The Talking Peace Festival is a global arts and cultural platform designed to engage people in the most urgent issues of peace and conflict around the world.

Now in its fourth year, the Talking Peace Festival celebrates the International Day of Peace on 21 September and showcases the power of creativity in resolving conflict.

Held at House of Vans London from 21–24 September, the festival will feature Peace in Progress, an interactive exhibition demonstrating the everyday ways we can all support peace, their innovative pop-up restaurant Conflict Café – exploring the Syrian crisis through the country’s cuisine, a Peacehack looking at how bots can be used to spread the message of peace and a fascinating Peace Talks discussion. Find out more below.

Events:


Conflict Café
21–23 September 2017, 19:00-22:00
Conflict Café celebrates the power of food to break down barriers and get people talking. Diners join communal tables, where they are treated to a feast of traditional dishes from countries that have experienced conflict around the world. Great food is at the heart of Conflict Café, but it is also an informative and interactive dining experience.

This year, we will take diners on a culinary journey through Syria, where the conflict has now entered its seventh year. Guests will find out more about the issues facing the country, hearing from the chef and our experts at brief intervals throughout the three-course meal. Meet the chefs that will be cooking for you on the night. Conflict Café is running for three nights, from 21–23 September. **All nights currently sold out. Add your name to waitlist in case of last minute cancellations** For further information, email conflictcafe@international-alert.org.


Peace in Progress
21–24 September 2017, 10:00-18:00
Peace is just as much about communities living together, side by side, and resolving their differences without resorting to violence as it is about people signing a treaty or laying down their arms. That is why we believe that we all have a role to play in building a more peaceful future.

This interactive exhibition brings to life the everyday approaches we use to make lasting peace a reality. We’ll journey from Rwanda to Syria, to show you how methods as simple as talking, sharing and playing can help make a difference. Come along and you can get involved too, by taking on our tomato trader challenge, marking your place of peace in London or just taking a break from the madness and playing a game or two.


Peace Talks
21 September 2017, 18:00-19:30
Peace Talks is our panel discussion series, which looks at current themes and developments around the world affecting peace, providing an interactive platform where people can discuss and challenge big questions about peace.

This Peace Talks will take a closer look at the journey of those who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, violence and persecution, as well as their opportunities to find safety and build a new life. Book your tickets here.


Peacehack: Robots for peace
23 September 2017, 10:00 – 20:00
A day long hackathon looking at how bots can be used to spread the message of peace. Peacehackers will convene to discuss the ethics around using this and other technologies, and engage the public in creating their own bots to amplify the message of peace. Register here to take part. Find out more about these bots here.