Conspire Presents: Home

About

47/49 has recently launched Conspire, a bi-monthly event bringing together art, politics and science. The issues of home and homelessness appear frequently in the news, particularly in London where the housing market is more squeezed than in many places and where issues affecting the situation are at their most acute. Homelessness is on the rise, and in 2013 it increased by around 13% for both rough sleeping and for families sheltered in temporary accommodation. There is much discussion about the reasons for this housing crisis, and ways in which it might be resolved. Suggestions range from political action, to economic restrictions and incentives, to better physical urban design or new social structures. However, as yet these seem not to have manifested themselves into a coherent campaign, let alone policy change. From an artistic point of view the idea of Home is an evocative one. Home for most is more than a dwelling, it is also people, cultures, values and identity. Home has been referenced throughout art history, and utopian or radical ideas for designs of houses, buildings and cities, prevalent throughout modern art, are arguably now even more relevant due to the pressures of climate change and overpopulation. 47/49 would like to host an evening for discussion about the issues at stake and which showcases positive interventions for finding a solution to pressures on home and housing in urban environments.