Event Title: The Art of Resistance in a Digital Age
Date: Thursday 3rd July 2025
Location: University Arms Hotel, Cambridge
Cambridge BID relaunched its monthly Art Club series with the first event of the 2025/26 year on Thursday 3rd July 2025. The evening, titled The Art of Resistance in a Digital Age, featured guest speaker Adele Zeynep Walton, an author and online safety advocate, marking a key stop on her UK book tour. The session explored the human cost of digital life, its impact on mental health and literacy.
Event Overview
Speaker: Adele Zeynep Walton, author of Logging Off
Topic: The human cost of digital connectivity, digital wellbeing, and literacy as a form of resistance
Format: Talk, Q&A session, book signing, and networking
Hospitality: Guests received a complimentary welcome drink
Accessibility: Content guidance was shared in advance due to sensitive themes in the book (including mental health, suicide, and eating disorders)
Attendance and Growth
Building on last year’s success, the format was expanded to accommodate more guests. In 2024, Art Club events had a maximum capacity of 20 guests. For this first event of 2025, we welcomed over 30 attendees - around a 50% increase in participation.
Venue and Atmosphere
The event was hosted at the University Arms Hotel, which provided a high-quality, intimate, and welcoming space. The venue's elegant setting and attentive staff created the perfect backdrop for thoughtful discussion and engagement.
Feedback and Testimonials
Attendee feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with praise for the speaker’s authenticity, the relevance of the topic, and the overall event experience. We also received encouraging comments from the artist and the University Arms Hotel, who both expressed enthusiasm about their involvement.
Adele Zeynep Walton, the artist, shared: ‘I had a wonderful time speaking at the University Arms Hotel about my debut book Logging Off as part of the Art Club series. It was a brilliant evening with inspiring conversation and hopeful reflection on social media, community and connection. Thank you so much to the BID, and all the staff and management for accommodating me at the hotel and giving me a unique opportunity to see the beautiful city of Cambridge.’
Abby Pollock, event organiser, shared: “It was incredibly valuable to see so many people engaging with such an important and timely topic. Adele’s talk sparked genuine reflection and conversation, which is exactly what Art Club is all about. We're thrilled to have kicked off the new season with such momentum and can’t wait to bring more creative events to life across the city.”
Looking Ahead
This event marked a strong return for the Art Club programme and reinforced Cambridge BID’s role as a facilitator of meaningful cultural dialogue in the city. The focus on digital resistance and mental wellbeing helped broaden the reach of the series to include younger audiences, professionals, and those in creative and digital industries.
The success of this session builds positive momentum for the 2026 Cambridge Arts Festival and provides a strong foundation for the Art Club calendar in the months ahead.
Cambridge BID is excited to continue the Art Club series throughout the year. We’re always looking to collaborate with local businesses who are interested in hosting future sessions and using their spaces in creative, engaging ways. If you’d like to get involved, please contact us at info@cambridgebid.co.uk
