The Sanctuary Series

The Sanctuary Series is a new programme of talks, sparking conversations that will explore topics that affect and inspire us all. Hosted here in our Sanctuary Space at Brimscombe Mill, the series brings together visionary thinkers, change makers, and creatives to spark dialogue and inspire action on themes of economic justice, sustainability, community, and the arts.

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.

The series so far has featured Dr. Kate Raworth on Doughnut Economics, Merlin Sheldrake on the hidden intelligence of fungi and Emma Pinchbeck and Juliet Davenport on the future of our energy.

To book tickets please click on the links below. For each talk we always offer paid and free tickets so everyone can join.

The Sanctuary Series: Chris Smaje - Have a ticket on us.
£0.00
The Sanctuary Series: Chris Smaje - £15 Ticket
£15.00

Upcoming Speakers

Side-by-side portraits of a woman with blonde hair in professional attire and a smiling man with a beard outdoors in a yellow shirt.
Close-up of a middle-aged man with short brown hair and a slight smile, wearing a blue checkered shirt, sitting indoors.

Jonathon Porritt
18.12.2025

Sir Jonathon Porritt CBE, renowned environmentalist and founder of Forum for the Future, joins the Sanctuary Series to discuss the themes of his powerful new book Hope in Hell: Love, Anger and the Fight for the Planet. Drawing on decades at the forefront of environmental action, he explores what it means to stay hopeful and determined in the face of climate crisis

Marc Jobst X Edith Bowman
29.11.2025

Director Marc Jobst (Netflix’s One Piece, The Witcher, Marvel’s The Punisher) joins broadcaster and film curator Edith Bowman, known for her Soundtracking podcast and championing of British film, for a conversation on the art of storytelling on screen. Together, they’ll explore what it takes to craft stories that move global audiences and why it starts with character.

Past Speakers

Black and white portrait of a woman with short blonde hair, wearing a celestial patterned blouse, standing with arms crossed against a plain background.

Emma Pinchbeck & Juliet Davenport 10.07.25

Two leading voices in the UK’s energy and climate space joined us to discuss the real-world challenges of reaching net zero. From policy to the role of innovation, they revealed what it truly takes to create a just and sustainable transition for both people and planet.

Black and white photo of a smiling woman with short curly hair, wearing a necklace and a dark blazer, outdoors with blurred trees in the background.

Kate Raworth

12.06.25

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.

A man with curly hair sitting on a wicker chair in front of a wall with abstract art. He is wearing a dark shirt and has a bracelet on his right wrist. There is a table with glasses and books beside him.

Merlin Sheldrake

24.04.25

Biologist and author of Entangled Life shared his work in uncovering the hidden networks of fungi that mirror our interconnected world. The evening was in collaboration with The Long Table’s food resilience sourcing team.

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.

An indoor gathering with an audience listening to a woman speaking at a presentation or lecture, with a large, colorful abstract mural on the wall behind her.

Illustrator and art director Jenny Bowers has overseen 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.

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

Livedin are based near Stroud and their aim is to radically increase access to self-building for people from all walks of life. Their belief is simple yet bold: anyone should have the chance to design and construct a home that reflects their dreams, values, and personal story. 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.

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.