These are all the talks I’ve found happening in London within the next eight weeks.
The descriptions have been summarised with AI - hopefully a reasonably ethical use of it.
Talks
ROMULUS Reuse Initiative, City of London Launch
- -
- Free
Learn about the initiative uniting contractors, architects, and clients to share data and enhance circular economy efforts in London’s built environment.
Pride in STEM: Carousel of science
- £10.00
Hear from LGBTQ+ speakers on the evolution of pathogens, and engage in activities like badge making. Experience diverse science topics and presentations.
Otti Berger: Weaving for Modernist Architecture
- -
- £15.00
Learn about Otti Berger’s groundbreaking textile designs that redefined aesthetics and function, showcased through archival research.
Kraszna-Krausz Photography Book Award Symposium 2024
- -
- Free
Artists Hristina Tasheva, Alice Proujansky, and Lewis Bush discuss their work linking political and personal histories.
Body of Law: Burkers, Resurrection Men and the Murderous History of the Anatomy Act
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- £12.00
Learn the chilling history of body-snatching in 18th and 19th century England, the urgent need for corpses in medical science, and the laws that emerged as a result.
An Evening with Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer
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- £20.00
Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer will chat about their roles in crafting iconic movie sets and the impact of play on their designs.
Tim Richardson: The English Landscape Garden
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- £25.00
Tim Richardson discusses his new book on the dreamy, artistic English landscape gardens of the 18th century, featuring 20 iconic examples.
Executive Master in Cultural Leadership
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- Free
Learn about a master’s programme that broadens understanding of culture and creativity, aimed at those aspiring to shape the arts and cultural sectors.
Saints and Liars: The Untold Stories of Americans Who Saved Endangered People from the Nazis
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- Free
Learn about Americans who risked their lives to aid victims of Nazi Germany, with a focus on women who shaped their fates through quick decisions.
Cassino ’44
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- Free
James Holland relives the intense WWII battles at Monte Cassino, using first-hand accounts from soldiers to paint a vivid picture of the conflict.
Culinary Landscapes: Talk and Tasting
- £20.00
Sample historic dishes from South West Asia and North Africa, researched by culinary historian Professor Daniel Newman, inspired by Frederic Leighton’s travels.
Lunchtime Lecture: Christopher Dresser and the V&A
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- Free
Learn how the V&A Museum influenced Christopher Dresser’s designs and career, and how it continues to support his legacy.
Lunchtime tour: A lasting legacy
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- Free
Join a guided walking tour highlighting artworks acquired through gifts in wills, showing how these donations have shaped the nation’s art collection over 200 years.
Battle, Ballads, Burning and the Bible: a new interpretation of ‘Sueno’s Stone’ at Forres
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- Free
Learn about a massive early medieval monument that’s over 6.5m high, revealing detailed carvings of historical events, newly interpreted through advanced research.
How Inequality Affects Mental Health
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- Free
Dr Smith explains how social factors like poverty and discrimination heighten mental illness risk, challenging the main focus on genetics.
Neurology – from Victorian England to Today
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- £15.00
Learn how Victorian neurology influenced classics like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, tracing the discipline’s evolution and impact on literature and medicine.
Photography and Political Blackness
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- Free
This period marks when photographers like Roshini Kempadoo used art to address racism, celebrate Black life, and rethink narratives in mainstream media.
Curator talk: Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael: Florence, c.1504
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- £15.00
Join Dr. Per Rumberg as he highlights Italian Renaissance art, focusing on the famed rivalry and works of Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael.
Cambrai: The Making of the Tank Corps
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- Free
David Willey discusses the significant role of tanks in the 1917 Battle of Cambrai, highlighting its impacts on warfare and military tactics.
Evening event: Morehshin Allahyari in conversation with Fuchsia Hart
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- Free
Artist Morehshin Allahyari discusses her poetic film exploring histories of astronomical instruments and cultural displacement with curator Fuchsia Hart.
Friday Lates gallery talk: Constable and the political landscape
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- Free
A panel discusses the intersection of landscape, industry, and identity in Constable’s ‘The Hay Wain’, considering the political and patriotic undertones.
Platinum print Collections talk
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- Free
Enjoy a glass of wine while viewing a new display of platinum prints from the Everest negative collection, including rare historical photographs.
Digital Art Communities: Hubs, Nodes & Networks
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- Free
Hear industry experts discuss how artist-led spaces in London have fostered innovation in the digital arts scene since the 1960s.
The hidden science in Europe's great cathedrals
- £16.00
Join Diana Darke as she reveals fascinating insights into medieval architecture’s evolution from the Middle East to Europe, highlighting the true origins of what is commonly known as ‘Romanesque’ style.
Jewish Country Houses
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- £18.00
Learn about Jewish country houses, their role in society, the art and gardens they housed, and their significance before the Holocaust.
Who's Minding the Store? Corporate Rules to Align Interests
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- Free
Learn how CEOs’ focus on bonuses may clash with company futures and how corporate governance strives to align interests for business health.
Soane Medal Lecture 2024: Hanif Kara OBE
- £5.00
A lecture by award-winning structural engineer Hanif Kara, discussing his career and views on tackling the climate emergency.
Pause with a painting: 'The Watering Place': Mindfulness session
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- Free
A mindfulness session uses a Gainsborough landscape to guide attendees in noticing shape, colour, and light, promoting a sense of calm and connectivity.
Houston, We Have a Problem: How the Fossil Fuel Industry is Risking Our Future and Your Pension
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- Free
The lecture critiques oil and gas leaders for shifting climate change responsibility onto individuals, despite high oil prices and demand.
The Life Scientific: Jim Al-Khalili in conversation with Tim Peake
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- Free
Hear astronaut Tim Peake share experiences from living underwater to running a marathon in space, and discuss his path from scout to ESA astronaut.
The Quantum State of Us
- Free
An evening of poetry, performances, and discussions focusing on the intersection of quantum physics and identity, featuring a variety of speakers.
Online Curator's Talk: Tirzah Garwood
- £12.00
James Russell offers an engaging online insight into ‘Tirzah Garwood: Beyond Ravilious’, highlighting Modern and Contemporary art and design.
The making of Godzilla Minus One: In conversation with producer Yamada Kenji
- Free
Film producer Yamada Kenji talks about creating the iconic monster Godzilla, recreating post-war Tokyo, and his Academy Awards campaign.
Curator’s Introduction to Keeping Time: Clocks by Boulle
- -
- Free
Join curator Alexander Collins for an intimate look at André-Charles Boulle’s fusion of baroque design and precision clockmaking.
Change Collective: How to survive (THRIVE) in an institution
- Free
Learn how to maintain your individuality and amplify your voice within large institutions through shared experiences and interactive zine-making.
How Does Our Immune System Protect Us?
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- Free
Learn how immune cells respond to pathogens with precision, what happens when they malfunction, and tips to keep your system healthy.
Soane Museum Study Group: Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy and the Furnishing of the Brighton Pavilion
- -
- £6.00
Cristina Alfonsin discusses Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy’s contribution to the Royal Pavilion’s rich interiors during George IV’s era.
Changemakers: Meera Syal
- -
- £20.00
Meera Syal discusses her career in comedy, breaking barriers, and amplifying voices with broadcaster Anita Anand.
Lunchtime Lecture: Curating the Songbook Trail - Taylor Swift and the V&A
- -
- Free
See how Taylor Swift’s career phases were used to frame her personal items, such as costumes and songwriting notes, in a thematic exhibition.
Investigating Historic Building Myths
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- Free
Dr James Wright debunks myths about historic buildings, examining architecture and folklore from the mediaeval and early modern periods in the UK.
Soldiers, Angels and Avengers: The Jewish Brigade in Italy
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- Free
Learn about the Jewish Brigade’s role in WWII, from its valiant combats in Italy to its crucial help in rescuing Holocaust survivors.
Political art: a conversation
- -
- £20.00
Sebastian Tanti Burlò and Berfin Çiçek discuss how art and politics mix, examining the influence of politics on art creation and expression.
Ōtsu Matsuri Celebration at Japan House London
- Free
Experience traditional Japanese festival vibes with 13 ornate floats, lively drum and flute music, and unique mechanized pupets.
Could science abolish death?
- £16.00
Examine how advanced medical technologies and new neuroscience concepts are redefining death, alongside the impact of preserving personal identity.
All the World’s on Discs
- -
- Free
Learn about the pioneering sound archive in Vienna, established 125 years ago, focusing on preserving unique languages and music.
SOLD OUT CHRISTMAS LECTURES rehearsal night 2024
- £10.00
Join Chris van Tulleken for a rehearsal where he tests how food environment demos perform in front of a live audience.
Northwest Passage and the quest for the North Pole
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- Free
Enjoy a glass of wine and a talk by the Principal Librarian, featuring original artefacts and documents from European Arctic expeditions.
Black Holes and Bangs
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- Free
Learn how new observatories have captured gravitational waves from distant black holes and how this relates to the formation of elements like gold.
Lunchtime Lecture: Kantha
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- Free
Learn about Kantha, a traditional Bengali textile art, as artist Ekta Kaul discusses its cultural significance and sustainable practices.
Warhorse: The Archaeology of a Medieval Revolution?
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- Free
Learn about medieval England’s warhorses through fresh archaeological finds, from teeth samples to bone analysis and training site studies.
‘Is it in Pevsner?’: A Short History of the ‘Buildings of …' Series
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- Free
A lecture examines the development of Sir Nikolaus Pevsner’s series from 1947, detailing the writing of volumes on the UK and recent updates.
Chanel. The Allure of Makeup
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- £18.00
Join an author and a fashion editor as they discuss Chanel’s impact on beauty, followed by a book signing.
Layers of London: Innovations in Infrastructure, Powered by PechaKucha
- -
- Free
Learn about innovative London infrastructure projects like Data Centres and Transport systems, all aimed at sustainable urban development.
A Most Able Officer: Major General John Le Marchant
- -
- Free
Paul Le Messurier talks about Major General John Le Marchant’s rise, uncovering his impact on military training and swordsmanship, plus his role in founding a notable military academy.
New London Awards Winner 2024
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- Free
Celebrate the best new London projects, contributing positively to their surroundings, with insights from the project experts.
Women at the Piano: A History through Images
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- Free
Learn why French paintings of women at pianos became popular, tracing the trend from Renaissance to the 19th century, and what it reveals about society.
Let’s twist again: Dr Jess Wade on re-thinking the technologies and scientific careers of the future
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- Free
Dr Jess Wade discusses the integration of chirality in device manufacturing, inter-disciplinary science, and the need to reform research culture.
Cutting Edge: How Objects Shaped Modern Medicine
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- £12.00
Learn how medical tools from heart-lung machines to more primitive instruments have evolved, reflecting advances and challenges in healthcare.
Christmas Soirée
- -
- Free
Celebrate the 80th anniversary with a review of the historical role and future of UK archaeology, featuring Neil Redfern’s insights.
Timeless Treasures: Indian Jewellery
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- £18.00
A detailed discussion on the art and history of Indian jewellery with insights from experts Krishna Choudhary and Susan Stronge, moderated by Vivienne Becker.
Unwrapping Irving Berlin’s "White Christmas"
- -
- Free
Learn about the origins of ‘White Christmas,’ its unexpected summer release, and how it became a seasonal classic, resonating during wartime.
WiFi Wars Christmas bash
- £16.00
Join a festive gaming event where 300 participants compete using advanced tech. Bring a charged device to play. Proceeds go to charity.
New Scientist Weekly: Live
- -
- £15.00
Engage in a lively chat about 2024’s top science and tech advances, with discussions on the universe, genetics, AI, and more.
Christmas special: Chemistry of a candle
- £16.00
Learn about the physics and chemistry behind a burning candle with a series of impressive demonstrations that combine historical insight with modern science.
The chemistry of Christmas baking
- £16.00
Learn how simple ingredients transform into yummy Christmas treats through fun baking and chemistry demos with Josh Smalley.
Who’s Afraid of Robots?
- -
- Free
This lecture looks at the historical fascination with intelligent machines, from ancient myths to modern robots, and the complex human relationship with them.
The Modern Goddess
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- Free
A lecture traces how a goddess symbolising nature became prominent in Western European thought from the 1800s, influencing literature, history, and archaeology.
Writing a British Constitution
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- Free
A lecture looking at how the UK and US political systems compare, focusing on the role of the judiciary and the concept of ‘Parliamentary Supremacy’.
