Our Story - Festival of Money
CoB's Festival of Money 23-25 July 2021
Church of Burn’s most ambitious event to date took place during the first weekend free from national COVID restrictions, from the 23rd to the 25th of July 2021. Some safety measures were still in place at The Cockpit Theatre, with social distancing observed by the audience, staff, and performers.
The Festival of Money spanned three days, filled with daytime and evening events. A dedicated space in one of The Cockpit’s Studios hosted an Art Exhibition throughout, showcasing works by among others the late Jamie Reid, Gig Depio, the late Pete Loveday, Justine Smith, CK Wilde, and Stacy Lee Weber. A catalogue of the artworks was produced in the form of the Burning Issue Supplement. The exhibition culminated in an auction on Saturday evening, with proceeds donated to St Mungo's homeless charity.
Friday, 23rd July: Money and Climate
The Festival opened with CoB’s $MACK DOWN in the main auditorium, inspired by a series of discussions with Nika Dubrovsky & David Graeber's Museum of Care. The evening featured a Synod with Clare Farrell (XR), Dr. John Morris (Warwick Uni), and Vinay Gupta (Mattereum), exploring the perilous state of our planet and the destructive nature of our current relationship with money. CoB’s Service and Ritual followed, featuring the debut of the CoB Arkestra, which brought a new musical dimension to our hymns. Carrie Thompson, as Melusine, sang "Exist for Love" while Harriet Waghorn and Carmine De Amicis performed the poignant Broken Token Dance. As ever, the night concluded with a Ritual Sacrifice.
Saturday, 24th July: Money and Art
Saturday’s focus shifted to Money and Art, with Brighton-based artist Shardcore leading a seminar and workshop on NFTs in the afternoon. He later joined the evening Synod, hosted by Michelle Olley, alongside Daisy Campbell, who filled in for the Covid-stricken Professor Nicky Marsh. The Service was a spellbinding experience, with artists and speakers delivering captivating performances. A small change in the schedule saw the Ritual follow directly after Sarah Kershaw’s ‘A Union of Oppositions in Ecstasy,’ without an intermission.
Sunday, 25th July: Money, Community & Society
The final day centered on Money, Community & Society, featuring a presentation on the Brixton Pound by Charlie Waterhouse and a workshop titled "Let’s Make the Paddington Pound!" by Myra Stuart. The evening began with a ‘Bardic Synod,’ featuring powerful recitals from Geoff Winde, Michelle Watson, and Tommy Calderbank. The Service brought another rich tapestry of performances, including a heartfelt rendition of "Across the Universe" by Tim Arnold, which resonated deeply with the congregation. The Festival concluded with our last Ritual, followed by a moving performance of "Times Like These" by Fayann Smith, Kate Alderton, Carrie Thompson, Isabella Steinsdotter, and the CoB Arkestra, led by Rob Burnham.