Discover our 2023 History Festival

I have been passionate about public engagement for many years - in fact I would say I was inspired to study history through public engagement opportunities growing up, both at my local museum or further afield on holiday. This has been a strong motivation in developing public engagement projects relating to my research. The process of being guest curator at a regional museum and showcasing my research was particularly fascinating and rewarding.

It encouraged me to think differently about my historical research and how to communicate this effectively by making connections and bringing the ideas to life using stories and personal narratives. As well as ensuring the historical research has wider relevance, it also created opportunities for invaluable interactions with the public. This in turn provided a springboard for new ideas and partnerships.

Public engagement is very much a two-way process which can inform and inspire everyone involved.

I have also fostered public engagement in my teaching through innovative assessments. At another institution this included students presenting their research to the community via an exhibition either staged at the university or in the city centre.

Bringing History to life

At the University of Nottingham history students are given a brief to create a piece of public history and to reflect critically on the ways in which they are connecting with their audience. Outputs have then been showcased at the History Festival, with students discussing their research projects and outcomes with members of the public. The UoN History Festival was a natural continuation of all these activities.

I initiated the History Festival in 2017 as a mechanism to connect the history department and university campus with the wider community in which it is situated, showcasing research, hosting external partners and fostering collaboration

It has been fantastic to work and collaborate with colleagues, students, community groups and external speakers on the festival delivery. A key personal highlight is welcoming members of the public, including young people and families, on to campus offering new perspectives through insightful questions and comments and the unexpected conversations which arise.

After a hiatus of four years due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, which saw the Festival cancelled, postponed and staged online, it is great to be returning to an in-person event with our biggest programme yet. It has been invaluable working with the Institute for Policy and Engagement to help us explore what is possible - both on the History Festival and other projects.

Community and collaboration

From the Vikings to the impact of the climate crisis, from Medieval England to the city’s rich local history the programme will take you on a diverse journey which we welcome everyone to enjoy.

The History Festival is a process of partnership, public engagement and collaboration

A key highlight is a full afternoon of drop-in activities at University Park on Wednesday 25th October. This will feature talks by experts, musical performance, re-enactments, object handling, creative sessions for families with local artist Elaine Winter, exhibits and stalls and drop-in activities.

As the Festival coincides with Black History Month we will welcome Dr Panya Banjoko, award-winning poet and founder of Nottinghamshire Black Archive, who will talk about ‘When Poetry, Politics and Black Women Meet’. We are also pleased to host two sessions on LGBTQ+ histories with CJ DeBarra, a queer author and journalist, discussing writing a queer history of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Rainbow Heritage talking about ‘firsts’ in LGBT history in Nottingham.

We’ve been lucky enough to form a number of community partnerships which has enabled us to take our research off campus and into the heart of local communities. This includes a series of guided history walks exploring the often-hidden histories behind familiar facades in Nottingham, exploring by foot themes such as ‘Global Lace’ and ‘The Caves Beneath Our Feet’.

The History Festival provides an opportunity for the public to engage with and explore different aspects of history and human past. The 2023 History Festival has been supported by the University’s Institute for Policy and Engagement, the Department of History and the School of Humanities. The events are all free to attend but booking is required for the talks and walks. Explore the History Festival webpage to discover more about this year's festival.