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Community events

Community events

As well as a range of talks and performances, the Festival of Ideas includes a wide variety of events for the whole community in the city. Whether you're learning creative writing or trying your hand in a railway signal box, the whole family can find something to enjoy.

Throughout the festival

Angels and Pins

Anytime, Thursday 12 June to Sunday 22 June

Take part in a philosophical mystery game played out across the city of York.

A Porter's Tour

Thursday 12 and Friday 13 June, 11.30am - 11.55am
Monday 16 to Friday 20 June, 11.30am - 11.55am

Bringing order to the chaos of a Victorian railway station was the role of the porter – join this tour to find out more!

At the closing of the day

Thursday 12 to Sunday 20 June, 6pm

Each evening of the festival at 6pm there will be a short Celtic style service at St Helen's Church reflecting on the day that is past.  This will relate both to the Festival  events that day and also enable personal reflection.  It lasts about 20 minutes.

Order and Chaos at Aldborough Roman Site

Saturdays and Sundays, 10.00am to 6.00pm

Built by the Romans to bring order to the Brigantes tribe in the North of England, the remains of Isurium Brigantum can still be seen today beneath the village of Aldborough

Order and Chaos at Clifford's Tower

Daily, 10.00am to 6.00pm

Built as part of a plan to impose order on the North, Clifford’s Tower has since had a chaotic history; visit to the Tower to find out more about its history

Order and Chaos at Kirkham Priory

Wednesdays to Sundays, 10.00am to 6.00pm

Nestling in tranquil countryside alongside the river Derwent, the picturesque ruins of Kirkham Priory still evoke the peaceful order of its Augustinian founders

Order and Chaos at York Cold War Bunker

Friday 13 to Sunday 15 June, 10.00am to 6.00pm
Friday 20 to Sunday 22 June, 10.00am to 6.00pm

Built in 1961 in response to the Soviet threat, York Cold War Bunker could have protected 60 people from the chaos of nuclear attack.

York Minster’s Memorials of the First World War

  • Thursday 12 to Sunday 22 June
    • Monday to Saturday: 9.00am to 5.00pm
    • Sunday: 12.45pm to 5.00pm

A self-guided tour of the Minster memorials to those who died as a result of the First World War

York Tactile Mapping Project

Saturday 14 to Wednesday 18 June, 11am - 3pm

The community-led York Tactile Mapping Project comprises three historic maps of the city that illustrate York’s evolution; created by young archaeologists, the maps can be explored by touch as well as sight

Upcoming community events

Previous community events

TRANSMISSION Interactive Installation

Sunday 22 June 2014

Come along and take part in a sonic and visual world inspired by the similarities between the spread of ‘infectious’ ideas through social networks

Signalling Experience

Sunday 22 June 2014

Get hands on and have a go at operating our museum signal box and explore the fascinating history and development of railway signals through talks.

Art workshop: Aesthetica Art Prize Exhibition - 2pm

Saturday 21 June 2014

Come along to family workshops at this celebration of excellence in contemporary art from across the world and be inspired to create your own artwork.

TRANSMISSION Interactive Installation

Saturday 21 June 2014

Come along and take part in a sonic and visual world inspired by the similarities between the spread of ‘infectious’ ideas through social networks

Art workshop: Aesthetica Art Prize Exhibition - 11am

Saturday 21 June 2014

Come along to family workshops at this celebration of excellence in contemporary art from across the world and be inspired to create your own artwork.

Signalling Experience

Saturday 21 June 2014

Get hands on and have a go at operating our museum signal box and explore the fascinating history and development of railway signals through talks.

Listening to the City

Saturday 21 June 2014

In this writing workshop, John Wedgwood Clarke will explore with you how to make our writing echo with the sounds and voices of York's snickets and yards.

Mayhem of the Mind

Tuesday 17 June 2014

A two-hour creative writing workshop, open to all, that explores ways to establish order from creative chaos.

Be a Signaller

Sunday 15 June 2014

Have a go at operating the NRM Central Signal Box, and see if you could make the grade as a railway signaller

GoodFest

Saturday 14 June 2014

GoodFest is a family friendly, student run festival which will run throughout the day on Saturday 14th June from 2pm until 10pm.

Festival Fringe Family Fun Afternoon

Saturday 14 June 2014

Energetic, crafty, puzzling, comic and historical fun

Be a Signaller

Saturday 14 June 2014

Have a go at operating the NRM Central Signal Box, and see if you could make the grade as a railway signaller

Science out of the Lab

Saturday 14 June 2014

A hands-on, interactive event which will bring local scientists and their research out onto the streets of York

Science out of the Lab

Friday 13 June 2014

A hands-on, interactive event which will bring local scientists and their research out onto the streets of York

Writing Recklessly

Thursday 12 June 2014

A creative writing workshop that will celebrate the disorder underlying even the best-laid plans, using exercises and alternative practices to help bring the energy of an unpredictable world into your work