Trellis Symposium

A day of discussion and debate exploring the potential of transdisciplinary collaborations to generate new ways of knowing, doing and being.

This symposium forms part of a series of activities Cultural and Community Engagement at UCL East are running to celebrate the achievements and reflect on the learnings to date of Trellis, a knowledge exchange programme run by the team for the past eight years. Trellis brings together UCL researchers, artists and east London-based communities to share experiences and perspectives, co-create artworks and work towards positive change.

Across the day, we'll be raising the ambition for what's possible when artists, researchers and communities come together to exchange knowledge, ideas and practice, probing the role creative collaborations can play in tackling pressing environmental, health and social challenges. At the same time, we'll be interrogating our current practices, and asking how can we work in more equitable, sustainable and impactful ways.

The symposium is open to artists, researchers, communities and anyone else with an interest in understanding, supporting or participating in transdisciplinary collaborations, particularly here in east London. It's an opportunity to make new connections, share inspiring projects and innovative approaches, and rethink established ways of working.

Through panel talks, round-table discussions and participatory activities, we will be exploring the following key questions:

• What values and tools do we need to ensure our projects are transformational, and bring real benefits to all of those involved? We’ll be celebrating the successes, learning from our mistakes, and holding ourselves accountable.

• What barriers and challenges are we facing, what do we need to overcome them, and how might we need to evolve to face future challenges?

• How can we build strong and inclusive communities?

• How can we demonstrate the value of our work?

Expect plenty of opportunities to make and do, as well as listen and discuss. The day will feature projects and learnings from Trellis and Arbor (a programme using the Trellis model run at the UCL Institute of Neurology, Dementia Research Institute), as well as further inspiring examples of place-based projects from UCL and beyond.

It's free to attend and catering will be provided throughout the day.

The full programme will be coming soon.

Trellis has been supported by the Foundation for Future London's Westfield East Bank Creative Futures Fund, funded by Westfield Stratford City, and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Impact Acceleration Account Funding.