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X-WR-CALNAME:Festival of Ideas
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Festival of Ideas
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T113000
DTSTAMP:20260518T205249
CREATED:20260518T080036Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T151554Z
UID:10000666-1783074600-1783078200@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:The Rows of Chester: A Unique Creation or a Unique Survival?
DESCRIPTION:The uniqueness of Chester’s Rows lies first in the imaginative adaptation of a common medieval building form to the city’s hilly site. However\, they would not have seemed so unusual had comparable buildings elsewhere survived better. The talk will look at parallels for the building type\, how it was adapted to the landscape\, and the historical circumstances that prompted it.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/the-rows-of-chester-a-unique-creation-or-a-unique-survival/
LOCATION:Chester Town Hall\, 33 Northgate Street\, Chester\, CH1 2HQ
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/66.-The-Rows-of-Chester.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T130000
DTSTAMP:20260518T205249
CREATED:20260518T080000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T151622Z
UID:10000670-1783080000-1783083600@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:What have doctoral researchers in health and social care ever done for you?
DESCRIPTION:Our doctoral researchers in health and social care grapple with real-world problems that have an impact on people’s lives. From searching the literature to find out what we know and don’t know\, to exploring what happens in the real world and identifying how we can change the way we do things\, they work hard to have a positive impact on the services that you use. Some of our students will present their work to show how it can improve people’s lives.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/what-have-doctoral-researchers-in-health-and-social-care-ever-done-for-you/
LOCATION:Chester Town Hall\, 33 Northgate Street\, Chester\, CH1 2HQ
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/000.-Generic.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T123000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T133000
DTSTAMP:20260518T205249
CREATED:20260518T080031Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T151650Z
UID:10000702-1783081800-1783085400@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:In a World of AI\, Your Greatest Advantage is How You Relate
DESCRIPTION:AI can write your emails. Generate your leads. Build your systems. Draft your strategy. Build your business. \nThe one thing AI cannot do? Build a real relationship. \nWe need to stay present when things get hard. Navigate difference. Repair trust when it breaks. These are the key skills of the next decade. Because most challenges are relational\, not transactional. \nTEDx speaker\, author and relationship psychotherapist Kerry-Lyn Stanton-Downes has worked with over 2\,000 individuals and teams across 17 countries. In this talk she shares why the ability to regulate\, relate\, reconnect is your greatest competitive advantage and offers practical ways to start building relational capacity right now. Because the future is not about what you know. It is about how you relate.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/in-a-world-of-ai-your-greatest-advantage-is-how-you-relate/
LOCATION:Chester Picturehouse\, Unit 10 Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/000.-Generic.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T133000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T143000
DTSTAMP:20260518T205249
CREATED:20260518T080044Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260518T080435Z
UID:10000671-1783085400-1783089000@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:From Grassroots to Greatness: why community mental health is vital to supporting local health and wellbeing
DESCRIPTION:Strong communities are the foundation of good mental health. But how do grassroots initiatives translate into real improvements in wellbeing? This panel explores the vital role of community-led mental health support in strengthening local health and resilience. Bringing together diverse perspectives\, we’ll discuss what works\, the challenges communities face\, and how local action can drive lasting change in mental health and wellbeing. \nwww.chaptermentalhealth.org
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/from-grassroots-to-greatness-why-community-mental-health-is-vital-to-supporting-local-health-and-wellbeing/
LOCATION:Chester Picturehouse\, Unit 10 Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Discussion Panel
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/000.-Generic.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T160000
DTSTAMP:20260518T205249
CREATED:20260518T080022Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T151743Z
UID:10000712-1783087200-1783094400@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Roman Chester: Looking beneath the surface
DESCRIPTION:Join Peter for a walking tour of Roman sites in Chester (especially the defences)\, looking at details that escape the interpretation panels. The walk will begin at the canal bridge on Upper Northgate Street\, following the walls to the amphitheatre and Roman Gardens\, then through the streets to Town Hall Square. Participants are encouraged to dress for the route and weather. \nWe regret that this event is not suitable for people with mobility difficulties\, due to the nature of the City walls. However\, an online guide can be supplied\, with a route map that shows a wheelchair-friendly alternative that can be followed independently.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/roman-chester-looking-beneath-the-surface-2/
LOCATION:canal bridge on Upper Northgate Street\, Northgate Street\, Chester\, CH1 4EE\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Walk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/65.-Roman-Chester.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T160000
DTSTAMP:20260518T205249
CREATED:20260518T080014Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T151811Z
UID:10000728-1783090800-1783094400@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Randolph Caldecott: Illustrating Victorian Life
DESCRIPTION:Join one of West Cheshire Museums’ curators to learn more about this Chester-born artist. Best known as an illustrator of children’s books\, Caldecott was a wide-ranging\, varied artist\, admired by Gauguin and Van Gogh. He illustrated novels and travel books\, drew cartoons and caricatures\, and exhibited sculpture\, paintings and drawings. This talk will look at his life and work\, asking whether the apparent nostalgia in his work was an escape from an increasingly industrialised world.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/randolph-caldecott-illustrating-victorian-life/
LOCATION:Chester Town Hall\, 33 Northgate Street\, Chester\, CH1 2HQ
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/000.-Generic.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T153000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T163000
DTSTAMP:20260518T205249
CREATED:20260518T080058Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260518T080523Z
UID:10000667-1783092600-1783096200@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Screening Siblings: Brothers and Sisters on Film
DESCRIPTION:What can brothers and sisters on film tell us about the state of a nation? In the 21st century\, siblings are everywhere on screen\, from superhero blockbusters to horror films\, teen movies and slice-of-life dramas. Dr Katie Barnett\, senior lecturer in Film Studies and the author of Screening Siblings in Contemporary American Film (Bloomsbury\, July 2026)\, explores what this shift towards horizontal relationships on screen reveals about power\, politics\, and changing ideas of family. \nsibstack.substack.com
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/screening-siblings-brothers-and-sisters-on-film/
LOCATION:Chester Picturehouse\, Unit 10 Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/49.-Screening-Siblings.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T163000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T173000
DTSTAMP:20260518T205249
CREATED:20260518T080050Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T151904Z
UID:10000668-1783096200-1783099800@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:The University of Chester in 10 Objects
DESCRIPTION:This event will showcase the history of the University from its opening in 1839 to the present day. We will present ten objects from across the decades and discuss how each of them relates to an important event in the university’s history.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/the-university-of-chester-in-10-objects/
LOCATION:Senate House\, Exton Park Campus\, University of Chester\, Parkgate Road\, Chester\, CH1 4BJ
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/22.-The-University-of-Chester-in-10-Objects-rotated.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T170000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T180000
DTSTAMP:20260518T205249
CREATED:20260518T080000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T151923Z
UID:10000729-1783098000-1783101600@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Queering Britain:  Keeping LGBTQ Stories Alive
DESCRIPTION:This research began in Blackpool\, exploring its rich drag scene and LGBTQ+ histories. It has since grown into a wider project gathering stories from towns and cities across the UK. Through voices that connect generations and place\, Helen is starting to explore how identity is shaped by place and heritage. Reflecting on the legacy of Section 28\, preserving and sharing these stories publicly matters now more than ever. This talk will focus on stories from the seaside town of Blackpool.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/queering-britain-keeping-lgbtq-stories-alive/
LOCATION:Chester Picturehouse\, Unit 10 Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/000.-Generic.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T190000
DTSTAMP:20260518T205249
CREATED:20260107T070034Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T151942Z
UID:10000650-1783101600-1783105200@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Mariella Frostrup: In Conversation
DESCRIPTION:Join Mariella Frostrup for a dynamic conversation on why closing gender gaps is not just a social ideal but an economic necessity. Reflecting on her work as Chair of the Women in Work Summit\, co‑founder of Menopause Mandate\, and long‑time gender equality advocate\, this event will explore how pay\, wealth and health gaps shape women’s working lives and why addressing them is critical for productivity\, growth and long‑term competitiveness. Mariella will be in conversation with Professor Emma Rees\, Director of the University of Chester’s Institute of  Gender Studies and editor of the Routledge Companion to Gender\, Sexuality and Culture. \n(photo credit: Kate Martin)
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/mariella-frostrup-in-conversation/
LOCATION:University of Chester Exton Park School of Education\, University of Chester\, Parkgate Road\, Chester\, CH1 4BJ
CATEGORIES:In Conversation Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Mariella-Frostrup3-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T203000
DTSTAMP:20260518T205249
CREATED:20260107T070006Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T152001Z
UID:10000637-1783107000-1783110600@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Gary Younge: In Conversation
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an illuminating conversation with Gary Younge\, award-winning author\, broadcaster\, and Professor of Sociology at the University of Manchester. A former editor-at-large at The Guardian\, Younge brings decades of journalistic insight and academic rigor to discussions on race\, identity\, and resistance. His latest book\, Pigeonholed: Creative Freedom as an Act of Resistance\, explores the power of storytelling in challenging societal constraints. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with one of the most compelling voices in contemporary journalism and social thought. \nGary will be in conversation with Professor Tim Grady\, Director of the Culture and Society Research and Knowledge Exchange Institute at the University of Chester\, which brings together 200 researchers with an interest in exploring and challenging the influences that have shaped\, and continue to shape\, our culture and society.  Tim is an international scholar of twentieth century British and German history and is keen to explore through this discussion the role of the media in modern democracies and\, crucially\, how we can engage young people in democratic politics in such tumultuous times.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/gary-younge-in-conversation/
LOCATION:University of Chester Exton Park Campus – Binks Building\, Parkgate Road\, Chester\, CH1 4BJ
CATEGORIES:In Conversation Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0021.png
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