminster Abbey Institute), Julian Baggini (Philosopher) and Brendan O’Neill (Editor, Spiked-online), who will lead a lively audience on the topic “Is money the root of all evil?”
Sat 28th June
Shakespeare: the City and its Liberties (£10)
In Shakespeare’s own lifetime, the theatre was widely regarded as disreputable or dangerous. Aldermen, concerned that plays would corrupt their apprentices, restricted their performance within the City. Yet just outside the City walls were the ‘Liberties’, where theatre flourished alongside other forbidden pleasures.
Join John Constable for a walk to celebrate the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth, traversing the heart of The City, and visiting places where The Bard and his contemporaries lived and worked.
Sun 29th June
Jazz music, at the top of the Gherkin. Need I say more?
Tues 1st July
Clifford Chance Art Tour (£12)
Since 1991 the international law firm Clifford Chance has acquired a significant collection of over 1,200 original limited edition prints by major artists working in Britain over the last 270 years; running from Hogarth, through Whistler to Hockney, Riley and Gormley.
This guided tour will view the art in the public areas of their Canary Wharf tower, finishing with a glass of wine (from memory, usually on one of the high floors with good views).
Wed 2nd July
Simmons & Simmons Art Tour (£12)
Simmons & Simmons has been collecting modern and contemporary art for more than 25 years, with the objective of supporting young artists early in their careers by acquiring significant works, and to challenge the somewhat reactionary tradition of English corporate collecting.
Artists represented in their London headquarters include Turner Prize-winners Steve McQueen, Chris Ofili and Gillian Wearing.
Sat 5th July
Bank of England Open Day (Free)
The Bank of England will once again open its doors to the history and art in parts of the building usually inaccessible to the public.
A chance to tour the building without the usual Open House Weekend crowds, and visit the museum on a Saturday, when it’s usually closed.
Mon 7th July
A chance to visit one of the largest and most significant corporate art collections in the world, housed within the City offices of Deutsche Bank. This vast collection features work by Anish Kapoor, Francis Bacon and Damian Hirst among others.
Sat 13th July (Free)
The Alternative Commonwealth Games
Try your hand at Scottish Shinty, Welly Wanging, or the classic Aussie game, Two Up! Brush up on your South African peg-throwing with Jukskei or Jamaican dodgeball, Dandy Shandy. Headliners the Melodians Steel Orchestra present Jeremy Deller’s English Magic on the bandstand, plus Brass for Africa and lots more music throughout the day. Tasty foods, arts, crafts and storytelling available from across the Commonwealth nations.
