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Community events at the York Festival of Ideas 2016

Upcoming events

Previous events

York Design Awards: Winners Presentation

Wednesday 22 June 2016

York Design Awards promote excellence in architectural design and conservation in the York area. Good sustainable design and conservation support the city’s special heritage and contribute to the well-being of its residents and visitors. Join us for the 10th annual York Design Awards presentation in categories covering residential, community and commercial buildings, and open spaces.

Make a Lego Memory

Sunday 19 June 2016

Make A Lego Memory is a fun drop-in event for families. Come along and get creative with Lego to make buildings, scenes and sculptures inspired by documents and photographs which tell stories of York’s past.

Timing to Perfection with Chemical Clocks

Saturday 18 June 2016

Join Glenn Hurst of the University of York for an interactive talk using electronic clickers, before taking part in a competition to make your own clock reactions.

Writing Without Time

Saturday 18 June 2016

In the hectic modern world, lack of time is one of the most frequent excuses for not doing more creative work. This set of lightning workshops, led by Creative Writing lecturers from York St John University, challenges the assumption that all good writing takes time.

The Need For Speed

Saturday 18 June 2016

What is the future of train travel in the UK? Join Virgin Trains and University of York physicists for a hands-on challenge to design transportation for the future. Investigate the science of aerodynamics and levitating trains, and see if you can make the fastest train and track. A fun workshop suitable for families with children over seven.

Play Me!

Saturday 18 June 2016

Explore music at your own pace and in many different ways with Play me! Suitable for all the family, Play me! is an interactive installation set up similar to an arcade. It allows you to play with sound and make a whole lot of noise by triggering live performance, interactive electronics and playback. Play me! was previously installed at The Space in London and at the Barbican.

Biblio-trek: Walking York’s Print History

Saturday 18 June 2016

Go back in time and experience the bookshops, libraries and newspapers of seventeenth-century York. From the old bookshop signs on Stonegate, to the site of the York’s first newspaper press on Petergate, York was a thriving centre for print in this period and the city is littered with signs of its print past. Everybody is welcome on this fascinating walking tour of York’s print and book history.

The Great Steampunk Gamejam

Saturday 18 June 2016

Join us over a full weekend as we design and build games of all kinds inspired by historical collections from the Victorian and Edwardian periods. From railways, steam yachts and airships, to self-ventilating top hats, zoopraxiscopes and velocipedes, this will be the age of steam as you have never seen it before.

The Need For Speed

Saturday 18 June 2016

What is the future of train travel in the UK? Join Virgin Trains and University of York physicists for a hands-on challenge to design transportation for the future. Investigate the science of aerodynamics and levitating trains, and see if you can make the fastest train and track. A fun workshop suitable for families with children over seven.

Turning Back the Clock

Wednesday 15 June 2016

Join York Archaeological Trust curators for a guided tour behind the scenes at the YAT store and travel 2000 years back in time from the Victorian era to Prehistory. Hear new stories about the history of York based on their latest research into some of the archaeological treasures in their collection.

Turning Back the Clock

Wednesday 15 June 2016

Join York Archaeological Trust curators for a guided tour behind the scenes at the YAT store and travel 2000 years back in time from the Victorian era to Prehistory. Hear new stories about the history of York based on their latest research into some of the archaeological treasures in their collection.

Remixing Classic Pop for the Dancefloor

Tuesday 14 June 2016

A world-class remixer, DJ and producer Rob Tissera re-edits the majority of tunes he plays, giving the audience a unique musical experience. In this masterclass, Rob will reveal some of the secrets of his trade, taking a pop classic - and not one necessarily best suited to the dancefloor - and translating it into a tune that is. Join Rob for an event that promises to have everyone out of their seats!

Zombies in York

Tuesday 14 June 2016

Watch out, zombies are taking over York! But don’t worry, help is close at hand. Join University of York scientists to dissect a captured zombie and study the infectious agent causing the outbreak. Help save the day as you examine the zombie’s blood, play with its brains and more. An interactive, hands-on workshop aimed at children aged eight to 12 - but fun for adults too.

Ibiza After Dark: A Guided Tour of Landmarks and Landscape

Monday 13 June 2016

An overview by DJ Rob Tissera of Ibiza's cultural credentials, identifying its distinctive landmarks and landscapes and describing what makes it special.

Zombies in York

Monday 13 June 2016

Watch out, zombies are taking over York! But don’t worry, help is close at hand. Join University of York scientists to dissect a captured zombie and study the infectious agent causing the outbreak. Help save the day as you examine the zombie’s blood, play with its brains and more. An interactive, hands-on workshop aimed at children aged eight to 12 - but fun for adults too.

SONICULES: Designing Drugs with Sound Drop In Session

Sunday 12 June 2016

SONICULES is a live audio-visual performance exploring the process and challenges involved in the design of new anticancer drugs. Researchers at the University of York are investigating how displaying data as sound could potentially speed up the design process. Join us for a drop-in session from 5.30pm.

Bioart workshop

Sunday 12 June 2016

Join artist Anna Dumitriu for a bioart workshop and learn more about antibiotic resistance and the hunt for alternatives.

Beadmaking in Anglo-Saxon Britain

Saturday 11 June 2016

Artisan historic beadmaker Mike Poole presents a display of handmade reproduction Anglo-Saxon glass beads at this drop-in event. Join Mike and find out about the making and significance of these colourful beads. Matched as closely as possible to the originals in terms of colour, shape and construction, the beads are based on research in museums and from archaeological reports.

York Art Gallery Storytelling

Saturday 11 June 2016

What are the stories behind the paintings at York Art Gallery? Come along to this family-friendly event to find out. Running at various times throughout the day, it celebrates York Art Gallery’s nationally renowned collection of paintings through stories written and performed by students from the University of York.

Wounds, Healing, Poetry: A Writing Workshop

Saturday 11 June 2016

How can the science of wounds and healing generate poetry? How can the mechanisms of life energise the mechanisms of language? And what common ground do poetry and science share? Join Christy Ducker for this practical writing workshop.

York Art Gallery Storytelling

Saturday 11 June 2016

What are the stories behind the paintings at York Art Gallery? Come along to this family-friendly event to find out. Running at various times throughout the day, it celebrates York Art Gallery’s nationally renowned collection of paintings through stories written and performed by students from the University of York.

Beadmaking in Anglo-Saxon Britain

Saturday 11 June 2016

Artisan historic beadmaker Mike Poole presents a display of handmade reproduction Anglo-Saxon glass beads at this drop-in event. Join Mike and find out about the making and significance of these colourful beads. Matched as closely as possible to the originals in terms of colour, shape and construction, the beads are based on research in museums and from archaeological reports.

Festival Fringe Family Fun Afternoon

Saturday 11 June 2016

Come along to the Ron Cooke Hub for an afternoon of energetic, crafty, puzzling, scientific and historical fun with University of York postgraduate students at this year’s Festival Fringe Family Fun Afternoon. Activities are particularly suitable for seven to 13-year-olds but other family members are welcome to join in too.

Beadmaking in Anglo-Saxon Britain

Saturday 11 June 2016

Artisan historic beadmaker Mike Poole presents a display of handmade reproduction Anglo-Saxon glass beads at this drop-in event. Join Mike and find out about the making and significance of these colourful beads. Matched as closely as possible to the originals in terms of colour, shape and construction, the beads are based on research in museums and from archaeological reports.

York Art Gallery Storytelling

Saturday 11 June 2016

What are the stories behind the paintings at York Art Gallery? Come along to this family-friendly event to find out. Running at various times throughout the day, it celebrates York Art Gallery’s nationally renowned collection of paintings through stories written and performed by students from the University of York.

Bioart workshop

Saturday 11 June 2016

Join artist Anna Dumitriu for a bioart workshop and learn more about antibiotic resistance and the hunt for alternatives.

York Art Gallery Storytelling

Saturday 11 June 2016

What are the stories behind the paintings at York Art Gallery? Come along to this family-friendly event to find out. Running at various times throughout the day, it celebrates York Art Gallery’s nationally renowned collection of paintings through stories written and performed by students from the University of York.

Sonicules: Designing Drugs with Sound

Saturday 11 June 2016

Try out a specially developed technique aimed at improving the design of new anti-cancer drugs. Researchers at the University of York are investigating how auditory display - displaying data as sound - could potentially speed up the design process. Come along and use a specially developed demonstrator, incorporating graphics and 3D sound, and experience the potential of sound for yourself.

Ideas to Publication: What Works for Us

Saturday 11 June 2016

If you think there is a novel inside you, read on! York Novelists are hosting a workshop to explain the methods they have developed as a writing critique group. The event provides practical advice on setting up similar groups and on transforming novel ideas into the printed word. There will be an opportunity for Q&A.

York Design Awards Walking Trail

Saturday 11 June 2016

Join us for a unique opportunity to visit York Design Award winning buildings from the first nine years of the scheme.

Future-Proof Your Home

Saturday 11 June 2016

Time to take action on climate change is ticking away fast. During last December's floods we saw some of its impacts literally on - and over - many doorsteps in York. This workshop will show you how to reduce the energy needs of your home and improve its resilience with emergency planning. It will also look at other ways in which you can help mitigate climate change through your everyday activities.

Psych!York: Interactive Family Fun

Saturday 11 June 2016

How do you see colours? How good is your memory? How do you recognise faces? These are just some of the questions being researched at the Psychology Department at the University of York. Come along to Psych!York to try out demonstrations and to learn about some of the amazing things you never knew about your own mind.

York Design Awards Walking Trail

Friday 10 June 2016

Join us for a unique opportunity to visit York Design Award winning buildings from the first nine years of the scheme.

IrriGate: The African Irrigation Game

Friday 10 June 2016

Test your skills with IrriGate, a game allowing you to play with a model of the irrigation system used at the ancient archaeological site of Engaruka in Tanzania up until about 200 years ago. Your task is to open and close irrigation gates to distribute water and grow as many crops as you can. But be warned - you might get a little wet!

Countdown to Canute

Thursday 9 June 2016

Celebrate the 1000-year anniversary of Canute’s accession to the English throne with this Anglo-Saxon and Viking-themed general knowledge, words and numbers quiz. Join your host, a Viking skald, for kennings, mystery objects and more, including the deadly final round - Canute’s Conundrum. With mead and ale to buy from the bar, this light-hearted evening in the splendid Barley Hall is sure to appeal to your inner Viking!

Puzzles in the Pub

Thursday 9 June 2016

Just before the year 800, Alcuin sent Charlemagne a collection of mathematical puzzles which he said were to be solved for fun. The puzzles included problems dating back to Greek and Roman times which are still found in modern books of brain teasers. Join Rosalyn Leaman of the University of York and sharpen your wits over a glass of specially brewed Eoforwic Ale.

Where is York’s Lost Amphitheatre?

Thursday 9 June 2016

Where did the Roman gladiators fight in York? Join us for an event akin to X-factor meets Time Team as we try to find out. Competing teams will dig deep in their knowledge of the city to come up with some genius ideas of where York’s amphitheatre might lie. You decide which suggestion gets to be investigated further!

Bees and Beetles

Thursday 9 June 2016

The time to act to support nature is now. Join us and learn about two Buglife projects in York - Tansy Beetle Champions and Urban Buzz York. Find out about York’s key role in supporting the conservation of the endangered Tansy beetle, and how urban environments can play an important role in providing habitat for our pollinators throughout their lifecycle. Discover how the Museum Gardens is supporting both projects and how you can get involved and do your bit too.

The Metrical and Emotional Challenge of the Sonnet

Thursday 9 June 2016

Do you swoon at the ability of poets to embrace the sonnet? Are you impressed by their technical grasp of its tricky form? Are you swayed by the sonnet’s power? Do you yearn to learn how to capture the metrics? Own the iambs? Lizzi Linklater of the University of York will steer you to explore and dissect the form, inspiring you to fashion a sonnet of your very own.

Pottery in Archaeology: Changes Over Time

Tuesday 7 June 2016

Meet Anne Jenner, York Archaeological Trust’s pottery expert, for an illustrated talk on pottery found in York. Handle some excavated pottery, ask questions - and even bring along items for identification at the end of the session.

Science out of the Lab

Saturday 4 June 2016

Come along to this hands-on, interactive event which will bring local scientists and their research out onto the streets of York.

Fish ’n' Ships: Fishing Through Time

Saturday 4 June 2016

Did you know that York is knee-deep in fishbones? Join us to find out how archaeological scientists use these to understand fishing in York. Watch Demo Chef Phil Leverington demonstrate how a Medieval cook would have prepared fish - and try some for yourself! Touch archaeological fishbones and take home your own colourful fish.

Science out of the Lab

Friday 3 June 2016

Come along to this hands-on, interactive event which will bring local scientists and their research out onto the streets of York.