Winter Conference: speakers & tickets

We are delighted to announce speakers for the Flag Institute AGM & Winter 2019 Conference, taking place Saturday 2 November 2019 at the People’s History Museum (https://phm.org.uk/), Manchester, which is home to the largest trade union and political banner collection of its type in world.

Tickets (free of charge to Flag Institute members) can be obtained at this link:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/flag-institute-agm-and-winter-2019-conference-tickets-59515838475

Speakers and presentations include…

Annie M. Platoff FF, Slavic Studies Librarian at University of California and Postgraduate PhD student in History, University of Leicester

Soiuz and Symbolic Union: Representations of Unity in Soviet Symbolism

The Soviet Union comprised 15 republics and more than 100 ethnic groups. Soviet symbols celebrated diversity while at the same time emphasising the unity of all Soviet peoples. This paper examines ways in which the concepts of union and unity were symbolically portrayed using flags, emblems, imagery, and slogan.

Dr Andrea Cioncolini, Senior Lecturer in Thermal-Hydraulics, Dr Mostafa R. A. Nabawy, Lecturer in Aerospace Engineering, and Dr Alistair Revell, Reader in Computational Fluid Dynamics

Flags that can Generate Energy from Wind and Sun

Innovative flags, realised by combining piezoelectric strips with flexible solar panels, can generate energy while flapping in the wind and being exposed to sunlight. Specifically designed for distributed sensor networks, these energy-generating flags will find application in environmental sensing, equipment and process remote-monitoring, smart cities, and internet of things.

Roger Ourset, Retired Professor and Dean of ESA Business School, Beirut, Lebanon

Flags and National Anthems

National flags and national anthems are two main symbols of a country. Each field has been studied in great detail, but very little research has be carried out on the relationship between these two prominent elements of national identity. Roger’s presentation will examine the diverse mentions of the flag, its colours, design, and symbolism in lyrics of national anthems of countries, regions, and provinces around the world.

Hannah Patton, Participant Coordinator, HeadStart Kent

Flast on Tour: Talking about Flags in Unusual Places

Hannah will talk about her experiences of taking her Flast (Flag-Chest) around the country talking to different groups about flags. Be it Rangers (senior Girl Guides), Women’s Institute, or Brownie’s, Hannah and her Flast have travelled hundreds of miles taking her love of flags to new and unsuspecting audiences. She has found that everyone loves flags once someone begins a conversation about flags!

Bernard Muscat, Flag Institute Social Media Officer

#WorldCupOfFlags: How Flag Institute content went (accidentally) viral

The story of how random people in Panama were interviewed by Panamanian TV crews because all the way over in London, Bernard spent two weeks playing with flag emoji on the Flag Institute’s Twitter account. Welcome to #WorldCupOfFlags: flags and World Cup fun… without the awkward offside rule.

Jenny van Enckevort, People’s History Museum Conservation Studio Tour

People’s History Museum is home to Britain’s only conservation studio dedicated to the preservation of textile banners and this tour will give visitors the unique opportunity to step behind the scenes. Find out how the conservators care for the largest and most important collection of political material in Britain, including a world renowned collection of historic and contemporary banners and unique objects relating to the fight for the vote. The tour will take in current work in action on a collection rich in delicate textiles, plus protest material, and to hear about the techniques used and the challenges faced when preserving the past.

President’s Dinner

All and their guests are invited to the President’s Dinner. An informal affair to be held at San Carlo (https://sancarlo.co.uk/restaurants/manchester), a five minute walk from People’s History Museum, the evening of the conference. The President’s Dinner is a relaxed outing and for all to discuss the day’s proceedings and to meet other Flag Institute members. Please contact convenor@flaginstitute.org for any further questions regarding arrangements for the President’s Dinner.

Accommodation

The official Flag Institute hotel for the weekend is Premier Inn Manchester City Centre West, a four minute walk from People’s History Museum (https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/greater-manchester/salford/manchester-city-centre-west.html).

Parking

For those driving to the conference, discounted parking tickets for the NCP car park in Spinningfields, New Quay Street. Please contact convenor@flaginstitute.org for information.

We urge you to take part in this exciting event and enjoy a unique mix of historic and contemporary vexillology in good company and the impressive People’s History Museum.