Educating, entertaining and inspiring
through public engagement

York Festival of Ideas 2021 Impact Report

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A festival for public good

At the centre of York Festival of Ideas is a belief that education and ideas have the power to transform lives. Through an eclectic programme of mostly free, accessible events, the Festival therefore aims to educate, entertain and inspire. Now more than ever we need to generate new, innovative and positive ideas to make our world a better place and to inspire the next generation.

Established in 2011, the Festival is led by the University of York and takes place over 13 days each June. The Festival Headline Sponsor is the Holbeck Charitable Trust. This year, working in partnership with over 100 local, national and international sponsors and partners, York Festival of Ideas presented over 200 free events, attracting a worldwide audience of nearly 67,000.


“York Festival of Ideas - one of the best ideas the University of York has ever had”
Jonathan Cowap, BBC Radio York

Photo of a mum and son watching a science demonstration in a tipi on the University of York campus

Infinite horizons 

Joan Concannon, Director of York Festival of Ideas, said:

“Once again this year has been unexpected and extraordinary. Our delivery of the 2020 Festival was a leap into the dark - a response to the closing down of society and an experiment in reaching out to our existing and first-time audiences in a new format. The 2021 Festival was programmed in an evolving environment, with ongoing and frequently changing restrictions. Despite this, we were determined to deliver a Festival full of ideas and inspiration. I am proud to say that we achieved this.

“Under the banner of Infinite Horizons, the generosity of our festival sponsors and partners allowed us to present a diverse programme of over 200 mostly online events, reaching a larger audience than ever before. In these difficult times it was a privilege to make such a wide variety of events available for free to so many. We have loved hearing how audience members have shared the ideas from Festival talks with friends and family, and been inspired to find out more about new topics.

“But this is not to say that the delivery of this year’s online events hasn’t been without its ‘interesting moments’.  From dodgy WiFi to occasional guest appearances by speakers’ family members and pets, our audience members have shared a roller-coaster ride with us!  

“We’re already looking forward to our next chapter of engagement in 2022 and exploring how we can continue to deliver a high-quality programme to our audiences throughout the world. We hope to see you there!”


“Thank you for finding a way to hold the Festival in a pandemic; it was a bright spot during a difficult time.”
survey respondent

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The 2021 Festival at a glance

Key facts

  • 66,953 audience members
  • 215 events
  • 112 partners
  • 204,383 website views from 130 countries
  • Over 14,500 followers across four social media platforms

Almost 1,000 people responded to a survey circulated to ticket-holders. Of these:

99% would recommend the Festival to a friend
92% rated the Festival as Excellent or Very Good
60% had not attended the Festival before
78% of people would like to watch future events in an online format (live or recorded)


“I LOVED so much of this. The concept, the variety, the option to book live but watch later if needed, the depth of knowledge brought by the speakers I saw, it was all brilliant!”
survey respondent

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A festival for all 

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A key aim of York Festival of ideas is to share the power of ideas to as wide an audience as possible. For this reason our mostly free programme is designed to be as physically and intellectually accessible as possible. 

Our online events enabled those who wouldn’t normally be able to attend due to mobility restrictions, caring duties etc. to take part. And to promote digital inclusion, we worked in partnership with Explore York Libraries to provide free ear-buds so anyone without access to a computer at home could listen to online Festival events from their local library. 


“This has rapidly - after two years online - become a highlight of my year. I am not able (due to age and infirmity - Covid aside) easily to travel now so would find it difficult to attend in person but I simply loved both the 2020 and 2021 Festivals. Thank you to all who made it possible.”
survey respondent

We know not everyone wants to go online. Therefore, from a labyrinth for wellbeing, to science demonstrations in a tipi, to themed walking tours of York, our in-person events provided a chance to physically participate in Festival events. 

And to inspire children from hard-to-reach groups in our city, we worked in partnership with REACH - the York Cultural Education Partnership – to produce and distribute over 2,000 ‘Bags of Creativity’. Full of arts and crafts materials, resources and activities, these were given to every York primary school child eligible for free school meals.

“It made the children feel valued and special for all the right reasons.”
school feedback on Bags of Creativity
A family group watching a science demonstration in a tipi on the University campus.

In-person events for families were held in a tipi on the University campus

In-person events for families were held in a tipi on the University campus

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Free earbuds were made available at York Explore libraries for users without home internet.

Free earbuds were made available at York Explore libraries for users without home internet.

An image showing some of the contents of 'Bags of Creativity', including colouring pencils, art supplies, origami paper and books

Over 2,000 ‘Bags of Creativity’ full of arts and crafts materials, resources and activities, were given to every York primary school child eligible for free school meals.

Over 2,000 ‘Bags of Creativity’ full of arts and crafts materials, resources and activities, were given to every York primary school child eligible for free school meals.

Inspirational world-class speakers

Violinist and composer Anna Phoebe performing her album 'Sea Souls' live in York Minster

Musician and composer Anna Phoebe recorded her original music in York Minster - this was woven with poetry readings from South Asian and British writers for our She-Energy launch event.

Musician and composer Anna Phoebe recorded her original music in York Minster - this was woven with poetry readings from South Asian and British writers for our She-Energy launch event.

One of the main strengths of York Festival of Ideas is its ability to provide audiences with access to world experts on a whole variety of topics. Thanks to online events, this year we were able to build on our capacity to attract leading speakers from across the globe, with experts joining us from countries including the USA, India, Norway, the Netherlands, France, Bangladesh and Canada, to name but a few. 

Our inspirational contributors from across the UK and further afield included best-selling authors Jung Chang and Sir Michael Morpurgo; economist Mariana Mazzucato; justice activist Magid Magid; violinist and composer Anna Phoebe; philosopher Michael Sandel; historian Timothy Garton Ash; poet Salena Godden; journalists Rajini Vaidyanathan and Dorothy Byrne; French diplomat Ambassador Olivier Poivre d'Arvor; and historians and broadcasters Greg Jenner and  William Dalrymple.


“The quality of speakers and bandwidth of topics is amazing!”
survey respondent

Author Jung Chang, dressed in traditional Japanese dress, photo taken at the University campus at a previous York Festival of Ideas

Author, Jung Chang

Author, Jung Chang

A black and white photo of historian, William Dalrymple

Historian, William Dalrymple (image credit Bikramjit Bose)

Historian, William Dalrymple (image credit Bikramjit Bose)

Responding to society’s greatest challenges

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At York Festival of Ideas, we are proud to enable our audiences to engage with, and reflect on, what are often challenging topical issues. In an age of increasing societal polarisation, we bring people with different experiences, opinions and cultures together. This year was no exception. 

Our opening events set the scene for what was to come. Mariana Mazzucato, one of the most influential economists in the world, discussed how we can improve the quality of people’s lives with Kate Pickett, co-author of The Spirit Level and The Inner Level; Sir Michael Morpurgo’s emotive and inspirational Song of Gladness followed; and the day closed with an internationally curated celebration of women’s creativity, incorporating a spectacular performance of music and poetry filmed in York Minster with Anna Phoebe and delivered in partnership with the Jaipur and Dhaka Literature Festivals.

Showcasing the challenges of achieving equality and diversity were key themes throughout the Festival. We were delighted to once again work with Festival partner and supporter Friends Provident Foundation to create opportunities to discuss levelling up the economy, and green growth and community wealth creation. Other events explored male privilege, the lack of diversity in the arts and the film and TV industry, and LGBT+ in the workplace. In addition, more than 55% of the contributors to this year’s Festival were women.

Our programme also included discussions around topics including fake news, digital inclusion and social activism. And in the run-up to COP26, several events - including a panel discussion from France and the UK - provided in-depth access to expertise on the climate and sustainability crises. All of these events included an opportunity for audience members to ask questions to extend their engagement with these stimulating topics.


“Bold choice of topics, important discussions that need to be had more openly and publicly.” 
survey respondent

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Bringing University research to life

York Festival of Ideas is led by the University of York, providing audiences with unprecedented access to the inspiring and wide-ranging research taking place in York.  

This year, over 200 members of University staff delivered talks, chaired events, and took part in panel debates. Not only are events thought-provoking for our audiences, but interaction through Q&A sessions and polls often prompts a new line of thought or investigation for York researchers, as well as facilitating new collaborations. 

Events on offer covered topics as diverse as bringing medieval pilgrimage to life through 3D visualisations; new developments connecting e-sports viewers and players; the Viking Great Army; the role of the oceans in climate change; and the latest developments in AI voice technologies for children.  As ever, the final of the University’s 3 Minute Thesis  competition opened up the exciting world of PhD research to the public, with topics ranging from how stem-cells become muscle to the emotional significance of everyday objects.

Research at the University of York is focused around seven research themes which align our academic strengths to best meet the grand scientific, social and environmental challenges of our time. Explore our research themes.


“Thanks again for an inspiring Festival as always (except that they just get better and better!)”
Professor Tom McLeish, University of York

A screenshot of the winner of the Three Minute Thesis competition, alongside his winning presentation

The final of the University’s 3 Minute Thesis competition opened up the exciting world of PhD research to the public, with topics ranging from how stem-cells become muscle to the emotional significance of everyday objects.

The final of the University’s 3 Minute Thesis competition opened up the exciting world of PhD research to the public, with topics ranging from how stem-cells become muscle to the emotional significance of everyday objects.

A screenshot of a presentation about developing voice technologies for children. The slide has a picture of a young girl talking into a smart device

Jenn Chubb and Sondess Missaoui from the Digital Creativity Labs talked about technical and ethical considerations when developing voice technologies for children, and recommendations for their adoption in the real-world.

Jenn Chubb and Sondess Missaoui from the Digital Creativity Labs talked about technical and ethical considerations when developing voice technologies for children, and recommendations for their adoption in the real-world.

A festival with international reach

With the delivery of a mostly virtual festival, we were delighted to welcome speakers, partners and audience members from 130 countries, clearly demonstrating how we are all citizens of the world. 

We were particularly proud this year to extend our international partnerships, and in so doing to celebrate some of the University’s new European strategic alliances. The York Maastricht Partnership and the University of York Europe Campus: CITY College in Greece, brought new dimensions to the programme with explorations of sustainable consumption, climate change, and how we can control computers with the human brain.

On a wider international scale, delivering the Festival online enabled us to continue to develop our relationship with the Jaipur Literature Festival, and to explore a new collaboration with the Dhaka Lit Fest in Bangladesh. Our launch event, She-Energy: Women as Creators, was a particularly powerful evocation of the benefits of these worldwide cultural exchanges. A panel debate and performance with contributors from across the globe explored the common challenges facing women in different cultures, while also celebrating the power of women’s creativity around the world. 

Our Festival finale, featuring acclaimed historian William Dalrymple, was presented in partnership with the Jaipur Literature Festival, while hard-hitting, topical issues benefited from cross-cultural analysis through our continuing partnership with the French Embassy in the UK. Meanwhile, our Festival Focus exploring democracy, debate and disagreement with the Morrell Centre for Legal and Political Philosophy featured an international cast of speakers from the USA, Africa, and Europe. 

"The Jaipur Literature Festival [is] always privileged and honoured to collaborate with the University of York and York Festival of Ideas"
Sanjoy Roy, Festival Producer, Jaipur Literature Festival



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A world map pinning areas where audiences came from.

York Festival of Ideas 2021 welcomed audiences from 130 countries.

York Festival of Ideas 2021 welcomed audiences from 130 countries.

Creating a legacy

When we started to programme for this year’s Festival we were conscious that audience members were likely to be in a different psychological place than they had been in June 2020. We hoped that, though delivered almost solely as an online offering, potential attendees would still find the digital format as rewarding and inspiring as they had the previous year.  

2021 Festival survey respondents said that engaging with online Festival events:

  • Made them feel part of a community of shared interest (40%)
  • Enabled them to learn something new (78%) 
  • Gave them access to experts and research on topical subjects (71%)

York Ideas YouTube channel

The significant benefit of recording most online Festival events and then hosting these on the University’s York Ideas YouTube channel was evident again this year as many people chose to watch through this medium rather than attend a ‘live broadcast’. In addition, many survey respondents told us how they had shared links to events they had enjoyed with friends and family.

Younger audience base

We are always seeking to expand our audience base and it has been gratifying to see that, building on last year’s success, we have continued to attract a younger audience. A hugely significant 35% of our audience were aged 35 and under this year, and multi-generational viewing continued to be popular, both via our online resources for families, and via Festival events, such as Sir Michael Morpurgo’s performance of a Song of Gladness


“I really liked the variation in tone and style between talks - one moment you could be engaged in a serious discussion about archaeology, and the next you could be laughing your head off at the shenanigans of Medieval Romance writers.”
survey respondent


A stock image of a female looking at a laptop and having a coffee.

Most Festival 2021 events were held online.

Most Festival 2021 events were held online.

An illustration of a tablet containing the York Ideas logo to depict the Festival YouTube channel

Most Festival events are made available on our YouTube channel, York Ideas

Most Festival events are made available on our YouTube channel, York Ideas

The next chapter

As the Festival moves into its second decade, we find ourselves in a world that has altered in myriad ways, providing both new opportunities and challenges. In the last two years, online content has led to new and more socially and geographically diverse audiences, as well as increasing our ability to develop international partnerships. At the same time, it has helped reduce some of our operational costs and environmental impact. 

Audience feedback leaves us in no doubt that an online offer is desirable in future and digital inclusion is high on our agenda. We are also looking at ways of bringing a real sense of ‘York’ to our virtual events. At the same time, we are also mindful that there are some audience segments who are highly unlikely to access online content. We are therefore keen to continue to produce in-person content.

Building on our pilot YuStart crowdfunding campaign in 2021, we will be developing our funding model as we invite audience members to contribute to ensuring the Festival continues to grow and flourish in the years to come and that we can continue to deliver events for free. 

We are immensely proud of how the Festival has grown in its first decade and look forward to working with our partners and supporters in writing the next chapter.


“York Festival of Ideas has become an important ‘must do’ on my annual calendar. I love it.”
survey respondent
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Thank you

A young female wearing a Festival t-shirt, waving at the camera, whilst surrounded by contents for the Bags of Creativity

Volunteers packing 'Bags of Creativity'

Volunteers packing 'Bags of Creativity'

Thanks to the generosity of our Festival supporters and donors we continue to be able to make the majority of the Festival free to our audience. We are so grateful for their continued commitment and generosity.

York Festival of Ideas 2021 supporters and donors

  • The Holbeck Charitable Trust
  • University of York
  • C & JB Morrell Trust and the Morrell Centre for Legal and Political Philosophy
  • Friends Provident Foundation
  • John Templeton Foundation 
  • Joseph Rowntree Foundation
  • Shepherd Group
  • French Embassy in the UK
  • York-Maastricht Partnership 
  • The Institution of Engineering and Technology
  • Ron and Barbara Cooke 
  • Lorna and David Foster 

Our sincere thanks also to those donors and supporters who wish to remain anonymous and to all the audience members who very kindly donated through YuStart.

A stock image of an older lady dressed as a superhero, to depict our donors who help with the costs of producing a free festival

Joan Concannon

Director, York Festival of Ideas
Director of External Relations, University of York

Contact:
Telephone: ++44 (0)1904 322193
Email: joan.concannon@york.ac.uk


For sponsorship and donation opportunities, please contact:

Edward Joyner

Relationship Manager, Corporate and Foundation Philanthropy, University of York

Contact:
Telephone: ++44 (0)1904 324389
Email: edward.joyner@york.ac.uk


Connect with the Festival online:

#YorkIdeas


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