Close Readings is a new series of deeper discussions taking place at Bidston Observatory Artistic Research Centre (BOARC) in Merseyside, England. It will form a shared moment to explore research with writers over the course of a weekend, with hard conversation, softer talks and grounding practices for the working group.
https://bidstonobservatory.org/
First up, we’re very excited to be joined by Simon(e) Van Saarloos to discuss their latest book – ‘Against Ageism’. It’s a queer manifesto looking at the ways in which categories of age function to support white supremacist patriarchy. The text argues that queer attempts to heal violence by setting up frameworks of consent, can mistakenly reproduce legal-type language, without examining how we are all affected by that language. This is decolonial, transfeminist, sex-liberation work which we welcome over this years’ Summer Solstice gathering at BOARC!
https://bidstonobservatory.org/events/close-readings:-against-ageism-with-simon(e)-van-sarloos
The weekend runs from the afternoon of Friday 23rd June to the afternoon of Sunday 25th June, 2023.
About the author
Simon(e) Van Saarloos is the author of ‘Playing Monogamy’, ‘Take ‘Em Down: Scattered Monuments and Queer Forgetting’ and ‘Against Ageism: A Queer Manifesto’.
Other work includes a short sci-fi story “Dreamdead Surrender” (Postmodern Culture Journal) and De Foetushemel, a theater play about abortion and violent resistance for Ulrike Quade Company at Bellevue Theater Amsterdam.
Van Saarloos also works as an independent curator. They are currently undertaking a PhD in Rhetoric at the University of California, Berkeley.
http://www.simonevansaarloos.nl/
About the organisation
Bidston Observatory Artistic Research Centre (BOARC) is a self-organising, communal study site situated on The Wirral in England, close to Liverpool. It is a not-for-profit project that focuses on providing individual users and groups with a low cost, temporary place to work and stay together; to develop projects that require time and space in a flexible, non-pressured environment.
BOARC is a site for research and experimentation, which is primarily directed towards cultural and artistic practice, and supporting the development of communities. It is a space where those invested in culture, social justice and welfare, from a range of fields can come together to share, test and extend ideas and mutually support each other. BOARC is open to a range of academic and non-academic discourses, bodywork, collective choreography, and chat – it is a space where discussion can flow from kitchen to sound recording studio, and ideas can bounce between the domes and basements.
Travel information can be found here:
https://bidstonobservatory.org/practical-info
Information for staying
Spaces for the weekend are available from Eventbrite on a self-assigned sliding scale depending on your expendable income. We require 48 hours notice for stayers.
£90 – Two nights accommodation, food, events (Standard Rate)
£120 – Two nights accommodation, food, events (Higher Rate)
If you would like to avoid the additional £5 Eventbrite fee, please send us an email to arrange your stay.
It is also possible to come for the day, without accommodation on site, however participants should commit to joining for both full days.
£30 – Weekend day use only
£50 – Weekend day use with food provided
We have made also made two free spaces available for this event – Please send us a message if you would struggle to attend without this support.
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https://bidstonobservatory.org/
Email: enquiries@bidstonobservatory.org
Instagram: @bid_obs