02/12/2011

Issued by The University of York

York Festival of Ideas - Background:
The Festival of Ideas was founded in 2011 by the University of York, in partnership with York city partners, including our fellow university, York St John, the award winning York Theatre Royal, the National Centre for Early Music and the York Museums Trust. The first festival was a huge success attracting 8,000 people to more than 20 events including readings of work in progress by Nobel Laureate, JM Coetzee, an interview with Booker Prize winner, John Banville, exhibitions by photographer John Minihan and the York artist, William Etty and sell-out performances of Anthony Minghella's play, Two Planks and a Passion.

York is a city of culture, a city of learning and a city of science. Above all, it is a city of ideas. Now in its second year, the York Festival of Ideas aims to celebrate the success of the City of York as a home to an exciting and vibrant, intellectually curious community.

In 2012, the City will celebrate the 800th anniversary of the signing of the city charter and the Festival of Ideas will take the theme of Metamorphosis and Transformation. The Festival will seek to address major themes of metamorphosis ranging from the evolution of the human condition, the perils and perceptions of ageing, the power of education to transform lives, the turbulence of financial markets and changing political systems, cutting edge science based itself on principles of metamorphosis and change and the alchemy of music.
York Festival of Ideas 2012 - Metamorphosis and Transformation'

‘The universe is transformation; our life is what our thoughts make it.' These words of the 2nd-century Roman Emperor and philosopher, Marcus Aurelius, illustrate the importance of transformation and metamorphosis to life - and, we might add further - to society as part of human life. Life is perpetually changing, and this change is something that affects each and every one of us in all aspects our daily lives - children grow into adults; the world's economy fluctuates; the seasons change, and new technologies are introduced.

This is what makes the theme of transformation and metamorphosis so pertinent for York's second Festival of Ideas, and the very diversity of transformation will be reflected in the multidisciplinary nature of this year's Festival. A scientist, for example, might say that change is one of the fundamental laws of nature; a health professional or an economist will see the truth of that statement in their day-to-day work - Marcus Aurelius recognised that, even so, we can control aspects of our lives by our thoughts. We could more broadly, perhaps, suggest that imagination, discovery, inspiration and entrepreneurial spirit has transformed, and will continue to transform, our lives.

The 2012 Festival of Ideas will showcase the vibrancy of thought that enriches our lives. York is a city of contrasts and exciting discoveries, and this is encapsulated by the Festival.

Festival goers will be able to attend a range of world-class speakers, exhibitions, performances and a host of stimulating and interactive experiences for people of all ages, including York residents and visitors to the city. Full details of the programme will be announced March 2012 on the Festival website: http://yorkfestivalofideas.com/

The Festival will showcase the innovation and creativity of the city of York today anchored and sustained by its rich heritage. It gives a glimpse into the future, and brings these ideas into conversation with the rich diversity of the city - social, artistic, technological and scientific - to reveal new and exciting stories about York, Britain, and the world.

For, to finish with the words of the English Romantic poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley, ‘Man's yesterday may never be like his morrow; Nought may endure but Mutability'.

The University of York:
The University of York has, in less than 50 years of existence, powered its way to a consistent leading position in the UK and is one of only a handful of universities less than 50 years old which regularly rank in the world top 100. Our reputation is built on an ethos of equal opportunity and advancement for all anchored by the highest standards of academic achievement in physical and life sciences, social sciences and the arts and humanities.
The University was founded on principles of equality and advancement for all and is the only leading university of its type to attract more than 80% of its annual intake of students from the state school sector. We aim to make as many of the festival events accessible to as wide as possible an audience, building on our track record for attracting diverse audiences and working with local and regional community groups and schools. For this reason we will not charge for any events taking place on the campus and we aim to make as many of the Festival events free to the public as possible.

Tickets for Festival events:
All events will be marketed on the Festival of Ideas website, http://yorkfestivalofideas.com/ and via individual partner websites. Most events will be ticketed (tickets will be free but this will enable us to track and manage audience numbers).

Tickets for events at venues such as York Theatre Royal, Museums Trust and York St John will also be advertised on their individual websites. Tickets for events will be made available at the end of March 2012 when the full programme will be unveiled.

Speakers confirmed as of November 2011:
Anthony Horowitz, award winning screenwriter (Foyle's War, Alex Rider) and author (Sherlock Holmes)
Alison Weir, historian and novelist (Elizabeth the Queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine and many more)
Steve Richards (political editor of The Independent)
Helen Boaden (Head of BBC News)
Martin Vander Weyer (author and writer for The Spectator and The Daily Telegraph)
Alex Preston (journalist and novelist - money and morality)
Oliver Balch (the transformation of India into an emerging market)

For further details please contact:
Joan Concannon
Director of External Relations
University of York
Tel: 01904 322 193/07919293081
Email: joan.concannon@york.ac.uk