Welcome to the 2023 Being Human Festival
An introduction to the festival from Professor Claire Gorrara and Dr Jenny Kidd.
A warm welcome to everyone who will be joining us for Being Human Festival 2023.
Cardiff University is delighted to have been chosen as one of five festival hubs across the UK to host the Being Human Festival 2023, the UK’s national festival of the humanities.
The festival’s theme this year is ‘Rhyme or Reason’ and we will be partnering with Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales to deliver our events pan-Wales. This theme celebrates any and all aspects of humanities research that relates to the areas in which our institutions are based, and Wales more broadly.
Each year the festival invites researchers at universities and other research organisations to collaborate with local community and cultural partners to create exciting and engaging events for public audiences. These work with local communities to share ideas for mutual benefit.
As part of a wider strategic partnership to boost collaboration across Higher Education and the Heritage sector in Wales, Cardiff University is teaming up with Amgueddfa Cymru | Museum Wales to deliver a Being Human Festival programme that draws on a range of research spanning archaeological excavations, artwork conservation, artificial intelligence, fungi collections, an exhibition of veterans’ mental health stories, and colonial and industrial Welsh history from Penrhyn Castle.
These free public events will be aimed at a range of ages, as well as underrepresented groups, and will include walks and tours, demonstrations, object handling, and arts and craft workshops. The festival also offers opportunities for people to share their thoughts, ideas, and experiences, to feed into research and to co-produce activities and events.
The strategic partnership between Cardiff University and Amgueddfa Cymru focusses on working together across five areas aimed at benefitting our diverse communities: research and innovation; safeguarding and restoring the environment; digital cultures and adaptive technologies; skills, talent and lifelong learning; and ensuring wellbeing and inclusive representation through an appreciation of heritage.
All our events engage researchers and broader communities in making a difference. In the rapidly shifting times in which we live, our humanities research inspires and enriches our everyday lives and help us to understand ourselves and our relationships with others. We wish you all a super Festival!
Best wishes,
Claire & Jenny
