Created by Lancaster Arts in partnership with the Gregson Community & Arts Centre, the Festival of Dissent is part of Lancaster Arts' annual theme of Dissent.
Something is already happening.
Across Lancaster and Morecambe, stories are passing between people. Questions are travelling from kitchens to cafes, park benches to pub tables, friends to strangers. Small acts of curiosity are quietly gathering momentum. On Saturday 5 September, you're invited to see where they've led.
Festival of Dissent is a free day of unexpected encounters exploring what happens when we question assumptions, imagine alternatives and choose to do things differently.
Expect conversations with strangers, hidden discoveries, secret missions, films that don't belong in cinemas, walks, making, singing, dancing, unexpected interruptions and a few things we're not quite ready to reveal.
Come for an hour or stay all day.
Some experiences you'll seek out.
Others will find you.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines dissent as a difference in opinion or a disagreement, particularly when this differs from a prevailing view.
We often oversimplify the meaning to protest or violence rather than disagreement or the small everyday acts of non-conformity. And, increasingly, in a world where division and despair often appear to be the status quo, joy and celebration can themselves be a form of dissent. And that is why we are here.
Welcome to the Festival of Dissent.
SCHEDULE OF FREE EVENTS
Some events require booking others are drop ins. There are limited places on bookable events so if you are no longer able to make it please let us know!
The Unruly Correspondents
Who: Malaika Cunningham & a team of Unruly Correspondents
Where: Sneaky locations across Lancaster and Morecambe
When: 6 August – 5 September
Mysterious green envelopes are beginning to appear across Lancaster and Morecambe.
Inside you'll find an invitation to contribute to a growing archive of dissent, which will be transformed into artworks for Festival of Dissent on 5 September.
If you find a green envelope, follow the instructions inside and add your own response. Then pass the envelope on. Leave it somewhere unexpected, give it to someone you know, or someone you don't.
If you're not lucky enough to find an envelope, here's a sneaky back door to the growing archive of dissent: https://palacearchive.co.uk/dissent/
The Lightbulb Moment
Who: Proto-type Theatre
Where: Olive Bar
When: 11am–TBC
Duration: Drop in
You are invited to put on headphones and peer into a miniature apartment building, where the lives of its residents quietly intertwine. Through animation and sound, The Lightbulb Moment explores the connections between people, systems and the choices we make, inviting us to consider how even the smallest actions can shape the world around us.
The Sculpture Kit
Who: Ellie Barratt
Where: The Hall
When: 11am–1pm
Duration: Drop in for as long as it takes you! Book here.
Join artist Ellie Barratt to transform everyday materials into unexpected sculptures. As you make, questions may emerge about what counts as art, who gets to decide, and what deserves our attention.
Some sculptures will become part of the festival itself. Look out for them around the Gregson throughout the day and see if you can spot them at the Party of Dissent!
This Is Not a Cinema
Who: Adam York Gregory and Gillian Lees
Where: Secret Cinema
When: 11am–TBC
Duration: Drop in
Not every film belongs in a cinema.
Not every cinema behaves like one.
Curated by Adam and Gillian, this rolling programme brings together locally made films that challenge expectations, expand our idea of cinema and celebrate stories that rarely make it to the big screen.
Linger. Return. Discover. Rethink what cinema can be.
What if Dissent Isn't What We Think It Is?
Who: Sara Mellen
Where: Cafe Bar
When: 11am–12pm and 2pm–6pm
Duration: Drop in (maximum five participants at a time)
Join Sara in the cafe and spend some time with one simple question:
What if dissent isn't what you think it is?
Through thoughtful prompts, unexpected objects and shared conversation, you'll turn the idea over together, like a pebble in your hand, exploring it from different angles and discovering where it might lead. Curiosity is all you need to bring.
Agency of Small Acts
Who: Alice Booth
Where: Agency Desk, The Hall
When: 11am–5pm
Duration: Drop in
A quiet department has opened for one day only. Step inside and become an Agent. You'll be issued with a confidential mission. Some missions ask you to notice differently. Others invite small acts of kindness or gentle mischief. No experience necessary. Simply report to the Agency Desk.
The Living Room
Who: Queer by Gum
Where: Queer by Gum Office
When: 11am–6pm
Duration: Drop in
Step into Queer by Gum's ‘Living Room’ for a quieter moment in the day. Whether you'd like to make something, have a chat, pause for a while, or simply recharge before heading back into the festival, you're invited to drop in and stay as long as you like.
Walk. Wonder. Walk Again.
Who: Jessica Emsley
Where: Starts at The Hall before walking to Miss Whalley's Field
When: 11.30am Accessible Walk, 2pm Explorer Walk, 4pm Explorer Walk
Duration: 90 mins
Book here
A guided walk to Miss Whalley's Field. The Explorer Walk includes a 5-to-10-minute walk to the site and involves uneven ground, narrow paths, steep gradients, and steps. It is not suitable for wheelchairs or people with limited mobility.
In 1938, Miss Whalley gifted this field to the people of Lancaster. Since then, it has
been cared for, enjoyed, challenged and continually reshaped by the community that
shares it. Join artist Jessica Emsley on a gentle walking workshop exploring Miss Whalley's Field through close observation, reflection and simple acts of making. Together you'll explore questions of ownership, belonging and care, discovering how dissent can
begin by paying closer attention to the places we think we already know.
No Such Thing
Who: Hosted by Sarah Westaway, Fatima Noor Al Sahar and one mystery host. Concept created by Quarantine.
Where: Cafe Bar
When: 12pm, 12.45pm and 1.30pm
Duration: 30 minutes for each meal
Book here
When was the last time you had a conversation with a stranger? Join one of our hosts for a free lunch in the Cafe and experience No Such Thing. Explore a menu of questions about everyday life, the world around us, and the things that matter. Listen, share stories, and enjoy the unexpected connections that emerge over a shared meal. Very limited places: one guest per meal. Advance booking is essential.
In My Own Words
Who: Claire Dean
Where: The Hall
When: 1.30pm–4pm
Duration: As long as it takes you
Book here
Create a placard that's genuinely yours. Explore what you believe, question or care about through conversation, writing and making. There's no need to arrive with a slogan. Just curiosity, time to think, and the chance to find the words you want to stand behind. Your placard will be photographed as part of a growing artwork created throughout the festival.
What Happens If
Who: Lora Krasteva, Temidayo Eseonu, Nicola Dale, Benjamin Dalton, Imogen Ashby and Sally Keith
Where: Meeting Room and beyond
When: 2pm–6pm
Duration: Drop in
What happens if curiosity becomes something you can step into? Spend time with three encounters that have grown from a summer of questions, conversations, and unexpected discoveries. Created through a summer residency with artists and Lancaster University researchers.
A Party of Dissent!
Who: Surprise guests
Where: Main Hall
When: 7pm–10pm
Duration: 3 hours, drop in
A DJ, dancing, unexpected moments, the odd interruption and a few things we're not quite ready to reveal. Wear orange, or pick up an orange ribbon when you arrive.
Additional fun throughout the day...
Pass It On
Who: Hosted by Queer by Gum. Featuring contributions gathered by artist Malaika Cunningham (The Bare Project) and a team of Unruly Correspondents.
Where: Throughout the Gregson
When: Throughout the festival
Duration: Discover at your own pace
As you explore the Gregson, you may come across unexpected traces of other people's stories, thoughts and reflections, quietly woven into the building in surprising ways. Some are easy to spot. Others are waiting to be discovered.
Take your time. You never know what you might find.
Keep an eye (and an ear) out...
Who: Loz Kaye
Where: Throughout the building and beyond
When: from 2pm
Duration: You’ll find out!
Not everything appears in the programme. Throughout the day you'll encounter spontaneous interventions by musician Loz Kaye. You might even find yourself in them!
