Daily Life Ltd. project

7 & 8 May 2015
Various venues

The Expert View was a two-day micro-festival held across various sites in east London to explore ‘expertise’ in arts and mental health, from the perspectives of all involved. It was organised in partnership with Bromley By Bow Centre and Friends of East End Loonies (F.E.E.L). 

The festival included a performance double bill with Selina Thompson and Laura Jane Dean at Arts 2, Queen Mary University London, and a symposium at the Bromley By Bow Centre, hosted by Bobby Baker. The symposium investigated ‘expertise’, the value of lived experience, and ways of evaluating collaborative work. Contributions came from leading academics, artists and practitioners working at the cutting edge of arts and mental health practice. These included Jacqui Dillon, Hearing Voices Network; Dr Caoimhe McAvinchey, Queen Mary University London; Marc Steene, Outside In; Beth Elliott, Bethlem Gallery; Dr Dave Harper, University of East London; and Lucy Wells, Bromley by Bow Centre. Performances and interventions took place throughout the day by artists Simon Raven and Dolly Sen. The festival concluded with the Cure All Cabaret; an evening of live music, performance and spoken word at Kingsley Hall, hosted by Baker and singer-songwriter Dylan Tighe with contributions from F.E.E.L poets and friends.