Joseph Rowntree’s legacy inspires national conversation on poverty and prosperity at York

High profile speakers at the two Festival Focus events include Danny Sriskandarajah, Chief Executive of the New Economics Foundation; Hetan Shah, Chief Executive at the British Academy and Chair of Our World in Data; and Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central. Other expert speakers include Kate Pickett, co-author of the award-winning and best-selling The Spirit Level and The Inner Level; Cahal Moran of the London School of Economics; Ruth Curtice, Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation; Sarah Longlands, Chief Executive of The Centre for Local Economic Strategies; and Ryan Shorthouse, Founder and Executive Chair of Bright Blue.

The two sessions, curated in partnership with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, will focus on whether economic growth will make people feel better off, as well as the opportunities created by new devolved economic powers to address and redress significant structural inequality and poverty. Both sessions are chaired by Paul Kissack, Group Chief Executive of Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust. Paul Kissack said: "In the centenary year of Joseph Rowntree's death, it's vital we follow his lead in thinking about innovative, practical ways to improve the lives of people on low incomes. Through these sessions with carefully selected panel members, we hope to form ideas for how we can improve the living standards of families both right here in York and across the country. Rowntree's legacy can serve as our inspiration at the York Festival of Ideas to show how our city and region has the potential to lead progress towards a more equal future, free from poverty where communities and environment can flourish."

The Festival Focus series is presented under the banner of Making Waves: Building on Joseph Rowntree’s legacy and marks 100 years since the York confectionery businessman, social reformer and philanthropist Joseph Rowntree died. Exploring his remarkable life, the two sessions, Economic Growth: Who actually benefits? and Sustainable Futures Through Regional Growth, will look at the impact of his work on the city and how his legacy continues to support a vision of a more equal society, free from poverty.

Joan Concannnon, Director of York Festival of Ideas, said: “We are delighted to work again with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation - one of our most enduring partners - to interrogate crucial issues around economic growth and inequalities of wealth. At a time of global geopolitical instability and rising prices, it’s vital that we look at ways of closing the gap between the richest and poorest in our society, as well as taking advantage of opportunities arising from new devolved powers. “The power of York Festival of Ideas is in bringing people with different ideas, experiences and expertise together to try to understand complex problems and to find solutions. We believe that offering these events for free empowers anyone impacted by poverty and inequality to come and have their say on what needs to be done.”

York Festival of Ideas will take place from 31 May to 13 June. Led by the University of York, it features over 200 mostly free in-person and online events. Last year’s events, presented in partnership with over 100 local and national organisations, were enjoyed by an audience of nearly 60,000.

Free tickets are still available for the Sustainable Futures Through Regional Growth session. More information and booking details are available on the York Festival of Ideas website.