University of Sheffield chosen as hub for major humanities festival

The University of Sheffield has been selected to host a series of events for the Being Human Festival 2019 – the UK’s only national festival for the humanities

Hub status sees the University present a free programme of immersive events, projections, theatre, food, music and talks in Sheffield throughout November

From talks and poems on the meaning of dreams in Renaissance Italy to events that give a glimpse into royal entertainment in the 17th century – series will explore themes of myths, dreams and love in subjects such as history, philosophy, languages, literature, music and theatre

The University of Sheffield has been selected to host a series of events celebrating the humanities as part of a major national festival.

The Being Human Festival 2019 – the UK’s only nationwide festival for the humanities – will see the University present a programme of immersive events, projections, theatre, food, music and talks in Sheffield throughout November.

Free and open to the public, the events will celebrate the humanities by exploring themes of myths, dreams and love related to subjects such as history, philosophy, languages, literature, music and theatre.

Among the festival’s highlights is an event that will give people a glimpse into the music, theatre, food and costume that King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria experienced when visiting the Cavendish family of Welbeck Abbey at Bolsover Castle in the 17th century.

Featuring a talk by Professor Angie Hobbs and Dr Crosby Stevens, the event is based on their research which has solved a centuries-old puzzle behind the meaning of mysterious paintings in the castle’s keep.

Their research found that the castle was designed for banquets and cultural pursuits, and the artworks were intended to be interactive and multisensory. The aim of this design was to envelop visitors in a luxurious fantasy world that would amuse them while revealing higher moral and philosophical truths, according to the study.

King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria were treated to the full immersive experience of Bolsover in its original Jacobean form when they visited for a day of feasting and banqueting in the summer of 1634 – moving through the building and encountering multisensory surprises.

The Moving Heaven and Earth event at the Being Human Festival will enable people to experience some of the sights, sounds and tastes of this royal Jacobean theatrical entertainment.

The festival will also feature an event in which people can explore the meanings of dreams in the Renaissance. Dr Erin Maglaque, Lecturer in Early Modern European History at the University, will provide an insight into dream literature, daydreamers, and dreams in everyday life.

Otis Mensah, Poet Laureate of Sheffield, will also perform a poem taking themes from Dr Maglaque’s research into dreaming in Renaissance Italy.

Other events in the festival include:

Bolsover, the Cavendishes and Ben Jonson – a lunchtime talk by Dr Tom Rutter, Senior Lecturer in Shakespeare and Renaissance Drama, discussing Bolsover Castle’s murals in relation to the poetry and drama of Ben Jonson, who counted the castle’s owner William Cavendish among his patrons

Music and the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili – a lunchtime talk by Dr Tim Shephard, Lecturer in Musicology, exploring the music of the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili – a 1499 romance story published in Venice and renowned for its beautiful woodcut illustrations. The event will enable people to discover the volume’s origins and its intimate connection with the music of that time. and its historic and cultural contexts

The Secrets of the Selkies – join award-winning folk singer and ethnomusicologist, Dr Fay Hield, and guests for a spoken word, visual and song-based show exploring responses to the tale of the selkie – creatures of human/seal form who get trapped on land and navigate human relationships

Dr Amanda Crawley Jackson, Director of Impact and Engagement in the University of Sheffield’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded hub status for this year’s Being Human Festival. Sheffield is renowned for its thriving arts and cultural scene and the University is one of the best in the UK for teaching and research in the humanities, so it’s fitting that the city will be part of the UK’s national humanities festival.

“The humanities are based on subjects that are close to the hearts of many people and they explore issues that are connected to the things we are most interested in. For this year’s festival, our programme of events will take an in-depth look at myths, dreams and love. We’re looking forward to the events and hope as many people as possible can get involved in the activities.”

Professor Vanessa Toulmin, Director of City and Cultural Engagement at the University of Sheffield, added: “We are excited to be playing such a big part in this year’s Being Human Festival. Being a hub for the festival not only gives us a fantastic opportunity to showcase some of the latest research from our Faculty of Arts and Humanities, but it gives us another chance to work in partnership with organisations across the city and for Sheffield to be part of a national programme of events.

“We’re looking forward to hosting events with Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust, Dead Earnest Theatre and Poet Laurette Otis Mensah that are open for all to enjoy.”

For more information on the Being Human Festival 2019, including a full list of events from the University of Sheffield and links to book tickets, visit: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/pre/being-human

Additional information Arts and Humanities at the University of Sheffield The University of Sheffield With almost 29,000 of the brightest students from over 140 countries, learning alongside over 1,200 of the best academics from across the globe, the University of Sheffield is one of the world’s leading universities. A member of the UK’s prestigious Russell Group of leading research-led institutions, Sheffield offers world-class teaching and research excellence across a wide range of disciplines. Unified by the power of discovery and understanding, staff and students at the university are committed to finding new ways to transform the world we live in. Sheffield is the only university to feature in The Sunday Times 100 Best Not-For-Profit Organisations to Work For 2018 and for the last eight years has been ranked in the top five UK universities for Student Satisfaction by Times Higher Education. Sheffield has six Nobel Prize winners among former staff and students and its alumni go on to hold positions of great responsibility and influence all over the world, making significant contributions in their chosen fields. Global research partners and clients include Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Unilever, AstraZeneca, Glaxo SmithKline, Siemens and Airbus, as well as many UK and overseas government agencies and charitable foundations.