Five new things to look out for as The Conduit reopens
We’re excited to open our doors to you this week and, judging by the flurry of messages we’ve received recently from our members and well-wishers, we sense that that excitement is shared. Whilst a lot of what members will experience might feel familiar, here are five new things to look out for as we reopen…
Words:
David Osei
We are proud of our global community, with our membership spanning over 60 countries. For those based in or around London, or visiting from further afield, we’re delighted to welcome you, your families, and your friends (of the two or four-legged kind) back to our new building in Covent Garden.
Across six floors, we are creating areas for you to convene with your community, to be inspired, to unwind, and to have fun.
In this Conduit Insight, we want to highlight five new things you should look out for on your first visit to our new home…
1. Our local community
Now based in the heart of London’s historic Covent Garden, we’re part of an area with a rich history of bringing people together.
The newly-refurbished grade II listed building at 6 Langley Street is our new home. Constructed in the early 1700s, it’s a building that has stood the test of time. It formed part of the famous Woodyard Brewery until 1905, and was then used to store the fresh fruits that were sold at Covent Garden’s bustling night market.
In a way, its modern incarnation complements its past, except that it will be ideas and connections that will be brewed in this building, and we expect the fresh fruits of that to be positive changes to lives and communities around the world.
In Covent Garden, we believe we’ve found the right pocket of London to reconvene our community; there’s already a strong feeling of community, creativity, and entrepreneurship within the neighbourhood.
The old Woodyard Brewery buildings were once linked to each other by high-level cast iron bridges. That concept lives on but, in place of bridges, we’re linking with our neighbours through partnerships. Pineapple Dance Studios is right next door to us and, three mornings a week, our members and staff can enjoy strength and stretch, yoga, and HIIT classes at preferential rates. Stanfords Bookshop is right opposite us, and they are stocking and staffing our second floor Bookshop, and the nearby London Film School will co-host film screenings with us.
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2. Renowned speakers and passionate minds
We strive to convene events where people leave more connected to each other than before.
Our programme has been running online throughout the year, and has provided the springboard for us to devise an ambitious hybrid programming schedule. Therefore, even though in-person events have resumed at The Conduit, we’ll still live stream and upload content from most of them to ensure that knowledge remains accessible, and that ideas are able to spread beyond the physical walls at 6 Langley Street.
The pandemic has demonstrated our interconnectivity with tragic immediacy, and it’s a reminder that the biggest challenges facing humanity cannot be solved in isolation, so a core aim of our programming is to build connections and collaborations across our community that drive action. The Southern African concept of ubuntu (meaning “humanity towards others”) underlies this approach. So once events have concluded in The Forum, we encourage members and guests to move to the third floor Ubuntu Lounge to continue conversations, connect with each other, and allow ideas and solutions to brew. Some events will now be followed by what we’re calling ‘Solution Circles’ where, having heard about an issue, members reconvene to develop practical interventions capable of delivering real-world impact.
Of course, The Conduit is very much a space for lighter, social interactions too so our programme will also feature wellbeing events, film screenings, family days, art exhibitions, and the odd party night too!
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3. The second floor cynotype gallery
Decorative artist Timna Woollard and her team have adorned the walls of our new home with art that is both eye-catching and poignant.
We have worked closely with our suppliers, many of whom are social enterprises, and with artisans to make sure that the physical space at The Conduit reflects our values and our passions, and does so in a way that sparks a response from our community.
On the second floor of The Conduit, you’ll find an exhibition that serves as a stark reminder of the impact human activity is having on our environment. Timna Woollard’s installation Human Debris Destroys Nature is both beautiful at first glance, and yet tragic on closer inspection.
Produced through the cyanotype printing method (which uses sunshine, water, and chemicals that have a lower toxicity than any other photographic method), these images feature botanical plants and flowers juxtaposed with the non-biodegradable debris they’re now forced to share their habitat with.
You should:
- Visit the second floor exhibition, or book yourself onto a group tour through the members’ portal or app
4. Our taste-good-do-good coffee
Every cup of coffee you drink at The Conduit will help support those at risk of homelessness in the UK.
Whether yours is a flat white, cappuccino, latte, or an expresso, if you have a love for coffee, we have you covered. We are committing to working with partners who share our passion for ethical and sustainable hospitality, so we’re delighted to have partnered with the UK’s first social enterprise speciality coffee roastery, Old Spike Roastery.
Like us, they too are committed to helping those less fortunate. They believe our nation’s love for coffee can be a vehicle for social change, so 65% of their profits go directly towards training, supporting, housing, and employing those experiencing, or at risk, of homelessness.
This means that every time you buy a cup of coffee at The Conduit, you’re helping to support Old Spike’s mission to lift individuals out of homelessness and give them an opportunity to re-enter society. And, of course, you’re also getting high quality sustainably sourced coffee that tastes great as well.
Top tip:
- Old Spike coffee is served on the second, third, and fifth floors.
5. Each other
This community is based on trust, kindness, and a willingness to be open and humble.
Last but by no means least, we need you to look out for each other. After months of intense work behind closed doors, we’re extremely excited to be able to welcome our community into our new home.
We all have a duty to each other to keep our community safe. Before visiting The Conduit, please ensure you are aware of the conditions of entry, which are in place to protect our staff and community.
Once you’re inside, our house rules try to ensure that everyone has a great experience in our home. You’ll hopefully notice that our values such as collaboration and courage are thoughtfully woven into the spaces and ambiences we’ve created, and we’d love for you to adopt these values, alongside respect and authenticity, in your interactions with the community you’ll meet at and through The Conduit.
A huge welcome (back) from the entire team at The Conduit!
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