The Evelyn Glennie Foundation and City Lit are delighted to announce Listen Up!, a two‑week residency taking place 7–18 May 2026, inviting the public to rethink what it truly means to listen.
The residency features an exhibition in the City Lit Gallery showcasing artefacts from The Evelyn Glennie Collection, selected creative contributions from the global Ways of Listening project developed in partnership with Cities and Memory, and a series of special moments that bring listening into sharp, shared focus. These include an exclusive private view on 7 May, and an intimate, in‑the‑round listening experience led by Dame Evelyn Glennie on 13 May, both by invitation only.
At the heart of Listen Up! is a simple but transformative idea: listening is a radical act — intentional, embodied and deeply connective. As Dame Evelyn Glennie reflects:
“Listening can be an act of connection, empathy, and transformation. It is time — a gift of patience and presence. Perhaps the most radical act we can offer is not our voice, but our listening.”
Through sound, vibration, touch, silence and reflection, the exhibition invites audiences to engage with listening as an active, multi-sensory practice — to slow down, tune in and connect in new, creative ways.
Why City Lit?
The Foundation is especially excited to collaborate with City Lit — Europe’s largest adult education college — whose ethos aligns deeply with the aims of Listen Up!.Dame Evelyn Glennie is both a City Lit Fellow and Patron of the City Lit Percussion Orchestra, a unique ensemble developed in partnership with the Royal Academy of Music and recognised for its inclusive, imaginative approach to collective music‑making.
Both organisations share a commitment to:
accessibility
creative exploration
celebrating diverse ways of engaging with the world
bringing people together through meaningful, participatory experiences
City Lit’s generous support has been central to making the residency possible, enabling Listen Up! to reach diverse audiences while situating listening as a shared, communal practice grounded in human connection.
