The Feast of Strangers – A Conversation Meal
22nd August 2009, 2.30pm – 6.30pm @ The TreeHouse Gallery
on the banks of the Boating Lake, Regent’s Park, London
This summer, philosopher, historian and author, Professor Theodore Zeldin will be hosting the Feast of Strangers – to celebrate his birthday.
It’ll be a feast like no other, where instead of food, the menu consists of ‘Topics of Conversation’. It is an open invitation and Theodore would like to mark his birthday by encouraging people that don’t know him or each other to come together and have conversations.
The Feast of Strangers gives people from all walks of life – from different countries, religions, sectors, industries and from across the political spectrum a unique opportunity to connect and find out about each other.
The Feast will be held at The TreeHouse Gallery,– a collaborative art project made up of Treetop platforms orbitecture and forums – on the north bank of the boating lake in Regent’s Park.
FREE ADMISSION – bring a picnic rug and food to share. To reserve a place or to pre-order a picnic spread of dips, meats or salads, please email rsvp@limina.org.uk
Limina- Creating transition spaces and events between the rural and urban
Background
Although communication has never been easier, with mobile phones, email and instant messaging, people are becoming ever more isolated. “There is less and less time and a great hunger for conversations that are not superficial,” said Professor Zeldin. Going beyond Big Brother banter or inane chit-chat about the weather, The Feast’s ‘Conversation Menu’ lists topics and questions through which people can discover what sort of person they were meeting, to go beyond surface impressions and discover their views on many different aspects of life such as curiosity, fear, friendship, ways of living, man’s relationship with the natural world and visions of the future.
Comments from previous Conversations:
“I enjoyed meeting, talking to, and listening to my conversational partner and she has restored my faith in younger people and the tolerance of different people in the world.” Regional Deputy Secretary
“I found it thought-provoking and inspiring. I sat next to a guy who is a work colleague. I’ve known him for twenty years on and off but I found out more tonight from speaking to him than I did in 20 years of working near to him and passing him by.” Police Chief Superintendent