Thankfully, some people are still taking public life seriously

Some forthcoming events and discussions to save you from political despair

I suspect that, like me, you’re beginning to get tired of the endless Harry drama, the cost-of-living debates, and are rather frustrated by the inability of our politicians to get to grips with the crises facing the country.

Thankfully, there are many groups who share these concerns, and I’m delighted to share some details for some interesting and much-needed discussions that are happening in the coming months. From the legacy of empire to the right to protest, the timeless relevance of Hannah Arendt to a chance to explore past masters, read on for more information.

See you, I hope, at some of these in the coming days.

East Midlands Salon - Britain’s Empires

• Speaker: James Heartfield

• 7PM, THURSDAY, 19 JANUARY

• Venue: The Brunswick Inn, Station Road, Derby, DE1 2RU

• Tickets: East Midlands Salon - because debating ideas is important

Zurich Salon - Friends of the Salon Roundtable

• Roundtable discussion

• 7PM, THURSDAY 19 JANUARY

• Tickets and more info on Meetup

Free Speech Union - Free Speech and the Right to Protest

• Speakers: Ryan Christopher, director ADF International; Ann Furedi, author of The Moral Case for Abortion; Bryn Harris, Free Speech Union Chief Legal Counsel; Tim Cruddas, FSU Case Officer

• MONDAY 23 JANUARY, 7.30pm,

• Venue: Art Workers’ Guild, 6 Queen’s Square, London WC1N 3AT

• Tickets: £5 FSU Members; £12 Non-FSU Members

Academy of Ideas Arts & Society Forum - What does 2023 hold for the arts?

• Speakers: Alexander Adams, Mo Lovatt and Vicky Richardson

• 7PM, TUESDAY 24 JANUARY

• Venue: 31 Oval Road, London, NW1 7EA

• Tickets: £7/ £5

The Hannah Arendt Study Group discussion - What is Authority?

• Introduction by Eve Kay

• 7PM TUESDAY, 24 JANUARY 2023

• Online - join via the Facebook group or email jacob@theboi.co.uk

• Tickets: £5 donation to our supporting boi charity via ‘Donate’ on its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/battleofideas

Birmingham Salon - Aspects of the Omnicrisis

• Speakers: Dr Philip Cunliffe, Dr Jake Scott, Austin Williams, Prof. John Vogler Dave Aveston (chair)

• 1 – 5PM, SATURDAY 28 JANUARY

• Venue: The Arthur Sullivan Room, Birmingham Midland Institute, 9 Margaret Street, Birmingham B3 3BU

• Tickets: £15 (also available on the door)

Art Gallery Tours from Dido Powell - Tour 1 – Storytelling: Space and Clutter

• Tour guide: Dido Powell

• 11AM, SATURDAY 5 FEBRUARY

• Venue: Tate Britain

• Ticketing and more info on Facebook

• Tours continue 5 February - 4 June