Salisbury's first TEDx event 'a success'

The sold out evening, which was held at Salisbury Arts Centre on February 27, allowed locals to partake in discussion around the theme of 'Crossing Boundaries'.

TEDx, which is an internationally-known event, exists to "throw a spotlight on ideas worth spreading". All events are organised by local volunteers.

Organiser of the Salisbury event, Leigh Chalmers, said that the evening was designed to spark curiosity and begin debate, championing community endeavour and encouraging cohesion and closer links between different sectors of the city.

The speakers in Salisbury were teacher and coder Jez Whitworth, theatre maker Viv Gordon, Prison Festival organiser David Kendall, and arts consultant Sarah Rickett.

As well as this, musicians Lady Nade and Louise Jordan performed to the masses, who also got given the opportunity to take part in a virtual reality experience of Anglo Saxon Britain courtesy of Wessex Archaeology.

Leigh added: "We have been overwhelmed with positive feedback, it seems like this was just the kind of event the city was waiting for and we worked really hard to ensure that our audience felt as involved In the evening as possible.

"The success of an event like this is all about people; the speakers, the audience, our partners, sponsors and the volunteers. Thank you to all of them, they helped us to create something which now can be seen all over the globe on the TEDx website.

"We are looking forward to doing it all over again next year!”