A major festival to be staged in Bristol this summer will give business leaders the opportunity to discuss key issues for the city ranging from the drive towards net zero to the reinvention of high streets with with government ministers and leading opposition politicians.
The two-day Big Tent Festival will also look at the changing role of social media, food poverty and housing provision among a host of topics to be aired at a series of panel and round-table discussions. 
Alongside these, the festival will include a Speakers’ Corner, an art wall and a Dragons’ Den-style event, where the next generation of Bristol entrepreneurs can be matched with potential investors
The Big Tent Festival takes place each year in different cities outside London. Last year’s, staged in Coventry to coincide with its term as UK city of culture, was the first post-Covid large-scale political event.
The 2022 festival will take place on June 10 and 11 in Bristol’s Queen Square under the title of Transitions.
The event, at the invitation of Mayor Marvin Rees, will bring together ministers, shadow ministers, local, national and international politicians, policymakers, business leaders and campaigners for a day’s discussion and debate, leading to real policy outcomes.
The full line-up of speakers will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Big Tent Transitions 22 will consist of an invitation-only summit for local and national business, political and civil society leaders on June 10 and a ticketed festival open to everyone the following day.
The former will focus on delivering city-led regeneration while visitors to the latter will be able to enjoy and participate in discussions throughout the day on four ‘transition’ themes –to net zero; to a more equitable society; to better public services; and to better conversation through new media and culture.
There will be plenty of opportunities for businesses to get involved in the debate, including putting points to the panel or signing up for a slot in Speakers’ Corner, which will run throughout the day during refreshment breaks.
The event is being organized by Radix Big Tent, an independent platform for constructive, political discussion, innovative and entrepreneurial ideas and collaborative action to renew and regenerate the UK.
Radix Big Tent wants as many Bristol businesses and entrepreneurs to get involved as possible.
There are sponsorship opportunities for businesses as well as the chance to take part in the Speakers’ Corner or Dragons’ Den events.
For more information and tickets click here. To watch a showreel of last year’s event click here
