Panel Discussions

Tom Clark, editor of 'Broke: Fixing Britain’s Poverty Crisis' leads a discussion about the scale of poverty, its impact and consequences, and the inequality in Britain today.

Join us as we discuss how we can grow our collective ability to imagine a future free from poverty, to reshape economic and social models driving inequality.

Join our panellists as they discuss the importance of imagination and hope in supporting a transition away from an economic model in which poverty continues to rise.

Our experts explore the complex dynamics between Africa and Europe, and the deeply-rooted social and political challenges that, if better understood, could pave the way for better collaborations and dialogue.

Rediscover the archaeological treasures of Roman York in this fascinating panel discussion, which focuses on a Roman burial custom that, until recently, was shrouded in mystery.

Our panel introduces a University of York project that challenges dominant, white, middle-class storytelling in archaeology and heritage, and spotlights the everyday stories of people who have immigrated to the UK.

Join our panellists from France and the UK as they discuss their experiences of cultural regeneration, examples of best practice and new approaches to research, creation and innovation.

Explore issues about ‘end of life’ with our expert panellists, including Yorkshire author Colin Philpott.

University of York researcher and activist Maddy Power exposes the inner workings of Britain’s food banks, revealing how religion structures food distribution and how Whiteness shapes the daily practices of food banks.

Find out about medieval ‘dating’ culture in York in this entertaining and engaging performance including a Q&A session with experts from the University of York’s Department of History.

Focusing on democratic ownership solutions, our expert panel reflects on what it would look like to have economic institutions that worked to reduce inequality and create a more democratic economy.

Our expert panellists discuss how reimagining the way we incentivise drug development could lead to innovation at a reasonable price.

Find out how a collaborative project between the Universities of York and Maastricht is helping to transform our food system through business model innovation.

Join us for a panel discussion on urban sustainability, focusing on how waste tyres are being made into new resources in the megacity of Lagos, Nigeria.

Hear all about York Cycle Campaign’s manifesto, ‘42 Ways’, and find out how cycling in York can be made safe, convenient and accessible for everyone.

A panel of literature experts discuss the first ever anthology of Sri Lankan and diasporic poetry and how it reshapes our understanding of migrational poetics.

Our panel of experts investigate the ways women continue to be omitted from historical records, and discuss how we can better preserve women’s stories and voices.

Join us for a day of interdisciplinary events focusing on the changing ways in which humans have lived and farmed in and around Heslington from the pre-Roman period onwards.

Sports historian Duncan Stone discusses the history and future of English cricket in relation to social class, together with Kevin Tennent and Alex Gillett of the University of York’s School for Business and Society.

A panel of experts discuss how the successes and failures of policy makers in the face of previous periods of economic change, both at home and abroad, can help us work out a plan to successfully navigate the economic challenges we are facing.

Join our panel of experts to hear all about the groundbreaking ‘Pyramids of Life’ project that seeks to better understand how we can work sustainably to manage our oceans.

Our experts survey the current state of the UK’s criminal justice system and discuss which areas most urgently need reform.

Join our panel as they explore the root causes of public mistrust as well as the importance of understanding how policing contributes and responds to vulnerability.

Rediscover the Renaissance with Emily Stevenson and Lauren Working of the University of York, who, together with artist Loraine Rutt, will discuss how creating connections between art and archives can generate new ways of imagining the past.

Join our panellists as they compare and contrast the UK prison system with other approaches and alternative real-life examples.

Join us for a special film screening of ‘Spike Milligan: The Unseen Archive’, including a Q&A with the documentary makers and Spike’s daughter, Jane.

Hear from service users, carers and healthcare professionals in this panel discussion, which considers how and why our healthcare system has to change to meet the needs of people with severe mental illness.

Rediscover the intellectual and cultural value of art through a close encounter with objects from the historic collection at Castle Howard.

Our panel of experts discuss the world of complex and unexpected imagery that people throughout history have used to inscribe their identities on their bodies.

Join us for a film screening and Q&A that will change your understanding of what development means.

Come along to this panel discussion, hosted by Citizens Advice York, to engage with and better understand the workings of our justice system.

Did you know that York is twinned with Münster in Germany and Dijon in France? Learn about York’s partnerships with these cities and discover how you, too, can get involved and benefit from these connections.

Come along to this inspiring panel discussion and exhibition, captured by an artist’s live drawings, that will invite you to imagine what a rewilded York could look like.

Our panel invites you to explore how we can find beauty in our day-to-day lives and to discover how beauty can manifest itself in seemingly ordinary items and actions - from slang to football shirts.

Our panel of historians, librarians and literary scholars revisits the work of York-born historian and public intellectual Christopher Hill, exploring the legacy and afterlife of radical traditions in local and national history.

Our two panels explore a different approach to urban regeneration through inclusive growth and by harnessing the power of major employer institutions, education providers and social enterprise for more equitable and inclusive economic outcomes.

Think you can do better than our current politicians? Want to challenge them and share your ideas with policymakers? Then come along to the Big Tent Ideas Festival to participate in conversations and interactive sessions.