BREAKING CONVENTION 2023

Breaking Convention 2023 is a three-day event, and will be the sixth edition of Europe's largest conference on psychedelic research. A multidisciplinary psychedelic conference, Breaking Convention features lectures covering the full range of psychedelia; scientific rigour alongside cultural explorations, from academic and independent researchers. First held at Canterbury in 2011, then the splendid surroundings of Greenwich, we continue moving west... to Exeter!

At Breaking Convention 2023, you will encounter practitioners from across a broad range of psychedelic engagement, from academics giving formal lectures to performers, artists and musicians. BC23 will also feature immersive theatre, as well as cutting edge video and VR installations for you to experience.

With over a hundred speakers from all the psychedelic disciplines, you can expect to meet exciting emerging postgraduate students, leading lights of the research world, philosophers, celebrity chemists, clinicians, therapists, historians, legal professionals, business people, musicians, cultural practitioners and theorists, artists; keen enthusiasts and advisers of caution.

You’ll find plenty of quality conversations, friendly faces, moments of awe and wonder, quiet spaces for reflection, and a great afterparty!

SPEAKERS

People already confirmed include:

JONATHAN OTT / AMANDA FEILDING / WILLIAM LEONARD PICKARD / CARL HART / DEBORAH MASH / ERIK DAVIS / DAVID ERRITZÖE / DARREN LE BARON / GRAHAM ST JOHN / DAVID LUKE / SAJ RAVZI / HATTIE WELLS / SUSAN BLACKMORE/ BEN SESSA / CELIA MORGAN / / CHRIS LETHEBEY/ TOBIAS ERMY / CHRIS TIMMERMANN / LIANA GILOOLY / PETER SJÖSTEDT-HUGHES / CHRISTINE HAUSKELLER / ADAM ARONOVICH / JENNIFER SODINI / GENÍS OÑA / ALEXANDER BEINER / NIKKI WYRD / JULIAN VAYNE / AIMEE TOLLAN / ASHLEIGH MURPHY-BEINER / ROSALIND STONE / REANNE CRANE 

PLUS MANY, MANY MORE!

We have four lecture rooms running throughout the conference, as well as a dedicated cinema room (featuring presentations by the filmmakers). Philosophy will be a major strand of our programming.

Not only will we be showcasing lots of amazing talks over the weekend, but also: a visionary art exhibition including live painting; interactive installations; psychedelic cinema; a stall area selling psychedelic wares from books, to jewellery to clothes and beyond; evening events such as book launches; and on Saturday our spectacular afterparty, with live music from some of the best psychedelic bands and renowned DJs.

To get a taste of our past events, check out our YouTube channel: Breaking Convention
For more information visit our website at Breaking Convention

The BC23 app is in preparation, and will include up to the minute details of talks and events, alongside all the Conference Information; your one-stop portal to all you need to know on the day!

LOCATION

The University of Exeter is home to the first taught undergraduate psychedelics module in the UK. The campus offers a top-notch conference venue with state-of-the-art lecture theatres, a purpose-built cinema room, superb large spaces for art and performances, and a dedicated area for market stalls. There are 400 comfortable rooms available for accommodation on-site*. Catering will be available on site, and the beautiful mediaeval city centre of Exeter has plenty of shops and restaurants offering a wide range of options for evening meals with friends and colleagues. Exeter’s university campus sits comfortably within the city of Exeter, so you can easily catch a bus or even walk to the historic centre, where other accommodation options can be found to suit every budget.

*The on-site accommodation is managed by Event Exeter, the university's conference management company; their room booking system will open in January. Meanwhile you can take a look at the rooms here https://bookings.eventexeter.com/

All of the venue is wheelchair accessible, as is the on-site accommodation. If you have any accessibility needs, please contact us in advance to see how we can assist your attendance. Accompanying carers and assistants can attend free of charge, please contact us if you need a carer's ticket.

TICKETS

This year we have a tiered price system; Concession, Standard and Benefactor. By purchasing a benefactor ticket you are supporting those who cannot afford a standard price ticket, and we would like to express our huge gratitude to those of you in a position to do this.
Concession groups are here defined as students, blue light service personnel (including nurses), and the unwaged. You may be asked to provide documentary proof at the reception desk.

All tickets provide full access to the 3 days of talks and all evening events, and a BC Welcome Pack.

This year, there will also be a LIVESTREAM feed, allowing you to attend from the comfort of your own living room/bedroom/research lab/retreat centre, from anywhere in the world. Breaking Convention is well known for serendipitous in-person encounters and networking, but this is the next best thing! Join us in spirit by purchasing a livestream ticket. Maybe gather some friends together to watch, and create your own mini-BC!

As always, the talks will be recorded and released later in the year on our YouTube channel for all to see.

TRAVEL

We strongly advise you to use public transport to reach the University of Exeter.

Whether you choose planes, trains, automobiles or coaches, Exeter is only 150 miles southwest of London, and can be reached by direct transport links from the capital, as well as from Bristol (which also has an airport). Further information on travel options will be provided once you have bought your ticket, including details of the special £44 London-Exeter return train ticket offer! 

EVERYTHING ELSE

If you still have a question, first please read the information above again, carefully, but if you still can't find what you're looking for, all other enquiries can be sent to admin@breakingconvention.co.uk

We aim to respond to all enquiries within a few days, please be patient with us.

We at Team BC cannot wait to see faces old and new at BC2023. As the world moves into this next phase of reimagining itself, gatherings like this can help catalyse our collective creative thinking. This is an important time for the psychedelic current so get your ticket now, don’t miss out on this amazing event!

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PARTICIPATING & CALL FOR PAPERS

There are options for you to contribute actively to the conference; whether as a speaker, volunteer, artist, press, performer, or if you would like to bring an installation, film, or stall, please apply via our website: PARTICIPATE AT BREAKING CONVENTION

One of the key aspects of BC's success is the broad range of people who share their ideas and findings, covering all aspects of psychedelic engagement throughout time and space. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. 

If accepted, you will qualify for discounted entry to the conference. If you have already purchased a ticket, it will be refunded. Details will be provided upon acceptance.

Deadline for all participation forms is 31st January 2023. We will decide on successful lecture submissions by end February.