A Celebration of Humanities– Being Human Festival Returns to Lincoln

Members of the public can get involved in a series of free events celebrating culture and heritage through arts, crafts, and film as the national Being Human Festival returns to Lincoln.

The University of Lincoln, UK, is hosting a programme of activities launching on 11 November which aim to show how the arts and humanities inspire and enrich our society.

Events will include a series of talks celebrating British-Caribbean history, medieval-inspired craft activities, a film experience exploring modern farming, and tile-making workshops looking back at the impact of the Black Death.

Being Human Festival is the UK’s only national festival of humanities and runs from 11-21 November 2021 in towns and cities across the country. It is led by the University of London, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy.

Events will take place across Lincolnshire to celebrate history, creativity, and community.

Dr Matt Young, from the University of Lincoln’s College of Arts, is part of the team coordinating the Lincoln programme of events for the Being Human Festival. He said: “As a university, we’re excited to take part in the Being Human Festival because it gives our humanities researchers an opportunity to take their work beyond the walls of the university and share it with our local communities through unique activities, events and experiences.

“Our aim is to provide free, fun activities for people across Lincolnshire and beyond that enable them to connect with research in enjoyable and meaningful ways.”

Events will begin in Lincoln from 11 November, starting with ‘Hidden Stories: From the Caribbean to Great Britain’. It introduces four days of Caribbean culture on Lincoln’s High Street, featuring the ‘Kitchen Table Talk’ series led by Museumand, the UK’s national Caribbean heritage museum.

The Waterside Shopping Centre in Lincoln welcomes guests on 12-13 November to contribute to the ‘Documenting the Domestic’ exhibition and explore the impact the spaces we inhabit have on our wellbeing through drawings, surface rubbings, poems and more.

Experts in art and architecture from the University of Lincoln have designed ‘Documentation Kits’, which will enable participants to join in using a free activity box full of art materials.

In addition, the University’s GroundLAB collaborative design studio will be hosting activities on 19 November for members of the Sincil Bank community to get involved in fun, family-friendly print-making.

Visitors will be supported by staff and students from the University to create art prints, inspired by architecture and landscapes of the Sincil Bank streets, and help develop designs for an upcoming landscaping installation project.

National Being Human Festival Director, Professor Sarah Churchwell, said: “After the vast challenges, and changes, created by global pandemic and climate crisis, we are excited to focus this year’s Being Human Festival on the theme of renewal.

“We are all ready to focus on revival: regeneration, reconstruction, reimagination, revitalisation. Researchers are gathering to share cutting-edge ideas with publics all over the country, as we discuss and discover what comes next for humanity, how we will keep renewing our sense of being human.”

Events are free to attend and are open to the public. For more information and to view the University of Lincoln’s full event programme visit: Lincoln Hub | Being Human Festival.