Walking as Time and Space: an evening with Sir Richard Long

Join us for a unique conversation between Andrew Kelly (Bristol Ideas) and internationally renowned Bristol land artist, sculptor and UWE Bristol alum, Sir Richard Long. A special event run in collaboration with the UK’s national festival of the humanities, Being Human 2024, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary, on the theme of ‘Landmarks’. One of Bristol’s most illustrious and thought-provoking artists, Richard Long has made his name making art by walking in landscapes – over the most extraordinary of distances and timeframes, and often through remote and challenging environments. Long attended the West of England College of Art (1962-1965) – now part of UWE Bristol. Since that time, he has had his photographs of artworks, sculptures made along his walks and textworks exhibited from as close as the Arnolfini in Bristol, to as far Ottawa, Sydney, Tokyo and, most recently, Rio. Andrew Kelly talks to Long about what really drives his long solo walks through landscapes – and the art that is inspired by them. Andrew Kelly was Director of Bristol Ideas 1993-2024. His projects included Festival of Ideas, Brunel 200, Festival of the Future City, We The Curious, the Great Reading Adventures and Encounters Film Festival. He is the author/ editor of many books on Hollywood history, the future of cities, and Brunel. Over the past 15 years he has interviewed more than 400 artists, writers, poets, scientists, politicians, journalists and commentators. This event is part of the Bristol Distinguished Address Series (BDAS) and Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities, taking place 7–16 November 2024. Led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, with generous support from Research England, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy.