This morning I took part as a speaker in an event called “How To Prosper In The Coming Bad Years“, set in this fantastic open-air venue in Victoria Park, Bristol:

The structure is called The Black Cloud, designed by artists Heather and Ivan Morison, who also hosted the event, which brought together a number of guests to discuss the future. As well as myself, the speakers included Jon Turney, science writer and author of the forthcoming Rough Guide to the Future, Richard Sandford, learning researcher at Futurelab, Lisa Morgans from Greenpeace, and Thomas F. Thornton, a lecturer from the Environmental Change Institute in Oxford.

Each of the speakers talked for around 10 minutes and then took questions. They were all interesting, the weather was bright and fresh, and the audience (sitting on hay bales and blankets, around the ashes of a dead fire) really seemed to enjoy the discussion.

One of Heather and Ivan’s previous projects was also in attendance, entitled “Tales Of Space And Time“, it is a converted Green Goddess fire engine, with a wooden house built on its back, full of shelves and shelves of post-apocalyptic science fiction novels.

Apparently, the vehicle has been operating as a mobile library in Folkestone.

Heather and Ivan have a book out soon [click here for details] that they describe as:

“Bringing togther their recent body of work comprising shelters and escape vehicles through a narrative which is part-science fiction, part-history, part-auto-biography, part-fairytale.”

I enjoyed meeting them, and I enjoyed the discussions I had with the other speakers and members of the audience. I came away with ideas whirling through my mind and a jumper that smelled of wood smoke.

All-in-all, an inspiring morning which I’m really pleased to have been a part of.

Tags: Art • Future • Gareth L Powell • Situations. Heather and Ivan Morison • The Black Cloud