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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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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T113000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T123000
DTSTAMP:20260518T173448
CREATED:20260518T080047Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T150824Z
UID:10000662-1782991800-1782995400@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Voices\, Evidence and Change: A Conversation about Rough Sleeping
DESCRIPTION:Rough sleeping remains one of the most urgent and visible social challenges facing our communities today. Voices\, Evidence and Change brings together academics\, community partners\, practitioners and people with lived experience\, to explore how research and collaboration can contribute to meaningful responses to rough sleeping. \nThis public research event creates a shared space for dialogue between the University of Chester and the local community. Too often\, discussions about rough sleeping happen without the direct involvement of those most affected. This event seeks to challenge that pattern by centring lived experience and critically considering how we can amplify diverse voices that are too often overlooked in policy and practice discussions. By bringing together different forms of knowledge\, the event aims to foster a more holistic and compassionate understanding of the issue.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/voices-evidence-and-change-a-conversation-about-rough-sleeping/
LOCATION:Storyhouse Garret Theatre\, Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR
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:20260702T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T140000
DTSTAMP:20260518T173448
CREATED:20260518T080026Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T152806Z
UID:10000721-1782997200-1783000800@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:A Practitioner Panel on Trauma Informed Approaches to Support Expectant Families
DESCRIPTION:Led by practitioners from Warrington Borough Council\, this event convenes a panel of practitioners from Tameside Council and CWaC to discuss trauma-informed and relationship-based practice through the RESTORE programme. RESTORE is a Warrington-based five-year voluntary initiative supporting expectant families who have experienced\, or are at risk of\, having children removed from their care. The discussion will be relevant to those working in family and parenting support roles interested in trauma
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/a-practitioner-panel-on-trauma-informed-approaches-to-support-expectant-families/
LOCATION:Storyhouse Garret Theatre\, Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR
CATEGORIES:Discussion Panel
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/61.-Practitioner-Panel-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T213000
DTSTAMP:20260518T173448
CREATED:20260518T080053Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T135503Z
UID:10000665-1783018800-1783027800@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Research is a Laugh - Stand-Up Comedy Night!
DESCRIPTION:Think academic research isn’t your thing? Think again! \nJoin us for an evening stand-up comedy\, a new event for 2026! Researchers from across the North West will swap jargon for punchlines and take to the stage to share their work. Expect fascinating research\, silly stories\, and lots of laughs. No prior knowledge required\, just come along and discover what happens when research meets comedy! \nThis year’s Chester Festival of Ideas line-up includes: Luke Chaplin\, Kate Slade\, Sahir Hussain\, Erin Beeston\, Bethany Facer\, and Sarah McGrath!
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/research-is-a-laugh/
LOCATION:Storyhouse Garret Theatre\, Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR
CATEGORIES:Performance
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:20260703T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T120000
DTSTAMP:20260518T173448
CREATED:20260518T080042Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T140257Z
UID:10000701-1783076400-1783080000@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Promises to Ourselves
DESCRIPTION:An exciting and thought provoking drama\, dance and musical exploration of the hopes and aspirations of the students at Lymm High School and how they envisage their futures. Using students’ own opinions and viewpoints\, this performance will express their expectations and intentions about how they want the world to look in the future.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/promises-to-ourselves/
LOCATION:Storyhouse Garret Theatre\, Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR
CATEGORIES:Performance
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:20260703T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T140000
DTSTAMP:20260518T173448
CREATED:20260518T080016Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T141148Z
UID:10000742-1783083600-1783087200@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:How to Feel Hopeful
DESCRIPTION:Young people are growing up hearing that the world is in crisis – from climate change to political instability and constant alarming headlines. This interactive session creates space to pause and look more closely. Are things only getting worse? What does the evidence really show? Through open discussion and reflective activities\, we’ll explore how to sit with uncertainty without losing perspective. A welcoming\, inclusive space for secondary age and above thoughtful\, honest and hopeful.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/how-to-feel-hopeful/
LOCATION:Storyhouse Garret Theatre\, Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR
CATEGORIES:Interactive / Creative Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/81.-Hope-to-feel-hopeful-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T160000
DTSTAMP:20260518T173448
CREATED:20260518T080025Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T142439Z
UID:10000743-1783090800-1783094400@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Wild Hope: Why the Arts and Nature Matter More Than Ever
DESCRIPTION:Join Uná Meehan in conversation with Rowan Cannon\, Founder and Artistic Director at Wild Rumpus. In an era defined by ecological crisis\, climate anxiety and rapid technological change\, many people feel overwhelmed by the scale of the challenges we face. Yet across the UK a growing movement is using arts\, culture and shared experiences in nature to reconnect people with each other and with the living world. Wild Rumpus\, the creative force behind festivals such as Just So and Timber\, has spent over a decade designing immersive cultural experiences in forests and wild landscapes. Their work invites thousands of people each year to step away from everyday life and encounter nature through storytelling\, performance\, music and collective participation. But can experiences like these do more than entertain? Can art in nature help us imagine different futures\, rebuild community\, and nurture hope in the face of environmental uncertainty? In this conversation\, Rowan Cannon and colleagues from Wild Rumpus explore: Why shared experiences in nature can transform how we see the world\, The role of imagination\, creativity and storytelling in responding to the climate crisis\, How festivals and cultural events can create collective moments of hope and possibility\, Why connection to nature is increasingly vital for wellbeing and resilience. The session will also invite the audience to reflect on their own experiences of nature\, creativity and community\, and to consider how small cultural moments can contribute to wider social and environmental change.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/wild-hope-why-the-arts-and-nature-matter-more-than-ever/
LOCATION:Storyhouse Garret Theatre\, Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR
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:20260704T113000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260704T123000
DTSTAMP:20260518T173448
CREATED:20260518T080034Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T143155Z
UID:10000673-1783164600-1783168200@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Climate catastrophe - where are we heading?
DESCRIPTION:Does it feel like you are seeing more extreme weather? The science suggests we might be heading for a 3 degree world\, but action globally doesn’t suggest people are concerned.\nSo what is the truth? Join me as I explore the different pathways we could follow over this century depending on whether we act now or delay action to mitigate climate change.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/climate-catastrophe-where-are-we-heading/
LOCATION:Storyhouse Garret Theatre\, Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/29.-Climate-catastrophe.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260704T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260704T150000
DTSTAMP:20260518T173448
CREATED:20260518T080052Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T153152Z
UID:10000674-1783173600-1783177200@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Rome's Cutting Edge: The Auxiliaries
DESCRIPTION:Discover Rome’s cutting edge: The Auxiliary Soldiers. Recruited from across the empire\, these specialist troops helped the Roman army conquer new lands and face unfamiliar enemies. Often dismissed as second-class legionaries\, they were in fact essential to Rome’s success. Join us as we uncover who they were\, what they did\, and why their story matters.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/romes-cutting-edge-the-auxiliaries/
LOCATION:Storyhouse Garret Theatre\, Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/26.-Romans-Cutting-Edge.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260704T160000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260704T170000
DTSTAMP:20260518T173448
CREATED:20260518T080049Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260518T080848Z
UID:10000654-1783180800-1783184400@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:You can write a song! 10 ways to get started.
DESCRIPTION:“I wish I could write a song\, but I don’t know where to start…” \nThis is a super practical workshop to remove the fear of the blank page and give you tools to start writing your own songs. \nWe’ll look specifically at lyric-writing. No instrument needed! \nAdam Kirkup is a Chester-based songwriter\, musician and coach. He’s performed with New York alt-folk luminary Kimya Dawson\, toured with a WWE wrestling champion and attended the respected Chris Difford songwriting retreat. \nadamkirkup.com\ninstagram.com/adamkirkup
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/you-can-write-a-song-10-ways-to-get-started/
LOCATION:Storyhouse Garret Theatre\, Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR
CATEGORIES:Interactive / Creative Event,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/18.-You-can-write-a-song.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260705T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260705T120000
DTSTAMP:20260518T173448
CREATED:20260518T080010Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T153302Z
UID:10000696-1783249200-1783252800@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Leprosy and Smallpox: how our Chester ancestors experienced the devastation of these ancient diseases
DESCRIPTION:Leprosy and smallpox are two of the world’s oldest and most stigmatising illnesses. Both conditions bring shame from the fear of contagious disease and disfigured bodies and Chester’s history offers an authentic approach to their identification and treatment. From the founding of St Giles’s Leprosy Hospital in the early twelfth century\, to the formation of the Smallpox Society of Chester in 1778\, find out how the city’s inhabitants managed the challenges of these devastating diseases.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/leprosy-and-smallpox-how-our-chester-ancestors-experienced-the-devastation-of-these-ancient-diseases/
LOCATION:Storyhouse Garret Theatre\, Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/86.-Leprosy-and-Smallpox.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260705T123000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260705T133000
DTSTAMP:20260518T173449
CREATED:20260518T080023Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260518T080941Z
UID:10000686-1783254600-1783258200@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:‘It turned us yellow all over’: Health Care Provision for Munition Workers During the First World War.
DESCRIPTION:This talk will discuss the background to the enormous expansion of munitions’ factories and production in Britain\, as a result of the ‘Shells Scandal’ of 1915\, including within the local area around Chester. This necessitated the recruitment of thousands of munitions workers (many of whom were women) and they were to be exposed to a myriad of health problems because of their work. These health issues will be discussed and the health care and welfare provision made for munition workers during World War One will be outlined. The contribution that medical and nursing staff made\, in an early forerunner of what is now often referred to as occupational health\, will also be discussed. \nPicture Source: Leeds Library and Information Service.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/it-turned-us-yellow-all-over-health-care-provision-for-munition-workers-during-the-first-world-war/
LOCATION:Storyhouse Garret Theatre\, Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/94.-It-turned-us-yellow-all-over-caption-required-see-spreadsheet-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
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