Exeter secures funding for Cornwall to participate in a national festival of the humanities

The University of Exeter has been awarded funding to hold a series of events as part of the UK’s first ‘Being Human’ inaugural festival of the humanities, which will run from 15 – 23 November 2014.

Exeter’s mini-festival, 'From a Cornish Window: Individual, Landscape, Community', will take place at the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro and will champion the excellence of humanities research being undertaken at the University’s Penryn Campus. Researchers and public will be able to explore what it means to be human as part of the ‘Being Human’ festival.

Selected from over 100 applications, the grant will enable the University to bring together researchers and the local public to engage with their own interpretation of the humanities. They will be part of a national programme of activities which aim to inform and demonstrate the role of the humanities in the cultural, intellectual, political and social life of the UK.

The festival is being organised by Dr Kate Hext, Dr Chloe Preedy, Dr Chris Stokes and Dr Andrew McInees. Dr Kate Hext, a lecturer in English at the University of Exeter said, “This is a very exciting opportunity for us to bring our research to life, working with the fantastic Royal Cornwall Museum. During the festival we will be giving talks, curating an exhibition trail and visiting local schools to explore - through literature, local history, and art - how personal identity is shaped through the places we live in."

The website for 'From a Cornish Window' will be launched in August, along with full details of events, including some yet to be announced.

Currently in its first year, Being Human is led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London in participation with the Arts & Humanities Research Council and the British Academy with the participation of arts and cultural organisations and universities across the UK.

Date: 16 May 2014