A new annual symposium exploring how craft skills can shape the future of work - brought to you by QEST in collaboration with Debika Ray.

Automation promised us a world in which machines took over hard labour and repetitive tasks, freeing us up for creative, purposeful and dignified work, alongside more time for leisure and craft for craft’s sake. Now, as technology advances, we’re confronting a future in which humans increasingly compete with machines for practices and activities that bring us joy.

None of this is inevitable. QEST’s work is underpinned by a belief in the irreplaceable power of humankind in creating a more sustainable and equitable world. With that in mind our new annual symposium, The Future is Human Made, places craft at the centre of how we think about work and economic development. The title is both an assertion and a call to action: the future is in our hands, and it is ours to shape.

The inaugural edition, Hands, Work, Power, brings together visionary thinkers and expert makers. Together, they’ll explore the role of human skills in solving contemporary challenges and shaping the future. Through the sessions, we ask: what skills and knowledge do we value, and why? What’s the role of craft in our common future?

Welcome & Introduction

As part of the introductions and scene-setting, QEST Scholar and Puppet Maker Carolene Yawa Ada will share a short film documenting the work of Togolese puppeteer Danaye Kanlanfei, before demonstrating her own puppetry practice and reflecting on the importance of cultural exchange, storytelling and the preservation of traditional knowledge.

Session 1

Makers at the forefront of their fields share how they've built viable, ambitious practices grounded in craft and skill. Through short presentations, and a following conversation, they reveal how human skill can compete, adapt and thrive in the contemporary world.

Host: Debika Ray.

Speakers: Cassie Quinn, Annemarie O'Sullivan, Eddy Bennett and Sophie Sellu.

Session 2

Two keynote speakers discuss what it means to bring the values of craft to the world at scale. They explore how those who commission and design our material environments can ensure makers and their skills are at the heart of how we shape our future.

Host: Dr Neal Shasore Hon FRIBA.

Speakers: Jay Osgerby OBE RDI and Alison Brooks OBE.

See full agenda below.

Contact

Have a question about this event? Check out the frequently asked questions below or contact louise.rains@qest.org.uk

Sponsors & Partners

Venue Partner - Central Saint Martins

Developed in collaboration with journalist and editor Debika Ray

More to be announced! For sponsorship opportunities, contact elisa.franco@qest.org.uk

Description supplied by the event organiser.