Big Think Announces Los Angeles Hope Festival May 19-21

This three-day event is the celebration of a four-year, $5 million research initiative by the Hope and Optimism: Conceptual and Empirical Investigations initiative to uncover the unique and surprising ways that hope and optimism affects individuals, communities, scientific progress, and artistic expression. Organized through a media partnership with Big Think.

Each night of the festival will feature a performance of the initiative's $10,000 prize-winning play, "I Carry Your Heart" by Georgette Kelly at 7:30pm (doors open at 6).

On Friday May 19th, the festival begins at 3pm, with the day's keynote speaker, Tali Sharot (author of The Optimism Bias) giving a FREE talk at 4:45pm. After the evening's performance of "I Carry Your Heart," at 7:30 PM (doors open at 6) festival goers can enjoy live band performances at the opening night party.

On Saturday May 20th, the talks begin at 11am, with a special food truck-catered lunch available from 12:15 to 1:45pm. Saturday's FREE keynote talk will be given by noted philosopher and activist Cornel West at 5pm (tickets required), and following that night's play performance at 7:30pm, guests can once again rock out to live bands at the after party.

The final day of the festival, Sunday May 21st, begins with a staged reading of the playwriting contest's third place play, "How To Conquer The World: A Brief History Of Yogurt" by David Myers. Following another delicious food truck lunch, catch a staged reading of the second place play, "The Body" by Steve Moulds, more fascinating talks, and a 7:30 pm performance of "I Carry Your Heart." Dance the night away with another night of live music at the final after party.

Other keynote speakers include the neuroscientist David Eagleman (of PBS's THE BRAIN,) author and MacArthur Genius Yiyun Li (The Vagrants,) and Actress and Creator of The Prison Project Sabra Williams.

And don't forget about conversations about hope in film, music, and more!

Tickets are FREE for all talks, and tickets to "I Carry Your Heart" performances are $15 for students and seniors via presale or $20 for all at the door. Seating is limited, so it is highly encouraged to reserve your attendance for talks or performances at bootlegtheater.org/theater. For descriptions of each talk, head to bigthink.com/hopefestival.

More information on the Hope and Optimism initiative can be found here.

Contact: Matt Carlstrom, [email protected]

SOURCE Big Think