Mind The Gap – Building Bridges

2019 – Mind The Gap – Building Bridges

TEDxWolverhampton 2019 was the very first TEDx event in Wolverhampton. It took place on Saturday 6th April 2019 at the Light House. Our theme was Mind the Gap – Building Bridges.

Our mission was to uncover, support and promote ideas worth spreading. With this in mind, TEDxWolverhampton 2019 explored the gaps that exist in our knowledge, understanding, society, communities and relationships and discovered how these can be bridged.

This page is an archive of the website from the 2019 event, for more check out these links:

This page is an archive of the website from the 2019 event, for more check out these links:

• About
• Speakers
• Venue
• Hosts
• Performers
• Team
• Partners

ABOUT

We’re excited to announce that the first ever TEDxWolverhampton will be taking place on Saturday 6th April 2019 at the Light House, Wolverhampton. Join us as we explore our 2019 theme: ‘Mind the Gap – Building Bridges’.

Our mission is to uncover, support and promote ideas worth spreading. With this in mind, TEDxWolverhampton 2019 will be exploring the gaps that exist in our knowledge, understanding, society, communities and relationships and discovering how these can be bridged. We have a line-up of amazing speakers ready to get you thinking, capture your imagination and inspire you, as well as several local artists and performers ready to entertain you!

So what are you waiting for? Book your ticket now!

More about the theme

We experience gaps all around us and in every facet of our existence. From the cliché gap between the train and the platform edge to the gaps in our understanding of our fellow human beings and the intolerance and distance this creates. Gaps exist at all levels of our society, in communities and between generations as well as between our reality and our ideals. There are gaps in our knowledge of the physical world around us, and the eventual impact of our actions.

Many of us envisage a better a world, a utopian future, but how big is the gap between our current and aspirational reality? How do we bridge the distance between communities, between the rich and the poor, the happy and the unhappy? How can we all enjoy a more cohesive future and how can advances in technology assist or hinder this process?

In 2019, TEDxWolverhampton will explore how we can be mindful of these gaps and determine ways to build bridges, close the distance between our communities and fill the void in our knowledge and understanding to ultimately create a better world.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

#mindthegap #buildingbridges

Back to menu

Meet The Speakers (2019)

We are delighted to bring such a strong and diverse line-up of speakers to the first TEDxWolverhampton and we can’t wait to hear what our speakers have to say on 6th April.

Back to menu

THE VENUE

The Arena Theatre is a friendly 150 seat venue in the heart of Wolverhampton, providing innovative theatre experiences for everyone.

HISTORY

The Arena began life in 1976 in a disused gym in the basement of Wolverhampton Polytechnic, as part of the Drama and Performing Arts department. In addition to student performances, the theatre presented shows by local schools and community groups, as well as professional touring theatre companies and musicians.

With support from the Arts Council of England, the theatre was able to put on more events and open its doors to a much wider audience from outside the polytechnic, becoming a much-loved theatre that offered work reflecting Wolverhampton’s rich cultural diversity.

20 years later, however, the theatre had outgrown its cramped and inaccessible home, so with investment from the University of Wolverhampton and a grant from the National Lottery, an ambitious £2 million refurbishment began.

After 18 months of building work, the Arena Theatre re-opened in October 1999. With greatly improved facilities and access, the theatre was able to expand its programme of performances and events. We now host in excess of 200 public performances per year – in addition to a host of other special events. The work of culturally diverse artists continues to feature strongly in our programme of work and we have developed a reputation as one of the leading venues in the country for our support of Deaf and disabled artists.

FUNDING

Arena Theatre is supported using funding by Arts Council England and by the University of Wolverhampton.

Find out more at: www.wlv.ac.uk/arena-theatre

Getting here:

By car

The Arena Theatre is situated in the heart of Wolverhampton City Centre, directly behind the Wolverhampton Art Gallery and next to the University of Wolverhampton’s Wulfruna building. The theatre is completely accessible by road.

The nearby Broad Street car park is open 24 hours a day and costs £4.50 for 24-hour parking. Parking is £2 after 5.30pm.

If you don’t have change available, you can download the RingGo app directly to your smartphone. The code for Broad Street is 8035.

By train

Wolverhampton train station is a just a five-minute walk away from the Arena Theatre. See the map (link above) for directions.

Arena Photos: Drew White

Back to menu

What is TEDx?

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.

Our event is called TEDxWolverhampton, where x = independently organized TED event.

At our event, TED Talks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.