The House of St Barnabas’ Summer Series of Mini Manifestos: Start, Encourage, Communicate, Create, Disrupt

About

Entrepreneurs and agitators will converge each lunchtime to explore how they have overcome challenges and overturned the status quo in their quests to break the mould.

Expanding on the themes of start, create, discuss, encourage and disrupt, these talks will take you on a week-long journey following the lifecycle of an idea, from incubation to action to creating real impact, and what society can do to nourish lasting positive change.

The Mini Manifestos began as a popular and inspiring strand of Art Social, The House of St Barnabas’ annual arts festival.

The House of St Barnabas believe that an inclusive culture can provoke lasting positive change. They create space to encourage creative interaction, lively debate and free and open discussion. They strive to ensure their cultural events are equal to all, so in that spirit their series of Mini Manifestos is completely free.

Programme

Monday 4th July: START following your bliss with Ruth Rogers

In 2014, social entrepreneur Ruth Rogers opened The Canvas Cafe, a social enterprise cafe and creative venue just off Brick Lane in Shoreditch that is improving the happiness and emotional well being of its community.  She was 33 and this was her first business. Ruth had no hospitality experience; for 12 years she was an actress and puppeteer, working in War Horse (West End), ZingZillas (CBeebies) and as a radio presenter for the BBC. With no management or business experience, what on earth compelled Ruth to embark upon a business in one of the hardest retail industries, in one of the most competitive cafe markets in London? The answer can only be found by understanding the unstoppable drive of someone desperate to follow their bliss.  Come find out how you can start following yours.

Tuesday 5th July: ENCOURAGE practical diversity and meaningful work for tomorrow’s talent with Bejay Mulenga

Bejay Mulenga is a 20 year old entrepreneur who founded Supa Tuck, an enterprise programme teaching students how to run and operate their own tuck shops in school. Supa Tuk reached over 5,000 young people over 3 years and was so successful it featured in Lord Young’s ‘Enterprise for All’ report, June 2014. His current enterprise is Supa Academy, an experiential training company for young people with clients such as Facebook, Barclays, River Island and EE.  With one of the only 5 awards given by Her Majesty the Queen for Enterprise Promotion under his belt, Bejay is now on a mission to encourage practical diversity and share the importance of access to meaningful work for tomorrow's talent.

Wednesday 6th July: COMMUNICATE the true of voice of a community with Soho Radio

Inspired by Soho’s vibrant and diverse culture, Soho Radio brings together musicians, artists, film makers, chefs, poets and the generally curious. From world class talent such as Boy George, Howard Marks and The Cuban Brothers to local piano tuners – a hip hop loving father and son duo. Clare Lynch, co-presenter of the Soho Society hour on Soho Radio, will share her thoughts on what it means to authentically communicate the true voice of a community.

Thursday 7th July: CREATE happiness through creativity with Guy Foreman of Iceberg Press

Guy worked at Hearst Magazines for many years, first in sales, and then on developing the magazine brands outside of the printed page.  He left to start an independent publishing company, Iceberg Press, with two friends. They publish two great independent magazines - The Simple Things and Oh Comely. He will encourage the audience to nourish and explore their own creative instinct and talk about what it means to create space to live well, to be connected and to bring happiness to your life through creativity.

Friday: DISRUPT; how to start a creative revolution with C.A.T.S.

Olly Dixon will talk about the work he has done with his creative agency Margaret and what it means to be disruptive in 2016 with the death of the status quo. He will look at what lessons the big boys can take from the start-up, DIY and creative culture that is thriving around the world. How he and some friends are starting a global revolution with cats and the appetite there is to incite change amongst the masses. The collective is called Glimpse and they aim to make positive social change feel attractive to millions more people. Instead of focusing on the problem, they show ‘glimpses’ of a better world. The revolution is nigh and it has whiskers and a tail.

Location: Soho Square, just outside The House of St Barnabas