The Leeds Society of Architects in conjunctions with Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Civic Trust, and the RIBA, are excited to announce the return of the popular 4 x 4 talk series for 2024 (2024 x 4) due to be held across four Thursday evenings in February.
Each evening will be chaired by an expert host, who will lead Q&A sessions with the presenters following each presentation, encouraging conversation around architecture, urban design, the arts, culture and sustainability.
The talks will start from 5:30pm and last for approximately two hours, we ask attendees to arrive from 5:15pm. There will also be an opportunity for networking and discussion following the event in the venue's bar until 8:45pm, which we invite everyone to enjoy.
Week 1: Leeds, a city alive
Chair: Peg Alexander
Peg Alexander is an award winning broadcaster, presenter and journalist and occasional writer across TV radio, podcasts and events. She’s a regular on Jeremy Vine on 5, Steph’s Packed Lunch, and BBC England radio.
Speakers:
Ian Tod
Ian Tod, now retired, was the founder of the 4 x 4 talks ‘making places’ 2001 – 2012. He led a Leeds based practice from 1977 to 2012, which oversaw projects such as Hunslet Housing Cooperative, Design Innovation Centre, and Yorkshire Dance Centre to name a few.
Jess Davidson and Mark Johnston
Jess anchors the Page\Park Architects Leeds office and has led our growth in the region since she joined the team in 2019. She has particular experience in housing and urban regeneration; and is bringing her expertise to a number of community and heritage projects, championing the importance of protecting our social/community infrastructure.
Mark is a leading member of their arts and culture team. He has worked on numerous theatres, cinemas and other arts venues during his time at Page\Park, and has a particular interest in projects that re-energise and refresh cultural buildings to make them accessible for all.
Pippa Hale
Pippa Hale is a contemporary artist based in Leeds. Her practice centres around history, geography and play and includes large-scale installations in heritage venues, the public realm and museums and galleries in media ranging from foam and inflatables to iron and digital technology.
Abigail Scott Paul and Kully Thiarai
Since May 2020, Abigail has been Director of External Relations and Strategic Partnerships at LEEDS 2023 Year of Culture. She is responsible for designing and delivering LEEDS 2023's communications and external affairs strategy, as well as overseeing its research and evaluation framework.
Kully is Creative Director and CEO of LEEDS 2023 Year of Culture. She has spent her 30+ year career changing systems and structures in the arts world that are barriers to inclusion including pioneering the ways that theatres involve young people and taking performances to spaces that could be more easily accessible by the public.
