THE CITYist MyBRISTOL

I came to Bristol as a student aged 18 (a few years ago) and fell in love with the city. The architecture, the events, the different areas, the people, the culture, and the easy access to beautiful places locally. Bristol has it all –excellent city living and great communities with amazing countryside in close proximity.

Acclaimed Bristol author releases second novel

Peace Adzo Medie, Senior Lecturer in Gender and International Politics at the University of Bristol and author of His OnlyWife, which became the NewYork Times’ 2020 Notable Book of the Year, is set to publish her second novel on 6 July. Nightbloom follows the lives of cousins Selasi and Akorfa, who were born on the same day in 1985. When Selasi and Akorfa were young girls, growing up in a small Ghanaian town, they were more than just cousins: they were an inseparable duo, prepared to do anything to protect one another. There was no such thing as a ‘secret’ between the two girls, who lived their entire childhoods side by side. Then Selasi begins to change. She becomes withdrawn and hostile, losing interest even in the schoolwork that used to be so important to her. Selasi constructs a wall around herself designed to keep everyone out –even Akorfa. It will be years before Akorfa learns what happened. But is there still time to save their friendship? When a terrible crisis brings them back together as young women, they must confront the secrets that Selasi has worked so hard to bury, and challenge those who would prefer her to remain silent.

A riveting story of friendship and belonging, from a remarkable Ghanaian talent, Nightbloom is a must-read book of the summer.

1625 is the lead provider of housing and support services to young homeless people and care leavers in the South West. We provide not only homelessness prevention services, emergency housing and support, supported housing and affordable housing linked to work but additionally we provide specialist services in areas of education, employment, healthy relationships, and mental wellbeing. We also have a specialist functional skills education centre for those wishing to gain formal qualifications.

Kingsley Hall is our charity’s base in Old Market. It’s a Grade II* listed building that’s in desperate need of refurbishment. With the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, Bristol City Council and many others, we will be creating a safe and welcoming place for young homeless people in the city. We are working with young people to create new training facilities, a youth-led social enterprise and new homes for young homeless people.

The Hall has strong connections with the city, from its medieval cellars, being used as a Conservative Club in the 19th century, opened in 1911 as the headquarters of the Independent Labour Party by the party’s founder, Keir Hardie, and now home to the South West’s largest youth homelessness charity. The Hall has a unique history of being a place where people have come to promote social change in the city –from meetings of the Suffragettes to debating the world wars, workers’ pay and conditions and improving access to good quality housing.

Young people are at the centre of the project – helping us design and build it, but also exploring the history of the building and social change in the city with the support of our universities and other local groups. The project brings so many opportunities for young people to learn new skills, from design work to traditional building skills, business planning to research skills. For everyone involved we want to create opportunities to become more connected with where they live, develop a sense of ownership and build a sense of identity, connection and belonging in the city –something that so many of the young people we support lacked in their early lives.

Annually, I go with friends and family on a Steve England Foraging Course. I never cease to be amazed by the wonders of nature locally to me in areas such as Stoke Park, Snuff Mills and Oldbury Court and learning how to forage meals which really is a lost art.

I am rewatching Stephen Merchant’s The Outlaws series two as I am very excited by the local filming I have seen for series three. I am a really big fan of Christopher Walken, and the series as a whole.

If I could have dinner with anyone from any era, I think it would be Cecile Jackson-Cole. I only learnt about him in recent years. Not only was he associated with Oxfam, Help the Aged and ActionAid but in 1946 he founded Andrews and Partners Estate Agents as a business with an ulterior purpose which was the development of charities. I would love to pick his brains on how business and charity sectors can and should work together for a better society.

My philosophy in life is: we should all take time to have a positive impact on our own wellbeing and on the wellbeing of people in our lives and in our communities. Some people need this more than others and that is where we should concentrate. We should all be able to enjoy the beauty of nature and be at one with ourselves.

• 1625ip.co.uk

Edible Histories: Largest-ever chocolate button at Glenside Hospital Museum

Luke Jerram’s Edible Histories is a new arts project underway as part of the Bristol 650 celebrations. Throughout the year, five objects that tell the story of Bristol will be selected from the following five local venues: MShed, Aerospace Bristol, Wild Place Project, Tyntesfield and Glenside Hospital Museum.

One to two-metre sized replicas of the objects will then be created in Fairtrade chocolate by the award-winning Bristol chocolatier Zara’s Chocolates – wrapped in gold foil and displayed with the original pieces within these much-loved attractions.

The first chocolate facsimile to be made was a one-meter diameter ship’s wheel from the MShed museum. Representing the city’s trading history, the wheel came from the decommissioned ship TSS Bayano, which sailed bananas and rum from the Caribbean, and also served in the first and second world wars. The sculpture is now temporarily on display in The Galleries.

In June, a giant one-meter diameter replica of a button from Glenside Hospital Museum –originally Bristol’s purpose built asylum –was created. The button represents the many patients who were provided with care. Buttons would have been stitched onto clean robust clothes made for patients to provide them with suitable clothing to work within the hospital. The artwork is now on display in the museum.

In October, the five chocolate objects will be brought together for the first time as part of a free public event. Chosen through an online ballot, 10 members of the public, will ceremoniously break the objects, using specially designed giant hammers. Raising money for local charities as a part of this event, Luke and his team are also distributing the chocolate to foodbanks across the city.

• lukejerram.com

Visual artists taking centre stage of the transformation of Bristol Beacon

Four acclaimed visual artists are working on a series of bespoke art commissions as part of Bristol Beacon’s once-in-a-generation transformation.

The £132m redevelopment of the 150-yearold Grade II listed venue is due to be completed later this year with a reopening date now confirmed as 30 November. The public art programme will play a key role in ensuring the iconic building is rejuvenated with artists’ voices at its heart, bringing the art of music-making to life in visual form.

Four artists were selected by an advisory panel with the curatorial advice of Bristol-based Field Art Projects, and invited to make proposals, two of whom are artists associated with Bristol: Linda Brothwell and Libita Sibungu. The other two artists chosen are Rana Begum and Giles Round.

Their commissions will enhance the look and feel of the venue, adding to the richness of the transformation and the experience for visitors. Their work will include a response to Bristol Beacon’s relationship with the water that surrounds and flows through the city; the textiles and fabrics within the new performance spaces; an architectural installation within the new Lantern space; and a contemporary intervention on the façade of the Lantern building.

Louise Mitchell, chief executive of Bristol Beacon, said: “The transformation of our building is about more than just the bricks and mortar. It has been an important and iconic venue in the heart of the city for many generations, so our public art programme will help us to ensure we make the most of and celebrate this special space, reflecting the 150-plus years of history whilst also looking forward to the future.”

• bristolbeacon.org

Lie Down & Listen arrives in Bristol

Imagine lying down on soft mattresses and cushions, looking up at the clouds as you absorb the restorative sounds of Tibetan bowls and live classical music on cello and piano…

This August you can, because ‘Lie down & Listen’ –the meditation, sound healing and deeply relaxing lying down concert experience is coming to Bristol.

Two days of blissful experiences on Sunday 6 and Monday 7 August will be hosted by Classical Pianist/Sound healer Christina McMaster and Royal Philharmonic cellist/yoga teacher Naomi Watts at the stunning Mount Without, Upper Church Lane. You’ll leave feeling as if you’re floating on a cloud.

Attendees report better sleep, reduced pain and deep bliss. Barbara Anderson, from the Cotswolds, said: “I slept better that night than I have in 20 years.”

“The sound is mesmerising; the 90minute session vanishes… I’m utterly blissed out,” read the Finacial Times’ How To Spend It column.

Join the Sunday sessions at 4.30pm and 7.30pm for a Sunset Lying down Concert. On Monday, awaken with a 10.30am mindful yoga session and lying down concert and, at 3pm, enjoy Heavenly Solo Bach on cello.

• Tickets available on eventbrite and via liedownandlisten.com