I loved working with William on literary events. One of the nicest of people, great fun to be with, and a terrific writer. He also had matinee idol looks.

💥 Jackie Kay 💥

Our friends Bristol Ideas are going out with a bang!

Established in 1992, they have been collaborating with us on many occasions and we wish the team well in future ventures👇

Andrew Kelly Bristol Ideas will be remembered and missed by many authors who found a radical forum that was also fun and unpredictable. A city dies when it loses leaders like Andrew Kelly

Having published many books this is spot on about costs.

Andrew Kelly So sad to see the end of Bristol Ideas - a phenomenon with impact far wider than Bristol

My copy arrived today. I’m interviewing George Monbiot at Waterstones 14 May: waterstones.com/events/an-even…

My final day as director of Bristol Ideas, the last day of the company, but we go out on a high with an event by Jackie Kay, the publication of fine research on Bristol Broadsides, a new video interview on the Labour left, and our new book on our work. Thread below.

One project I wanted to do this year in our Baldwin work would have looked at cinema through Baldwin’s eyes in his book The Devil Finds Work. Not possible in Bristol but good to see the Barbican doing this. theguardian.com/film/2024/apr/…

In a special report for Bristol Ideas, Jane Duffus writes about Bristol Broadsides. We commissioned Jane 👩🏻 to interview people involved. She covers much ground about a valuable community writing and publishing programme. Here’s some covers from the many books published. 1/

‘I don’t have to agree with everything PEN does; in fact, I prefer that I don’t agree, because that opens me up to protection in kind from members who may not agree with me on all issues.’ nytimes.com/2024/04/28/opi…

‘…The Nashville Banner, a long-dead local newspaper, has formally rejoined the world as a nonpartisan, nonprofit digital newsroom, and that’s the best news for local democracy that I’ve heard in a long, long time.’ nytimes.com/2024/04/29/opi…

I’m constantly baffled, too.

Our last newsletter went out last night. Here’s one of the responses:

‘Just wanted to say thank you to Bristol Ideas and everyone involved in that project. It’s a shame  it’s coming to an end now but the work you have done has been transformational.’

Thank you.

A great achievement to get to the first birthday. Let’s hope there’s many more.

Miles Chambers - our first city poet - and Marvin Rees and Julz Davis at last week’s Paul Stephenson lecture.

This event may have a long legacy as we search for ways to deliver creatively in a time of diminishing resources.

Yesterday we had the final film in our NYC on film season. Thank you Watershed, 🎬 South West Silents 🎬 and Film Noir UK for partnership on this. Our legacy projects include work on British cities on film with 🎬 South West Silents 🎬 later this year and a new season with Watershed next spring.

I’m in an Vodafone UK circle of hell trying to change ownership of a phone number within Vodafone. Three weeks now. Someone said they would call back last week to do the final stages. This week we are back at the beginning. It must be easier than this.

I’m old enough to have read it first time round.

Finished the morning round and not a single question on Ed Balls Day. Why do they hate our country and its traditions?