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Join Professor Saeed Khan as he explores Orientalism as Said defined and described it and how it persists as a central component, explicitly or otherwise, in so many contemporary conversations. In 1978, Edward Said published Orientalism , which served as a critique of Western scholarship. Said argued persuasively that Western scholars viewed the rest of the world, and particularly the Middle East...

Join us for a compelling discussion on the ethics of documenting and reporting humanitarian crisis zones, exploring the fine line that journalists and filmmakers have to tread between help and harm. Addressing when to film and when not to, this event discusses the challenges of avoiding ‘misery porn’ and ensuring ethical, impactful storytelling while safeguarding those involved.

Join translator, Mahdi Lock, as he delves into Depression and Anxiety: The Causes and Treatment According to the Qur’an , promising an insightful exploration of these prevalent issues. Loch will illuminate often overlooked factors, highlighting the various causes of depression and anxiety, and uncover the importance of strengthening one’s connection for healing and empowerment. This event offers s...

Join us for a discussion about this book’s huge legacy and what George Orwell would think about the state of today’s world. Published in 1949, George Orwell’s famous dystopian novel, 1984 , is one of the most important books of the 20th century, still widely referenced today across politics and culture. Orwell modelled his authoritarian state in the novel on the Soviet Union in the era of Stalinis...

The UK’s favourite vicar, Kate Bottley, returned to Bradford to share some life lessons. She’s sat on a lot of sofas, drank a lot of tea, and garnered a lot of wisdom from the wonderful people she’s met along the way. Whether you’re contemplating the big questions of life and death, dealing with confidence, conflict, or loneliness, Bottley is here to help you feel less alone, and equip you with th...

Delve into the tumultuous origins and evolution of the Independent Labour Party, the working-class political movement born in Bradford in 1893. Through the captivating narratives of three central characters—passionate Fred Jowett, ruthless Philip Snowden and the unforgettable Victor Grayson—Brody weaves a tale of ambition, loyalty and betrayal.

Join SherAli Tareen and co-panelists for a thought-provoking exploration of a complex and sensitive topic. SherAli Tareen’s fascinating new book, Perilous Intimacies: Debating Hindu-Muslim Friendship after Empire , explores how leading South Asian Muslim thinkers imagined and contested the boundaries of Hindu-Muslim friendship from the mid-18th to the mid-20th centuries.

WritersMosaic and Colin Grant will be joined by three award-winning authors: Chitra Ramaswamy, Ingrid Persaud, and Nicholas Rankin. Discussing the idea of memory and writing.

Join us for a crucial conversation with Professor Paul Rogers, one of the most forward-thinking analysts of our time, as he discusses his latest book, A Crowded, Glowering World: Paths to a Sustainable and Secure Future . This talk will explore the interconnected challenges we currently face and deliver crucial insights into understanding this global ‘polycrisis’. A respected authority on conflict...

In this heritage talk, you will explore how Britain’s textile industry is being reinvented for the 21st century. Using photographs taken over the past 120 years, Tim Smith will show how the innovative spirit that once powered the textile industry remains alive and well. Wool and cotton fuelled the first industrial revolution and, today, a vast array of fibres is driving a new revolution. Discover...

We’ve brought together Lauren Beukes, author of bestselling novel, The Shining Girls , whose work straddles the speculative and literary, and celebrated crime author John Connolly, best known for his PI Charlie Parker series, to share their best tips and tricks to convey authenticity in storytelling. Conveying a strong sense of place is vital for a reader to know where they are, when they are, wha...

Join local author, Charlotte Bradman, as she shares her remarkable story of breaking free from a turbulent past, mounting debts and the monotony of the nine-to-five grind, to embrace a simpler way of life in her beloved campervan. The Happy Nomad is Bradman’s newly released debut, a journey of self-discovery and liberation. Through laughter, tears and moments of profound insight, she learns to che...

A unique conversation as the Blake Society’s Stephen Pritchard and poet, John Siddique, explore the similarities between two hugely influential writers and artists: William Blake and Kahlil Gibran. Both Blake and Gibran were poets and artists who dabbled in prophetic vision. Their readings of the Bible, their rebellion against Church corruption, and their sociopolitical visions were very similar....

In May 1904, the Great Exhibition in Lister Park showcased Bradford businesses, art and culture, and featured a standout exhibit: the Somali Village. Within this village, 60 Somali individuals, including men, women, and children, resided in a walled compound for six months. In this fascinating event, Fozia Bora tells the stories of some of these Villagers – often polyglot cosmopolitans, and Bradfo...

With more than four billion people eligible to vote in an election in 2024, we delve into the electoral landscapes of India, the United States and the United Kingdom to examine the key issues shaping each nation’s political discourse and how these elections will impact international relations, economic policies and global democratic trends. This overview of the 2024 elections and their potential t...

Explore a crucial chapter in Middle Eastern history as we delve into the British Mandate in Palestine, which spanned from the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War I until the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. This period was marked by the emergence of nationalist movements and uprisings from both Arab and Jewish communities. Many viewed this era as a betrayal of the promised...

Join journalist, Nabila Ramdani, as she discusses her new book, Fixing France: How to Repair a Broken Republic , charting the course of France’s Fifth Republic, formed in the wake of the 1958 Algerian war of independence. Ramdani, with her Algerian heritage perspective, unveils a bold new lens through which to view modern France, tackling complex themes such as politics, economics, societal shifts...

In this episode two of the biggest names in comics, Dave Gibbons and Tim Pilcher, discuss their fascinating careers and their book, Confabulation: An Anecdotal Autobiography. As co-creator of Watchmen and with a back catalogue that includes everything from Doctor Who to Batman, Gibbons is comic book royalty. Writer, historian and comic book expert, Pilcher, is Chair of the Comic Book Alliance and...

In this episode, renowned experts Barnaby Rogerson and Eugene Rogan, and chair Aaqil Ahmed, take a deep dive into the watershed moments that helped make and, at times, break the modern Middle East, a diverse region that is both incredibly culturally rich and yet fragile from the effects of empire and past and present power rivalries.

2024 marks 100 years since a watershed moment in Russia’s history: the death of Vladimir Lenin, and the beginning of Joseph Stalin’s rise to power. In this episode, Professor John Russell deep dives into the complexities of Russia’s past and present, from Stalin’s rise to power to Putin’s fifth presidential term.

In this episode, enjoy dynamic poetry readings which explore some of the biggest issues in the world today, with poets Ralph Dartford, Tasneim Zyada, and Matt Abbott.

In this episode, Professor Saeed Khan takes us back to the Watergate Scandal, exploring what it meant for the American Presidency, the legacy it has left, and whether Watergate set the stage for the rise of Donald Trump and the current political climate.

In this episode, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus will guide us through Treatises of Imam al-Ghazali . This extensive book set explores the deep wisdom of Imam al-Ghazali, a renowned Islamic scholar and philosopher from the medieval era, touching on topics like religious doctrine, Sufism, eschatology, truth, and knowledge.

In this episode, join Shahina A. Ghazanfar, author and botanist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and renowned scientific illustrator, Sue Wickison, as they discuss their award-winning book and exhibition, Plants of the Qur’an.

In this episode Jamal Mahjoub, Hamid Khalafallah, and Adela Suliman, discuss the current crisis in Sudan, a conflict which has resulted in a severe humanitarian disaster with over 14,000 fatalities and millions displaced.