What happens when people try to shape the future? This is the underlying question for the concept behind Locarno Talks, a new platform for discussion and exchange set up by the Locarno Festival together with its Main partner la Mobiliare and featuring guests from the world of politics, economics and the arts. For the first run of the event, which will be held from 6 through 11 August, the theme will be “Home.”
Among those invited to take part in this inaugural edition are Carla del Ponte, member of the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria, Diébédo Francis Kéré, award-winning architect from Burkina Faso, Canadian artist and musician Peaches and the British astrophysicist Ben Moore. All speakers at the Locarno Talks will address the topic of “Home”, sharing their own experience and knowledge of this universal theme.
Carlo Chatrian, Artistic Director of the Locarno Festival: “Now that every moment of our daily lives is dominated by moving images, it’s up to film festivals to go beyond them to investigate and rediscover the visionary power and strength of words. That was the challenge to which we responded with this idea of inviting major personalities with outstanding communication skills, who would discuss socially relevant questions.”
Dorothea Strauss, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at la Mobiliare: “Responsibility, creativity and social commitment have always been fundamental values of the cooperative nature of la Mobiliare. We are hugely enthusiastic as we enter into this partnership with the Locarno Festival, aimed at starting a conversation which will be extremely thought-provoking: it will ask us to re-examine our present and future reality, both on a personal and on a collective level.”
Locarno Talks la Mobiliare will be held at the Spazio Cinema, where the newly designed concept created by artist Kerim Seiler invites visitors to relax and mingle in a creative and stimulating environment in the “Locarno Talks Bar la Mobiliare.”
La Mobiliare will also be partnering with the Festival at the Locarno Garden la Mobiliare, with the WasWenn pavilion, also designed by Kerim Seiler. The Locarno Garden will provide a meeting point for all festival-goers, with bars and music.
The partnership between the Locarno Festival and la Mobiliare is part of the Swiss insurance group’s social responsibility program, whose support is focused on art and culture.
Locarno Talks la Mobiliare: Program
6 August – 11 am
Carla del Ponte, member of the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria, Switzerland
10 August – 11 am
Diébédo Francis Kéré, architect, Burkina Faso
11 August – 11 am
Peaches, artist and musician, Canada, and Ben Moore, astrophysicist, UK
The full list of guests will be announced on 12 July 2017.
The Locarno Festival website (www.pardo.ch) and the Facebook page of la Mobiliare (https://www.facebook.com/diemobiliar) will stream the Locarno Talks live.
The 70th Locarno Festival will be held from 2 to 12 August 2017.
