Freakonomics on stage, Ferran Adrià dinner series and ‘Camp Alphaville’ among new consumer-facing events in 2014

FT Live, the Financial Times’ global conference and events division, will expand this year with a new focus on life, arts and culture.

On 27 May, Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, the authors of Freakonomics and Think Like A Freak, will join FT senior columnist Tim Harford for the first event in a new FT Weekend Interview Series. The events in this series will be curated by Caroline Daniel, FT Weekend editor, and will feature high profile and powerful personalities from business, arts, entertainment, sport, government, academia and public life.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of How To Spend It magazine, the FT has teamed up with the world’s most celebrated chef Ferran Adrià of the famed elBulli restaurant to present a series of exclusive dinners in London, New York, Hong Kong and Geneva. The dinners will be co-hosted by Gillian de Bono, Editor of How To Spend It, and Mr. Adrià, in collaboration with award-winning chefs in each city: Chef Jason Atherton, Pollen Street Social and Aberdeen Street Social, Chef Philippe Audonnet, Windows, Hotel d’Angleterre, and Chef Daniel Humm, Eleven Madison Park.

On 2 July, the FT’s award-winning markets blog FT Alphaville will present Camp Alphaville, a festival for finance rather than music, under canvas tents on the grounds of the historic Honourable Artillery Company in London. Hosted by founding editor Paul Murphy and the FT Alphaville team, the one-day event will feature keynote speeches, debate, insight, competition, comedy, food, drink and networking.

Rob Grimshaw, managing director of FT.com, commented: “FT Live had a tremendous 2013 with more than 220 events in 55 countries and the division has seen double-digit growth in revenues every year for the last five years. Following strong demand from readers for more opportunities to connect with and hear from FT journalists on arts and lifestyle topics, we are focused on expanding in this area and continuing to build unique and valuable experiences for our global community.”

For more information about FT Live events and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.ft-live.com.