University researchers headline at national humanities festival

A team of researchers at the University of Wolverhampton will be hosting a series of events showcasing research in the humanities at this year’s Being Human festival.

The series, RICHES: Resurgence in Commemoration, Humour, Exchange and Storytelling has been selected for inclusion in the Being Human Festival of Humanities 2021.

Being Human is the UK’s only national festival of the humanities, led by the School of Advanced Study, at the University of London in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy and bringing the best of humanities research in the UK to the public.

The festival runs from 11- 20 November 2021, with hundreds of free events available to the public across the UK.

This year, a team of University of Wolverhampton researchers, led by Professor Meena Dhanda have been awarded the Being Human Festival grant, to build and expand the successful participation of University’s researchers and showcase their work at the festival.

Researchers from Creative and Professional Writing, English, English Language and Linguistics and Philosophy, will be hosting a series of workshops based in Wolverhampton and online offering a range of activities, including first-hand experience of writing and storytelling, exploring our environment and its history, and learning about culturally diverse coping strategies.

The workshops include; The story recycling bank by Dr Lisa Blower, The united colours of TLC by Judith Hamilton, Laugher is the best medicine?! by Dr Helen Davies, The Icon and The Iconoclast by Dr Karthick Ram, Unlocking the word hoard by Dr Daisy Black and Make or Break: Commemorating Evildoers by Dr Paula Satne.

Professor Meena Dhanda, Professor of Philosophy and Cultural Politics at the University of Wolverhampton said: "We are delighted to have been awarded the Being Human Festival grant this year and have created a fantastic line-up of exciting events to fit this year’s ‘renewal’ theme.
 
“We look forward to presenting our work at the festival over the next few weeks to bring the best of humanities research to the West Midlands.”

The team has partnered with Arena Theatre, Arts Connect, King Edward’s School, Light House and TLC College to host the events.

The Novel Perceptions team will also be presenting at the Being Human festival in London and Exeter next week to talk to prison librarians about the taste of readers in the prison community and to explore how readers think about cultural value in the south-west of the UK. 

To find out more about the RICHES series and to book your place visit: Being Human - University of Wolverhampton (wlv.ac.uk)  

Anyone looking to study at the University of Wolverhampton should register for one of our forthcoming Open Days.