 | | Pat will keep a blog during the festival |
Pat Kane – musician (one half of the 1980s pop duo Hue and Cry), writer, consultant and activist – has been tasked with provoking, challenging and debating with speakers, companies, businesses, organisations and artists. There's an incredible energy to his conversation which is delivered in a strong Scots accent. It's obvious he's done a lot of thinking about the new role. "I suppose the interesting thing about an ideas festival is that it takes innovative thinking seriously," he says. "You need new ideas to drive economies and cities.Ìý There are very few places where ideas get taken seriously, ideas about technology or culture or whatever. It has to be a public space, somewhere between business and academics." New idea The idea of a thinker in residence has been sent up in an article in The Telegraph but Pat Kane is not put off. "I did appreciate (the article) and I agree with about 50% of it, especially the bit about marathons. "The idea seems to be weird, there's never been a festival of ideas in Britain before but what I like about a thinker in residence is that it's quite an ambiguous title.Ìý "You're basically being asked to connect up realms of knowledge that don't usually get linked up. It's the ambiguity and openness that attracts me." Freelance intellectual But just what will he be actually doing? "I've got two strands to what I'm doing," he explains.Ìý"Firstly I will be taking my wireless laptop with me to the various events and blogging what I hear. Using his diary entries as a source material he will intervene at events with ideas from the point of view of someone who has an overview of the five day festival. "I will also be diving into Bristol and speaking to people about their lives. We are all potential players in our own lives." As the city's new official thinker we ask for a thought for the day "Those who must play cannot play", comes the response. We ask what he means and are told: "Play is about freedom, it's an expression of human autonomy." OK then but is this work or play for you? "Well it's all play for me because my definition of play isn't the same as anyone else's.Ìý For things to be play means to be constantly energetic and active. When I'm not playing I'm caring.Ìý Between play and care the only thing I imagine is work is when my computer breaks. But mostly I'm playing or caring." One final question: We take it you are being paid for your ideas? "I'm a freelance intellectual so, I'm being paid for that." The Festival of Ideas runs from 16 to 21 May. | 
