The Sanctuary Series

The Sanctuary Series is our programme of talks at Brimscombe Mill, opening up big conversations on what matters most. From economic justice and sustainability to community and the arts, we invite visionary thinkers and creatives to share ideas that spark dialogue and inspire action in our community. The Sanctuary is our space dedicated to awe, creativity, and connection, these events offer an opportunity to engage with globally renowned speakers and local innovators who are reshaping the way we think about the world. Past speakers include Kate Raworth, Merlin Sheldrake and Emma Pinchbeck and Juliet Davenport.

We offer paid and free tickets for our Sanctuary Series events so everyone can join.

Upcoming speakers

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Past Speakers

Three men sitting on chairs, engaged in a discussion, with one holding a microphone in a room with a mural background and a large window.

Sir Tim Smit & David Harland 21.04.2026

Black and white portrait of a middle-aged man with short hair, wearing a checkered collared shirt, smiling softly.

Sir Jonathon Porritt 18.12.2025

Black and white photo of two smiling adults, a woman with long hair wearing glasses and a baseball cap that says 'No Notes,' and a man with short hair, standing close together against a background of abstract painted lines.

Edith Bowman & Marc Jobst 28.11.2025

Close-up of a man with glasses, a beard, and short hair, wearing a collared shirt, with a textured background.

Chris Smaje 25.09.25

Two people, a woman and a man, sitting at a table in a cafe with glasses of water, engaged in conversation. The woman is wearing a clerical collar and the man is smiling. There is a decorative geometric mural on the wall behind them.

Bishop Rachel & Tom Godfrey 26.02.2026

Two women sitting and talking in a casual setting, with a colorful abstract patterned wall behind them and a window to the right. One woman has short curly hair and is smiling, the other has short blonde hair and is speaking.
Black and white photo of a woman with short curly hair smiling, outdoors with blurred trees in the background.

Emma Pinchbeck & Juliet Davenport 10.07.25

Kate Raworth 12.06.25

A person with curly hair wearing a dark jacket, sitting on a wicker chair, gesturing with their right hand, in front of a wall with a bold, abstract, line drawing art pattern.

Merlin Sheldrake 24.04.25

Past event highlights

Kate Raworth

Visionary economist and author of Doughnut Economics, joined us here at Brimscombe Mill to share bold ideas for building a regenerative, inclusive economy. Kate shared her vision for reimagining how we live, work and care for our planet. You can watch Kate’s talk here.

Sir Tim Smit & David Harland

What does it take to bring a place back to life and what can that teach us about the communities we’re part of?

In this Sanctuary Series conversation at Brimscombe Mill, Sir Tim Smit and David Harland reflect on decades of restoring landscapes including the Eden Project and The Lost Gardens of Heligan. It’s a conversation that connects global ideas back to the reality of place, and the role we all play within it.

Part of the Sanctuary Series at Brimscombe Mill opening up conversations that matter and bringing them home to where we live. Watch the full interview here

Our Partners

The Sanctuary Series is a curated experience. From Jenny Bowers’ painted backdrops and Marcus Walters’ bold visual identity, to support from Lived In who enable us to film and share each event our partners help shape the feel and impact of every conversation.

A group of people attending a presentation in a room with large windows and a colorful abstract mural wall. A woman is speaking, and there is a standing lamp next to her.
A group of people attending a presentation in a room with large windows and a colorful abstract mural wall. A woman is speaking, and there is a standing lamp next to her.

Illustrator and art director Jenny Bowers oversees the framing and design of each series through her large scale painted backdrops.

A window with a stone exterior wall, and the words 'LIVED IN' printed across the window.
A window with a stone exterior wall, and the words 'LIVED IN' printed across the window.

Livedin Custom Build kindly sponsor our series which has enabled us to document them to share with a wider audience. Explore their website here

Event poster featuring a semi-circular window graphic, black text with event details, and logos for Brimscombe Mill and The Long Table on a light green background.
Event poster featuring a semi-circular window graphic, black text with event details, and logos for Brimscombe Mill and The Long Table on a light green background.

Marcus Walters Studio has developed our Sanctuary Series identity. He is a Stroud based designer and image maker and helped us bring all the ideas to life in print.

A person taking a selfie with a camera in a mirror, sitting in a room with a bookshelf, kitchen items, and pendant lights, wearing a blue cap with green and white text.
A person taking a selfie with a camera in a mirror, sitting in a room with a bookshelf, kitchen items, and pendant lights, wearing a blue cap with green and white text.

Emlyn Bainbridge captures all our content for the Sanctuary Series. He works with land-focused artists, craftspeople and community projects, but equally adept with podcast production, event coverage, and commercial video projects.