Goldsmiths sets up camp at Bestival

Earlier this year Bestival brought the excitement of one of the world’s best festivals to our New Cross campus, as we joined forces to host a day of live music and lively talks from big name acts, inspiring students and successful alumni.

Now we’re packing our bags and tents and heading to the Isle of Wight, from 8 – 11 September.

How will virtual reality and artificial intelligence change the future of human intimacy? Our Department of Computing lecturer and sex robots expert Dr Kate Devlin explains all at this year’s Bestival, as she joins the Bestiversity stage’s packed line-up of weird, wonderful, scientific, political and downright nerdy talks.

Inspired by Goldsmiths, Bestiversity will dish out neural nourishment on the theme of ‘future possibilities’ over the course of the festival. From the future of spirituality and behaviour to the future of jobs and the economy, the line-up features speakers from the worlds of education, charity and journalism.

Star alumni from the Department of Music will feature on the festival’s Acoustic Stage line-up, while Goldsmiths Students’ Union and the Union’s DJs, Wired Radio, will also be at the Isle of Wight site to entertain the crowds.

The SU’s stall next to the Sunday Best store in the Magic Meadow will be showcasing the best spoken word performance and acoustic music from our creative student community, along with some weird and wacky world record attempts and a liberal sprinkling of gold glitter.

Bestival founders Josie and Rob da Bank are both Goldsmiths graduates, who met in the Students Union’ in 1991 and kick-started their creative careers hosting popular club nights while studying for their degrees. Rob started his weekend club night Sunday Best in 1994 at the Tea Room des Artistes in Clapham - a night that quickly gained cult status and is credited with helping develop bar-based music culture, as opposed to “club culture”.

And in February 2016 they became Honorary Fellows, launching a partnership between the university and the hugely popular Isle of Wight festival. Addressing the audience at the winter graduation ceremony, Rob said: “I'd go as far to say that the cultural landscape of the UK would be in a much weaker position without Goldsmiths fighting the corner of the artists, the musicians, the free-spirits and the general creative vagabonds.”

Patrick Loughrey, Warden of Goldsmiths, University of London said: “We’re delighted to grow our relationship with Josie and Rob through Bestiversity. It’s a brilliant opportunity for us to share our love of learning and enquiry with everyone at the festival.”

Rob adds: “If you’re looking to take the edge off the brilliant night before you can’t go wrong with a bit of Bestiversity. Inspired by my alma mater, Goldsmiths, and full of engaging info on the way forward for subjects as diverse as spirituality, compassion and sex, make sure you feed your brains with a bit of The Future!”

Check out bestival.net for the full festival line-up or book tickets via ticketline