Berst

We’re launching tickets for This is Optimism today but it would be remiss of us not to mention politics. When we decided on our launch date we weren’t aware how symbolic a day this would be. But honestly, today feels good. It feels good that we have voted people out who saw their ‘posts as mere stepping stones to more remunerative work in the private sector’ (in Zadie Smith’s very fine words). It feels good we now have a government who serve the people over themselves. It feels good that the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party have made gains. It feels good to move forward. It’s time for optimism. https://optimism.is

Time for a Friday #thisisoptimism2024 update. We’ve just pushed an update to the https://optimism.is website, including our first round of speaker announcements. Delighted that Rachel Coldicutt, Carlie Goldsmith, Curtis James, Emily Macaulay and Anil Seth will be exploring optimism in all its weird and wonderful forms on Friday 20th September. Lots more to announce in the next few weeks: more speakers, programme updates and a few other things we’re struggling to keep secret 🤐. 100 tickets go on sale next Friday at 10am. Register your interest on the website for email updates.

Folks! After some very powerful words of encouragement (”why on earth would you do that?”, “seems commercially unviable”), we’re happy to announce we’ll be hosting our first event on Friday 20th September 2024. Inspired by Kevin Kelly’s belief that ‘over the long term, the future will be decided by optimists’, This is Optimism is a tiny, one-day conference for 100 people who believe we can imagine and invent new and original futures. Expect thought-provoking talks from designers, neuroscientists and storytellers, delicious food and drink, all within the beautiful surroundings of the Artelium Wine Estate in Sussex. We’ll be honest, if you’re after a typical conference – one full of PowerPoints with practical advice and 10 takeaways – this isn’t the event for you. This is less a ‘how to’ and more a ‘what if’ for people who want to think creatively about the future and what could be. Tickets are £389+VAT. This includes locally-sourced, expertly-produced food and drink throughout the day, a closing dinner where we’ll gather to discuss the day’s events, plus optional transport to/from Haywards Heath or Brighton station. And of course, Artelium wine for those that partake. If you like the sound of this, follow us here for gentle updates or register your interest via our landing page: https://optimism.is More info, including speaker announcements coming very soon. #thisisoptimism2024