Member Article

Law Firm Backs Yorkshire’s Leading Festival

~~Berwins, one of Harrogate’s leading solicitors, has become title sponsor of Harrogate International Festivals’ Salon North series.

Salon North, a night out with a difference, consists of three expert speakers who take to the stage to explore a subject to create a night of stimulating ideas from art, science and psychology, designed to change your life for the better. It’s been dubbed ‘a revolutionary movement for the heart and mind’.

Carolynn Peace, partner at Berwins, said: “We felt that Salon North was a natural choice for us. We pride ourselves for being no ordinary lawyers and were drawn to the innovation, debate and big ideas the series showcases. It’s important to support the community we live and work in, and to help safeguard what makes Harrogate one of the best places to live in the UK. We’re delighted to support the arts charity that celebrates its 50th anniversary, and help to continue to bring such brilliant events to the town.”

Salon North is the brainchild of cultural curator Harrogate-born Helen Bagnall. Helen is an international award-winning screenwriter and author. She has taught at The National Theatre, and a Guardian Masterclass.

She co-founded Salon London in 2008 which is now established as a key part of the capital’s cultural scene. She established the Transmission Prize in 2013, the UK’s first festival with ideas with The Also Festival in 2013, and she programs idea based events for Latitude, Wilderness and Festival No 6.

Helen said: “I’m from Harrogate originally and approached the Festivals in the first instance because I very much wanted to bring what we were creating in London, to Yorkshire, and I’m glad I did, because it’s exactly the right place for it.’

Helen said, “I set up the Salon with songwriter Juliet Russell as something we would want to go along to. Our format is designed to bring big ideas alive, and we work with the best academics, authors and passionate experts to find ways to bring their ideas to life. We don’t join the dots for our audiences but present them with insider information on our themes and leave them to work out how they feel about it.”

Since its launch in the town in 2012, Salon North has become a key strand in the diverse festival portfolio.

Sharon Canavar, CEO of Harrogate International Festivals, said: “As an arts charity, only 2% of our income is from public money and we rely heavily on the support of local businesses to support the wealth of events we deliver throughout the year. We are delighted to have Berwins support for our exciting Salon North Series, allowing us to continue to deliver these stimulating series, bringing big ideas to intimate spaces.”

The 2015 Salon North autumn series, ‘Crime, Punishment and Retribution’ takes place at Harrogate’s Crown Hotel.

The next Salon, which will be staged on Thursday October 29, will feature Police Forensic Pathologist Dr James Grieve, author and award winning comedian Will Hodgson who will bring the history of judicial punishment to life and forensic psychologist Gill Attrill OBE from the National Offenders Management Service will explain how to deliver the best outcomes with limited resources.

The final Salon, which will take place on Thursday November 26, will take a lateral look at retribution including the role of forgiveness. Confirmed for the concluding event are Neil White, a solicitor specialising in criminal law, UCL’s Robert Smith, who will explain what we really have to fear from artificial intelligence, asking are we really at risk of retribution from the machines of the future, and headlining world-renowned peace activist & Nobel Peace Prize nominee Scilla Elworthy.

Tickets are available on 01423 562303 or at www.harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Cause UK .