The Night of Ideas (La Nuit des Idées) is an international event that will celebrate its 7th edition this year. It’s held in more than 100 countries around the world, including right here in Australia. Sydney is the host for the Australian version of Night of Ideas to be held next Thursday.
WHAT IS LA NUIT DES IDEES?
La Nuit des Idées or The Night of Ideas in English started in 2016 on an evening on which French and international thinkers were asked to discuss the major issues of our time. It’s now fixed on the calendar for the last Thursday of January. The Night of Ideas encompasses interdisciplinary events about the arts, environment, society among more.
THE THEME FOR THE NIGHT OF IDEAS 2022
Each year the night revolves around a different theme and in 2022, that theme is (Re)building together. According to Institut France, who organises the global event, this year’s theme “has been chosen to explore the resilience and reconstruction of societies faced with singular challenges, the solidarities and cooperation between individuals, groups and states, the mobilisation of civil societies and the challenges of building and making our objects.”
THE NIGHT OF IDEAS: AUSTRALIA
The Australian iteration of The Night of Ideas has been created in partnership with the Alliance Française in Sydney, the Powerhouse, and the French Embassy, and moderated by Amanda Collinge (producer of Q&A on ABC).
The Night of Ideas Australia line-up gathers talented personalities from both France and Australia, for a not-to-be-missed event, which will be broadcasted worldwide. Each speaker and performer will share their unique perspective on what “(Re)building together” means to them.
QUESTIONS ADDRESSED AT THE NIGHT OF IDEAS 2022
Exploring how human connections are evolving during the global pandemic, they will address the following questions:
The depth of the environmental crisis we face is a warning that we need to pay more attention to nature. In this part, artists will help us refocus on our relationship to the world.
Speakers
- Daria de Beauvais (curator of Palais de Tokyo, Paris)
- Ariel Salleh (sociologist)
The spread of urban environment has alienated public space and put social life at risk. A group of architects and a journalist will show ways to make them more sustainable and how to feel more connected to each other.
Speakers
- Djamel Klouche from the AUC Collective (French architect, winner of the Urbanism Prize 2021)
- Elizabeth Farrelly (journalist)
The rise of populism and the identity crisis in modern westernized societies has disrupted our democracies. The traumatic attacks in Paris have left deep scars in our societies, yet we commonly underestimate our resilience. A victim of Paris’ Bataclan attack in Paris and a journalist who covered the tragedy will explain how they lived through and after the event and how we can form a better society.
Speakers
- David Fritz (photographer and writer)
- Guest
Political debates are part of the solution in order to rebuild together what can be.
Speakers
- Marcel Gauchet (French philosopher and historian)
- Nathalie Doyle (professor)
Rebuilding our integrity by being confident and comfortable in our bodies
- Speaker: Amrita Hepi
Modern life style and restrictions have had a detrimental effect on our ability to take care of ourselves. A French chef will discuss healthy cooking and participants will be provided with one sample of natural food and one sample of natives seeds that have a nutritional value.
Speakers:
- Cheri Lyden (Wholegrain CEO and nutritionist)
- Christophe Lavelle (CNRS research scientist)
Several artists will offer unique performances to help us heal the wounds, rediscover our feelings:
- Nick Wales
- Ngaiire
- Bree
WHAT DOES MY TICKET GET ME?
Your $20 ticket price includes the conferences, the access to the museum exhibitions, and a French wine tasting.
KEY INFO FOR THE NIGHT OF IDEAS
WHAT: The night of ideas, a multi-disciplinary event discussing and highlighting the issues of our times
WHERE: Powerhouse Museum, Sydney
WHEN: Thursday 27 January 2022
HOW: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/night-of-ideas-nuit-des-idees-tickets-243390295927
HOW MUCH: $20
Have you attended The Night of Ideas before?
For other events happening this month, take a look at our What’s on in January article.
