An audience in the Bowland Auditorium

Talks

Speakers at this year’s Festival include leading novelists, artists and academics in a rich collection of talks, readings, and conversations. John Banville, winner of the Booker Prize, will be reading from his work at the University on 23 June. On 24June, we welcome the Nobel Laureate, JM Coetzee. The art historian Mark Hallett will be talking about curating the Art Gallery’s new Etty exhibition on 25 June and on 30 June the artist Cornelia Parker will be in conversation with Claire MacDonald at King’s Manor about Thirty Pieces of Silver, this summer’s spectacular installation at York St Mary’s.

Previous lectures

York Mystery Plays: Continuity and Change, Past, Present and Future

Saturday 9 July 2011

The 3rd York Mystery Plays International Conference organised by the Guilds and Companies of York

Mystery Plays for the 21st Century: A pre-performance panel discussion

Wednesday 6 July 2011

An informal discussion about Anthony Minghella's play and the challenge of interpreting the mystery plays for our own age.

Histories of Conversion in York: Footsteps of Faith

Saturday 2 July 2011

An unusual walking tour of York: following in the footsteps of past religious converts.

Thirty Pieces of Silver

Thursday 30 June 2011

Artist, Cornelia Parker, will discuss her Thirty Pieces installation at the Yorkshire Museum, and put it in the broader context of her artistic work: in conversation with the writer and critic Claire MacDonald.

Kester Aspden: Writing the Criminal Act

Tuesday 28 June 2011

Kester Aspden, author of The Hounding of David Oluwale, will talk about his past and current work, and the social contexts of hate and crime.

Judith's vampish virtue in film, art and literature

Monday 27 June 2011

A talk about the sensational Bible character, Judith who has been used in different media to reflect on woman as seductress, warrior, politician and priest.

Exhibiting Etty

Saturday 25 June 2011

Mark Hallett, one of the curators of exhibition William Etty: Art and Controversy, will be giving a short talk to introduce its key themes.

Reading by JM Coetzee

Friday 24 June 2011

Double Booker-Prize winner, JM Coetzee will be reading from his work in progress.

Reading by John Banville

Thursday 23 June 2011

This reading brings Booker-Prize winning novelist, John Banville, to York.

Grand Opening of the Festival

Thursday 16 June 2011

Including a short talk by the renowned Irish photographer, John Minihan, followed by a drinks reception with music, multimedia displays and more.