There’s a festival of socialist ideas and culture in just a few weeks

There’s a festival of socialist ideas and culture in just a few weeks

Posted on: 03 May 2024

Bristol Transformed Festival 2024, a festival of ‘socialist ideas, culture and arts’ is set to take place on the weekend of May 18 at Trinity Centre.

 

Returning for its fifth year, Bristol Transformed Festival describes itself as a ‘grassroots and volunteer-led festival of radical politics, arts and culture: bringing together activists, trade unionists, leading thinkers and anyone interested in left-wing politics.’

 

While their programme of socialist education runs all year round, the festival itself is the crowning jewel. Running on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May, Bristol Transformed Festival has a schedule that is jam-packed with debates, arts events and workshops!

 

 

This year, they’ll be asking questions like “What would it mean to age well under socialism?” and “Why does the West support Israel?”. You can explore questions like these and more in events like their walking tour ‘Bristol, Gateway to Empire?’, which explores Bristol’s legacy of slavery and imperialism, or Strike Map’s talk on JT Murphy’s classic text The Workers’ Comittee.

 

You can even get involved in genuine socialist action as part of the festival – just a short walk from Trinity, you can help community housing union ACORN to protest an unfair landlord. It’s not all serious talks and intense action – there are more fun and relaxed offerings too. You can enjoy a nature walk in Trinity’s lush gardens, get involved in a ‘Socialist Escape Room’ or meet up with Games Transformed to play some games and have some discussions.

 

 

As you might expect from a socialist festival, ticketing is detailed and varied. Whilst regular tickets will set you back £16, there are discounts for students, as well as £8 and £5 tickets for those on a low income or no income respectively. There’s also an option to get a ‘Solidarity’ ticket for £25 – donating that bit extra to help the festival grow bigger and better.

 

Bristol Transformed festival is in just a few weeks, from the 18-19 May. You can find more information on the festival, including the full programme of talks, debates and other events, on their website.

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Patrick Bate

Patrick is a filmmaker with so much Bristol in his blood the white blood cells are graffiti'd. Educated at the Northern Film School in Leeds, he’s returned home to be a Videographer and Reviewer for 365Bristol and BARBI. When he’s not messing about with cameras, he enjoys playing guitar, spending far too much time on tabletop RPGs, and being an awful snob about cider. Have a look at his work here, or get in touch at patrickb@365bristol.com.