So say the organisers and participants of a public symposium that encourages a creative perspective on how gambling is understood across time and place.
‘Changing the Odds: Gambling & Gambling Harms Through Arts & Humanities’ is the first in a series of events hosted this autumn by the Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms Research as it marks three years of supporting interdisciplinary studies into the causes and consequences of gambling that draw on the experiences of those most affected.
The event takes place on Wednesday, 10 September at the University of Bristol and promises to be a space for enlivening discussions around an issue that has ordinarily been dominated by psychologists and social scientists.
Members of the public, especially those with lived experience of gambling harms, are invited to join leading researchers, artists, performers and students to explore how history, film, music and culture can articulate and encourage public engagement by seeing beyond the lens of statistics and data.
“Previous research has suggested that performing arts play a significant role in creating awareness and mobilising communities towards changing perceptions and habits,” said Hub Co-Director Professor Agnes Nairn. “If this is shown to be the case for gambling harms, it could be used as a blueprint and adapted for different regions.”
By presenting a breadth of research, the symposium will highlight that gambling is nothing new and in fact history can teach us a great deal about how humanity has a long relationship – and battle – with seeking stimulation and entertainment.
Highlights include a drama performance by Moveable Type Theatre, with Film Director Melanie Manchot showing and talking about her recent film Stephen. There will also be a session on how songwriting can be used to understand and address the lived experience of gambling harms, drawing on the work of PhD student Sharon Martin.
Among the speakers will be University of Bristol Vice-Chancellor Professor Evelyn Welch, talking about her research into how in 16th-century Italy, lotteries became a crucial way to raise public funds without imposing taxes.
Professor Martin Hurcombe from Bristol’s School of Modern Languages will be talking about the entwined history of sport and gambling.
The symposium will also include a look at how masculinity is embedded in the history of sports betting in Australia, courtesy of Rohann Irving from the University of Queensland.
“Ultimately the work we’re doing at the Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms Research is about being able to stand in somebody’s shoes, understand what it feels like to live a life impacted by gambling, and find ways to support them with the challenges they’re facing at this moment in time,” added Professor Nairn.
“By combining innovative research with compassionate insight, we can begin to not just reduce gambling harms but also build a culture of informed support, resilience and meaningful change for individuals and communities alike.”
Registration details and further information about the programme for the event, which is free to attend and runs from 9am until 2pm, can be found here.