Calling all curious minds and lovers of deep conversation! Leveraging the success of the long-running talks and ideas program at Brisbane Powerhouse, Panoptica is the coming together of curious minds in an exploration of the human experience in all its splendour, complexity and contradiction.

Curated by founder and creative director of Double Dash, Rhiannon Phillips, Panoptica’s focus is deep dialogue leaving no topic un-conversed as taboo subjects that are often met with discomfort take centre stage. The program, spanning across two days, will see international speakers and authors with diverse voices, stories, backgrounds and professions travel to the Brisbane Powerhouse to share ideas by method of keynotes and in-conversation events.

This year’s line-up will see an in-conversation event with Gabriel Krauze on Wednesday August 23, speaking on the enduring power of art following a tumultuous childhood that saw him grow up in the streets on London, soon finding himself in a life of crime. There’s also a discussion with TED Talk’s ‘What Makes Life Good’ speaker Robert Waldinger on also Wednesday August 23, as well as a discussion of death and all that comes with it from United Kingdom’s Hayley Campbell, and a deep dive into the normally taboo conversation of pornography from Polly Barton on Thursday August 24.

‘In Conversation’ event times

Wednesday August 23: Robert Waldinger 6:30–7:30 pm, Gabriel Krauze 8:30–9:30 pm
Thursday August 24: Hayley Campbell 6:30–7:30 pm, Polly Barton 8:30–9:30 pm

Book your tickets to this curious event here. You can opt for a festival pass, day one pass, day two pass or buy singular event tickets – the journey is yours!