New curated programme of unique events brings the Guardian to life for readers

Posted on by Listify Me

The Guardian today launches Guardian Live – a curated programme of topical events designed to ‘bring Guardian journalism to life’ at venues across the country.

Part of the new Guardian Membership scheme, launching today in beta, the diverse programme includes discussions, debates, interviews, keynote speeches, educational seminars and festivals and features a diverse range of leading figures from the worlds of culture, the arts and current affairs alongside Guardian journalists.

The programme for the first three months alone features a number of leading thinkers sharing their ideas, experience and expertise:

  • Leading authors including David Mitchell and James Ellroy
  • Activist and author Naomi Klein
  • Musician Jimmy Page
  • Writer and comedian Russell Brand
  • Human rights campaigner Shami Chakrabarti
  • Fashion designer and environmentalist Vivienne Westwood
  • Comedians and writers such as Richard Ayoade and David Mitchell
  • Data-journalist and information designer David McCandless
  • Topical events on issues such as a debate on anti-semitism and islamophobia

The events will take place in locations around the UK including London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Bristol. Further events, including pop-ups in New York and Sydney, will be added to the programme in the coming months.

Guardian Live is part of the new Guardian Membership scheme which has been launched to create deeper relationships with readers, inspire and empower them to make a positive difference, and support the Guardian’s mission of openly sharing news and opinions around the world.

The scheme has been designed for people who revel in new experiences and fresh perspectives, are passionate about the free exchange of ideas and are prepared to challenge themselves and their view of the world. It offers a range of benefits for readers through three tiers of Membership: Friend, Partner and Patron.

Members will be able to book and attend Guardian Live events as well as join an engaged and vibrant global community. The programme will increase its digital and physical reach during the course of the year through the development of an offline community and local events, delivered with selected partners and staged in a range of pop-up venues across the UK and beyond.

Over time, Guardian Membership will also include a physical home – a new civic space in the Grade II listed Midland Goods Shed in King’s Cross, dedicated to the sharing of ideas. Due to open in 2016, the building is designed to be an iconic venue, providing high quality events and courses to a diverse audience, in partnership with an alliance of respected cultural and educational organisations including Birkbeck, Central Saint Martins, Indytute and 5×15.

Commenting on the launch, Caspar Llewellyn Smith, culture editor, Guardian News Media said: “Guardian Live is about tapping into the free, open, agenda-setting journalism that the Guardian is renowned for and taking it to the growing numbers of audiences that share our appetite for debate and ideas. It is a programme of incredible events that will take our journalism off the page and bring it to life. We are thrilled to be launching Guardian Live with such a strong line-up of events and will continue to add to the impressive list for the rest of 2014 and beyond.”

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Notes to editors

For further information please contact:

Guardian News Media press office:

media.enquiries@theguardian.com / + 44 (0) 20 3353 3696

  • Full details of the Guardian Live programme can be found here: membership.theguardian.com/events
  • Details on the beta Guardian Membership scheme can be found here: membership.theguardian.com
  • Membership Tiers:
  • Friends, who can sign up for free to join the scheme, will be able to book tickets to Guardian Live events and will be kept up to date with the latest news about the Guardian Membership community and upcoming events.
  • Partners, who will pay £15 per month, will also receive news and updates, and a Guardian Membership pack with more information about the wider community. They will receive discounts to Guardian Live events, as well as benefiting from priority booking for events.
  • Patrons, paying £60 a month, will also benefit from priority booking and discounts on Guardian Live events. In addition, they will receive a backstage pass to the Guardian including newsroom tours, print site visits and insight into the editorial process. They will also be help shape the Guardian Membership community through hosting their own Guardian Live events.

Guardian Live Programme: September – December 2014:

September

  • Hatreds Old and New: Jonathan Freedland (Guardian) Mehdi Hasan (Huffington Post) discuss anti-semitism and Islamaphobia.
  • John Lanchester with Larry Elliott (Economics Editor), 24 September, Kings Place, London 7pm
  • Saturday Brunch with the Guide with Two Bears, Josie Long and Gude Editor Paul Macinnes, 27 September, Rotorino, Dalston, 10.30am

October

  • David Nicholls with Alex Clark (Critic),1 October, The Cornerhouse, Manchester
  • David Nicholls with Jenny Brown, 2 October – the George Square Lecture Theatre, Edinburgh
  • Observer Sunday Live, 5 October, Southbank Centre, Purcell Room
  • Naomi Klein with Owen Jones (Columnist Author of Chavs), 6 October, Central Hall Westminster, 7pm
  • Observer Festival of Ideas, 12 October, Barbican Centre
  • Shami Chakrabarti with Zoe Williams (Columnist), 14 October, The British Library, 7pm
  • Vivienne Westwood with Deborah Orr (Columnist), 15 October, Chelsea Old Town Hall, 7pm
  • Jimmy Page with Michael Hann (Music Editor), 15 October, Cadogan Hall, 7pm
  • The Science of Cycling, 22 October, National Cycling Centre, Manchester, 7pm
  • Russell Brand with Owen Jones (Columnist Author of Chavs), 23 October, Emmanuel Centre London, 7pm

November

  • Book Club: James Ellroy with John Mullan, 3 November, Royal Institution, 7pm
  • Richard Ayoade with Peter Bradshaw, Talk and Screening, 9 November, Ritzy Brixton, 7pm
  • David McCandless (Data Journalist), 10 November, Level 39, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, 7pm
  • David Mitchell (comedian) with John Mulholland (Editor of The Observer), 12 November, Royal Geographical Society, 7pm

December

  • Chris Hadfield(Canadian astronaut) with Ian Sample (Science Editor),7 December: Royal Geographical Society, 7pm
  • Chris Hadfield(Canadian astronaut),11 December: At-Bristol, 6.30pm