"Good morning everyone, and welcome to ‘A Symposium of Sorts: A Collaboration of Experts.’ In case you haven’t twigged by this point, you are the experts!

The idea for today was sparked by a comment made by Jeanne Van Heeswijk, one of my favourite artists. ‘A Collaboration of Experts’ is the way she approaches her projects- bringing together the best possible team for the job at hand, incorporating a cross-section of expertise and valuing the role of each individual involved.

Today is about all of those things, but it’s also about providing an opportunity and space for you all to meet, talk, share and, as a result, spark some new ideas. It’s no coincidence that behind many of history’s biggest and most influential ideas is a coffee shop. Innovation breeds in spaces like this and I’m excited to see what the day produces.

As well as today being an event I’m really happy to be hosting, it’s also the last piece of work I will put together as a BA student at this University; another reason why I was so keen to make this happen now. I’ve always found the lack of conversations between courses in this school odd, and so by holding this day on campus, and asking people from within and outside of the University to attend, I hope it can act as the start of a shift on that front and be a catalyst for new conversations to emerge.

With it being my ‘final piece’ as such, I want to warn you now that tutors may well pop in and out, particularly during lunchtime and the afternoon workshops. If they start probing for information, make sure you tell them how amazing everything is! I’m also making sure today is really well documented, not just for the purpose of assessment, but so that this event can act as the platform for others and as the basis for more conversation. You’ll notice Joe (wave!) hanging around on the peripheries with a video camera. Please try to forget he’s there, if you can!  We’re also being broadcast live online throughout the day so that London-based artist David Kelly can make some drawings from what he sees. But it’s also really important to me that you, as the participants in all this, make the outside world aware of what’s going on on your terms. So, please don’t hide your phones away- I want you to use Facebook, Twitter and Vine (for those who have it) to post updates, comments and questions as they arise, and please use the hashtag #SymposiumOfSorts when you post. 

So, thank you all for being here. You’ll make the day what it is, so let’s make it a good one!" - Welcome Note, 17.05.13