Notable speakers

This year’s Live Concerts at Home musical performances begin on Thursday 30 September with a lunchtime concert by violin duo Mainly Two, who will perform works by Pauline Oliveros, Peteris Vasks and Grayna Bacewicz.

The opening week of lectures reflects on Britain and the pandemic. On Tuesday 12 October, John Rentoul, Chief Political Commentator for The Independent will talk about whether Covid-19 has shifted the centre of political gravity to the ‘overwhelming might of the British state.’ On Thursday 14 October, Emma Griffin, President of the Royal Historical Society, will give historical context to the pandemic and its effect on social relations.

Other notable speakers this season include Darren Henley, Chief Executive of the Arts Council, who will be in conversation with Professor Jane Robinson, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Engagement and Place, on Tuesday 19 October. His appearance is timely due to the continued focus on the impact of Brexit, the pandemic and Government education funding on the arts.

On 21 October Marcus Ryder will give the Black History Month Lecture Warm words are not enough – repaying the debt to our Black Heroes. The Chair of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) will ask what do we owe the Black heroes who have fought and often for this country and how do repay them?

Former Children’s Commissioner Anne Longford OBE, will give the lecture Putting disadvantaged children at the heart of recovery on Thursday 4 November. She will argue children have been disproportionately disadvantaged by the pandemic and there is an urgent need for an ambitious recovery plan that will help all children progress.

Following the COP 26 climate conference Dr Cristina Neesham Director of Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Newcastle University Business School, will give the lecture Climate change and global corporations: Five sources of responsibility failure. She will argue that even the most effective organisations fail to assume adequate levels of responsibility for mitigating climate change risks.

Questions and comments

Co-chair of Public Lectures, Dr Martin Farr, who will also chair the opening week’s talks, says: “We’re delighted to offer a wide and stimulating range of lectures about often pressing matters of public relevance. The Q&A sessions immediately afterwards are particularly fruitful, and we encourage questions and comments from members of the audience.”

All INSIGHTS Lectures are now online and take place at 5.30pm unless stated otherwise. You can find the full-line up here.

Jazz will feature in several performances of the Live Concerts at Home, with Hot Club du Nord bringing to life the classic 30s and 40s repertoire of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelli’s Hot Club Du France on Thursday 7 October.

Benjamin Fitzgerald presents: Ambedo will bring together the worlds of contemporary classical, minimalist jazz, folk and electronica on Thursday 14 October. Jazz/punk trio J Frisco will create improved and genre-fluid soundscapes and noise drawn from emotion, as well as political and gender issues on 28 October.

Newcastle University music lecturer Mariam Rezaei will perform synths, vox and decks with Petronn Sphene on Thursday 25 November.

All Live Concerts at Home concerts take place at 1.15pm on Thursdays. Student performances take place every Thursday at 4pm. All concerts are online, and you can find out more here.

Visit www.ncl.ac.uk/events/public-lectures/ to listen to past lectures, take part in virtual lectures and sign up to the Insights mailing list to keep informed about upcoming online events.