'Being Human Festival' reveals hidden stories in Reading

Tuesday, 17 October 2017

The national Being Human Festival is coming to Reading, with the University organising a series of thought-provoking and participatory events.

The festival highlights the ways in which the humanities can inspire and enrich our everyday lives, help us to understand ourselves, our relationships with others, and the challenges we face in a changing world.

Bookings are now open and more details on the various events and activities are provided below.

This year's festival has an overarching theme of 'Lost and Found', with the programme of Reading events drawn together under the banner of ‘Revealing Hidden stories’. The programme reflects the University’s expertise in arts and humanities research which engages with communities to reclaim and retell hidden or lost narratives.

Launching on Friday 17 November with an online exhibition from the University’s Collections, the display includes the recently discovered and unique example of 15^th-Century printed text by the English Printer William Caxton.

The programme continues to run until the 25 November and includes a participatory dance performance exploring migration and a creative writing workshop for GCSE and A-level students. There is also a public lecture on excavation discoveries in Bestansur, Iraq, and a community art project dedicated to Oscar Wilde.

To book a place, click on the events below:

• Lost and Found: An online exhibition from the Collections: Being Human Festival 17/11/2017 to 25/11/2017 at 0900
• Public Lecture - Lost and Found: Excavating the world's first farmers in Iraq and Iran, 10,000-7,500 BC22/11/2017 at 20:00
• Write your story your way: Being Human Festival 22/11/2017 at 14:00
• A Flower for Oscar Wilde: Being Human Festival 25/11/2017 at 10:00-13:00
• HOME at the MERL (Performance): Being Human Festival 25/11/2017 at 14:00
• War Child (Pop-up, Film show and Q&A): Being Human Festival 25/11/2017 at 15:00