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| Being Human Festival | |
|---|---|
| Name | Being Human Festival |
| Location | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founders | School of Advanced Study, University of London |
| Frequency | Annual |
Being Human Festival is an annual humanities festival established to promote public engagement with the humanities through lectures, performances, exhibitions and workshops. It brings together universities, museums, libraries, archives and cultural organisations to showcase research on topics ranging from history, literature, philosophy and languages to archaeology, anthropology and heritage. The festival engages audiences across cities and regions, partnering with institutions to create participatory programmes that connect academic research to everyday concerns.
The festival presents collaborations among institutions such as the School of Advanced Study, University of London, British Library, British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate Modern, and Royal Society. Events often feature researchers affiliated with University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, King's College London, University College London, and University of Edinburgh, alongside contributors from University of Manchester, University of Glasgow, University of Bristol, and Durham University. Programming includes speakers with affiliations to bodies like the Society of Antiquaries of London, Royal Historical Society, Royal Anthropological Institute, Modern Language Association, and European Association for American Studies. Festival partners have included Wellcome Trust, Arts and Humanities Research Council, National Trust, Historic England, British Council, and Heritage Lottery Fund.
The festival launched in 2014 under the aegis of the School of Advanced Study, University of London to mark a growing emphasis on public facing initiatives promoted by the University of London and allied institutions. Early editions built on precedents set by the Cheltenham Literature Festival, Cambridge Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, and Hay Festival. Over successive years the programme expanded through collaborations with municipal authorities such as the Greater London Authority and agencies like Arts Council England, and through institutional networks including the Russell Group and GuildHE. The festival timeline intersects with national initiatives such as the Culture White Paper discussions and policy frameworks shaped by ministers from Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Notable historical ties include events responding to anniversaries linked to World War I centenary commemorations, the Victorian era retrospectives, and projects aligned with the Decade of Centenaries.
Core formats include public lectures, roundtables, family workshops, walking tours, film screenings, theatrical performances and digital projects. Speakers have included scholars whose work relates to figures such as Charles Darwin, Mary Shelley, William Shakespeare, Ada Lovelace, and W. E. B. Du Bois in sessions curated with partners like the Royal Opera House, National Theatre, Museum of London, Imperial War Museums, and Natural History Museum. The festival commissions exhibitions with archives such as the National Archives (United Kingdom), the Wellcome Library, and the Scottish National Gallery. It has featured debates on topics connected to events like the French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, the Atlantic Slave Trade, and the Cold War with contributions from think tanks including the Institute of Historical Research, Chatham House, and the Institute of Development Studies. Educational strands link to schools via networks like the Association for Science Education and community programmes with charities such as Stonewall, Refugee Council, and Shelter (charity).
The principal organiser is the School of Advanced Study, University of London working with a consortium of universities and cultural partners. Operational partners have included the University of Leeds, University of York, Queen Mary University of London, Goldsmiths, University of London, and subject centres like the Institute of English Studies and the Institute of Classical Studies. Funding sources often combine public grants from bodies such as the Arts and Humanities Research Council and philanthropic support from trusts including the Wolfson Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, and corporate sponsors drawn from sectors represented by Barclays, HSBC, and Goldman Sachs philanthropic arms. Venue support has been provided by city councils including Bristol City Council, Manchester City Council, and Glasgow City Council.
Critical reception in media outlets such as The Guardian, The Times, The Telegraph, Financial Times, and The Independent has highlighted the festival's role in widening access to humanities research. Academic commentaries in journals like Times Higher Education, History Today, The Lancet (for medical humanities strands), and Modern Language Review have discussed its contribution to public scholarship. Cultural commentators from BBC Radio 4, Channel 4, and Sky Arts have covered flagship events. The festival's impact is measured through evaluations by bodies including NCVO and consultancy reports from organisations like Nesta and the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement.
Programming includes initiatives addressing linguistic diversity with partners such as the British Council and disability access projects supported by Scope (charity), Mencap, and the Royal National Institute of Blind People. Venues implement facilities guided by standards from Equality and Human Rights Commission recommendations and local guidance from councils including Hackney London Borough Council and Islington London Borough Council. The festival has worked with community organisations like Refugee Action, BAMEed, and Age UK to design inclusive events and outreach.
The festival is primarily UK-based with events in London, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, and Cardiff, and occasional collaborations in international venues linked to institutions such as Trinity College Dublin, University of Toronto, Université Paris Cité, and Humboldt University of Berlin. Satellite programming has appeared in museums like York Minster, The Fitzwilliam Museum, National Museum Cardiff, and historic sites managed by English Heritage. Each annual edition centers on thematic strands developed with partners including the Royal Society of Literature, the British Academy, and the Leverhulme Trust.