In homage to the spirit of 18th century political salons, Pauline Hadaway and Siobhan O'Dwyer founded the Belfast Salon last year, wanting to broaden public space for argument and debate. Membership is growing substantially as the Salon meets monthly to discuss and debate the big ideas of the day. The French Salons were typically organized by aristocratic ladies and yet become centres of radical thought and intellectual ferment ushering in a new revolutionary age. We may lack aristocratic credentials, but we share a passion for ideas and argument, not only for enjoyment's sake, but because we believe ideas are important and because we want to know where the world is going and how we can play a part in shaping its future.