York Festival of Ideas is a cultural festival in

York York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...

, England, that aims to "educate, entertain and inspire". It runs for two weeks in June each year, in venues across the city centre and at the University of York. The festival was launched in 2011 as a partnership between the University of York and major cultural organisations in the city including York Theatre Royal, York Museums Trust, the National Centre for Early Music and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation to celebrate York's reputation as a city of ideas and innovation, and to demonstrate the transformative power of education and ideas. York Festival of Ideas celebrates the vibrancy of the city of York with a range of speakers, exhibitions, performances and a host of interactive experiences for people of all ages, including York residents and visitors to the city. On average the Festival attracts over fifteen thousand people each year.

Festivals

2011

The 2011 pilot festival consisted of over 20 events across the city of York. The themes for the first Festival were ''Beckett, the Body and the Bible''. The Festival included events with two novelists powerfully influenced by Beckett's work -

John Banville William John Banville (born 8 December 1945) is an Irish novelist, short story writer, adapter of dramas and screenwriter. Though he has been described as "the heir to Proust, via Nabokov", Banville himself maintains that W. B. Yeats and Henry J ...

and the Nobel Laureate JM Coetzee, in addition to theatre performances by the internationally renowne
Gare St Lazare Players
The Festival of Ideas in 2011 was a partnership between the

University of York , mottoeng = On the threshold of wisdom , established = , type = Public research university , endowment = £8.0 million , budget = £403.6 million , chancellor = Heather Melville , vice_chancellor = Charlie Jeffery , students ...

York Theatre Royal York Theatre Royal is a theatre in St Leonard's Place, in York, England, which dates back to 1744. The theatre currently seats 750 people. Whilst the theatre is traditionally a proscenium theatre, it was reconfigured for a season in 2011 to offer ...

, The

National Centre for Early Music The National Centre for Early Music (NCEM) is organisation encourages, promotes and disseminates early music. Located in York, England, it is based in the converted and extended, Grade I listed medieval church of St Margaret, Walmgate. Each ye ...

and

York Museums Trust York Museums Trust (YMT) is the charity responsible for operating some key museums and galleries in York, England. The trust was founded in 2002 to run York's museums on behalf of the City of York Council. It has seen an increase in annual foo ...

2012

The overarching theme for the 2012 Festival was ''Metamorphoses'', which included major topic areas such as the perils and perceptions of ageing; how conflict transforms lives; architecture as a catalyst for social, cultural and economic progress, and the turbulence of financial markets. The programme also included a Science out of the Lab event in the city centre; a New Writers’ Day; a variety of exhibitions, musical performances and concerts, and international speakers such as

Anthony Horowitz Anthony John Horowitz, (born 5 April 1955) is an English novelist and screenwriter specialising in mystery and suspense. His works for children and young adult readers include ''The Diamond Brothers'' series, the ''Alex Rider'' series, and ''T ...

and

Jung Chang Jung Chang (, , born 25 March 1952) is a Chinese-British writer now living in London, best known for her family autobiography ''Wild Swans'', selling over 10 million copies worldwide but banned in the People's Republic of China. Her 832-page ...

2013

York Festival of Ideas 2013 was organised around the theme ''North and South''. Celebrating York's status as 'capital of the North', the Festival explored, questioned and celebrated ideas of 'North', both as a stand-alone idea, and in direct comparison with ideas of 'South'. Festival events explored ideas of cultural identity, health, food, women, technology and architecture. The programme provided a wide variety of events including debates as part of BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking Festival; a New Writers’ day with Granta Magazine's Best of Young British Novelists List; Festival Focus days on architecture and design and the economy; a variety of exhibitions, musical performances from national and international performers, hands-on activities and workshops, and headline addresses by speakers such as

Melvyn Bragg Melvyn Bragg, Baron Bragg, (born 6 October 1939), is an English broadcaster, author and parliamentarian. He is best known for his work with ITV as editor and presenter of ''The South Bank Show'' (1978–2010), and for the BBC Radio 4 documenta ...

Heidi Thomas Heidi Thomas (born 13 August 1962) is an English screenwriter and playwright. Career After reading English at Liverpool University, Thomas gained national attention when her play, ''Shamrocks And Crocodiles'', won the John Whiting Award in ...

Brian Sewell Brian Alfred Christopher Bushell Sewell (; 15 July 1931 – 19 September 2015) was an English art critic. He wrote for the ''Evening Standard'' and had an acerbic view of conceptual art and the Turner Prize. ''The Guardian'' described him as " ...

William Sitwell William Ronald Sacheverell Sitwell (born 2 October 1969) is a British editor, writer and broadcaster. He is also a restaurant critic for ''The Daily Telegraph'' and the former editor of '' Waitrose Food''. Life and work Sitwell is the yo ...

, Michael Wood,

Ross Noble Ross Markham Noble (born 5 June 1976) is an English stand-up comedian and actor. Noble rose to mainstream popularity through making appearances on British television, particularly interviews and on panel shows such as '' Have I Got News for You' ...

, Michael Scott,

Zoe Williams Zoe Abigail Williams (born 7 August 1973) is a Welsh columnist, journalist, and author. Early life Zoe Abigail Williams was born on 7 August 1973 in Hounslow, West London, England. Williams was educated at the independent Godolphin and Latymer ...

, Harriet Sergeant and

Seamus Heaney Seamus Justin Heaney (; 13 April 1939 – 30 August 2013) was an Irish poet, playwright and translator. He received the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature.

, in what was one of his last public appearances before his death. In addition, the University of York and the York Festival of Ideas hosted the prestigious

Royal Academy of Engineering The Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) is the United Kingdom's national academy of engineering. The Academy was founded in June 1976 as the Fellowship of Engineering with support from Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who became the first senior ...

Summer Soiree Exhibition on 27 June attended by the Princess Royal, in her capacity as Patron of the Royal Academy of Engineering. This included a major exhibition entitled, Engineering: Design for Living, which showcased research across a range of disciplines from literature and advances in computer science, to the emergence of 'personalised' medicine, to demonstrate the way in which engineering ingenuity has and is influencing and improving the way in which we live our lives. The 2013 York Festival of Ideas included more than 120 events, with 35 organisations co-delivering events under the Festival of Ideas banner. These included the

British Library The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and is one of the largest libraries in the world. It is estimated to contain between 170 and 200 million items from many countries. As a legal deposit library, the British ...

BBC Radio 3 BBC Radio 3 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It replaced the BBC Third Programme in 1967 and broadcasts classical music and opera, with jazz, world music, Radio drama, drama, High culture, culture and the arts ...

Granta Magazine ''Granta'' is a literary magazine and publisher in the United Kingdom whose mission centres on its "belief in the power and urgency of the story, both in fiction and non-fiction, and the story’s supreme ability to describe, illuminate and m ...

, The Institute of Engineering and Technology, The

Joseph Rowntree Foundation The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) is a charity that conducts and funds research aimed at solving poverty in the UK. JRF's stated aim is to "inspire action and change that will create a prosperous UK without poverty." Originally called the ...

Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate, also known as Bettys and Taylors Group Limited, is a family company based in Yorkshire, England. The company's brands are Bettys (with no apostrophe), Taylors of Harrogate (also with no possessive apostrophe), a ...

, and

York Minster The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Saint Peter in York, commonly known as York Minster, is the cathedral of York, North Yorkshire, England, and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe. The minster is the seat of the Archbis ...

, to name but a few. York Festival of Ideas was shortlisted for the Times Higher Education Awards 2013.

2014

The 2014 Festival theme ''Order and Chaos'' provided a rich and stimulating array of subjects including arts and society, conflict and resolution, the future of food, maps and exploration, healthcare, science and religion, economic growth, the ancient world and the mysteries of our brain. The programme provided a wide variety of events including panel debates on the world's response to global crises, and on detective writing; Festival Focus days on economic growth, religion and science, the future of food, and detective writing; a variety of exhibitions, musical and theatrical performances from national and international performers, hands-on activities and workshops, and headline addresses by speakers such as

Michael Morpurgo Sir Michael Andrew Bridge Morpurgo (''né'' Bridge; 5 October 1943) is an English book author, poet, playwright, and librettist who is known best for children's novels such as ''War Horse'' (1982). His work is noted for its "magical storytellin ...

Charlie Higson Charles Murray Higson (born 3 July 1958) is an English actor, comedian, author and former singer. He has also written and produced for television and is the author of the ''Enemy'' book series, as well as the first five novels in the ''Young Bo ...

Hermione Lee Dame Hermione Lee, (born 29 February 1948) is a British biographer, literary critic and academic. She is a former President of Wolfson College, Oxford, and a former Goldsmiths' Professor of English Literature in the University of Oxford and Pr ...

James Rubin James Phillip Rubin (born March 28, 1960) is an American former diplomat and journalist who served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs in the Clinton Administration from 1997–2000. He wrote a regular column on foreign aff ...

, and

Gavin Esler Gavin William James Esler (born 27 February 1953) is a Scottish journalist, television presenter and author. He was a main presenter on BBC Two's flagship political analysis programme, ''Newsnight'', from January 2003 until January 2014, and pr ...

. The 2014 York Festival of Ideas consisted of over 140 events. More than 45 organisations co-delivered events under the Festival of Ideas banner in 38 venues around the city. These included the

Castle Howard Castle Howard is a stately home in North Yorkshire, England, within the civil parish of Henderskelfe, located north of York. It is a private residence and has been the home of the Carlisle branch of the Howard family for more than 300 years ...

Prospect magazine ''Prospect'' is a monthly British general-interest magazine, specialising in politics, economics and current affairs. Topics covered include British and other European, and US politics, social issues, art, literature, cinema, science, the medi ...

, The Institute of Engineering and Technology, The

Chatham House Chatham House, also known as the Royal Institute of International Affairs, is an independent policy institute headquartered in London. Its stated mission is to provide commentary on world events and offer solutions to global challenges. It is ...

Tate Britain Tate Britain, known from 1897 to 1932 as the National Gallery of British Art and from 1932 to 2000 as the Tate Gallery, is an art museum on Millbank in the City of Westminster in London, England. It is part of the Tate network of galleries in ...

, and

, to name but a few.

2015

More than 150 events were delivered under the 2015 Festival theme ''Secrets and Discoveries'' between 9 and 21 June. 45 organisations co-delivered events under the Festival of Ideas banner in 50 venues. These included

Waterstones Waterstones, formerly Waterstone's, is a British book retailer that operates 311 shops, mainly in the United Kingdom and also other nearby countries. As of February 2014, it employs around 3,500 staff in the UK and Europe. An average-sized Wa ...

, Joseph Rowntree Society, Bettys,

National Railway Museum The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the Science Museum Group. The museum tells the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It is the home of the national collection of historically significant r ...

and

.Everything York: York Festival of Ideas
/ref> The events encompassed art and design, the economy and equality, food and health, performance and poetry, the past and the future, security and surveillance, truth and trust, technology and the environment, and much more. Headline speakers included

Sir Christopher Frayling Sir Christopher John Frayling (born 25 December 1946) is a British educationalist and writer, known for his study of popular culture. Early life and education Christopher Frayling was born in Hampton, a suburb of London, in affluent circumstance ...

, Claire Wilcox, Andrew Davies, Richard Davies,

Polly Toynbee Mary Louisa "Polly" Toynbee (; born 27 December 1946) is a British journalist and writer. She has been a columnist for ''The Guardian'' newspaper since 1998. She is a social democrat and was a candidate for the Social Democratic Party in the 19 ...

, and Peter Murray. Festival Focus days focused on the sub-themes of Curiouser and Curiouser, The Future of Food, The Future of Democracy and Economic Growth, and Surveillance, Snowden and Security.

2016

The 2016 York Festival of Ideas, with the theme of ''Tick Tock'', contained more than 180 events involving inspirational speakers, performers and exhibitions, such as

Sara Pascoe Sara Patricia Pascoe (born 22 May 1981) is an English actress, comedian and writer. She has appeared on television programmes including ''8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown'' for Channel 4, '' QI'' for BBC and '' Taskmaster'' for the digital chan ...

Owen Jones Owen Jones (born 8 August 1984) is a British newspaper columnist, political commentator, journalist, author, and left-wing activist. He writes a column for ''The Guardian'' and contributes to the ''New Statesman'' and '' Tribune.'' He has two ...

, John Kay,

Stephanie Flanders Stephanie Hope Flanders (born 5 August 1968) is a British economist and journalist, currently the head of Bloomberg News Economics. She was previously chief market strategist for Britain and Europe for J.P. Morgan Asset Management,Ruth Davies, Lynsey Hanley, Alan Travis, Princess Vittoria Alliata, Rear Admiral Chris Parry,

Lyse Doucet Lyse Marie Doucet , (; born 24 December 1958) is a Canadian journalist who is the BBC's Chief International Correspondent and senior presenter. She presents on BBC World Service radio and BBC World News television, and also reports for BBC ...

, and Baroness McIntosh. Festival partners included Classic FM,

BBC History Magazine ''BBC History Magazine'' is a British publication devoted to both British and world history and aimed at all levels of knowledge and interest. The publication releases thirteen editions a year, one per month and a Christmas special edition, an ...

, Quorn Foods,

Aviva Aviva plc is a British multinational insurance company headquartered in London, England. It has about 18 million customers across its core markets of the United Kingdom, Ireland and Canada. In the United Kingdom, Aviva is the largest general ...

, and Shepherd Group. Subjects explored included living with floods, the future of food, equality, Europe, minds and bodies, and fragile states. York Festival of Ideas was a finalist in the York Cultural Awards 2016.

2017

The 2017 York Festival of Ideas took place from 6 to 18 June with the theme ''The Story of Things''.

2018

The 2018 York Festival of Ideas took place from 5 to 17 June under the overarching banner of ''Imagining the Impossible''.

2019

The 2019 York Festival of Ideas took place from 4 to 16 June under the banner of ''A World of Wonder''.

2020

York Festival of Ideas for 2020 was due to be held from 2-14 June 2020. On 19 March, the Festival was postponed due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

. As a result of the

COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom The COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom is a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In the United Kingdom, it has resulted in confir ...

, the festival was relaunched as the ''York Festival of Ideas 2020 online'' running instead from 2 to 14 June 2020 under the banner of ''Virtual Horizons''.

2021

York Festival of Ideas is scheduled to be held from 8 to 20 June 2021 under the banner of ''Infinite Horizons''.

References

{{Coord, 53.94659, -1.0525, type:edu, display=title Festivals in York Culture in York