The Being Human Festival is the UK’s national festival of the humanities, celebrating what it means to be human, from literature to music to archaeology. It is led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, with generous support from Research England, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy.

Every year the Festival brings together universities, museums, galleries, creative organisations, and community groups across the UK to run hundreds of free public engagement activities which showcase humanities research in ways that are accessible to the public.

Canterbury Christ Church University is delighted to be the Festival Hub for the South East this November, showcasing the expertise and research within the University through a series of free creative and dynamic events for children and adults to enjoy.

This year’s theme is ‘Women Making Sense’, and the free events are inspired by the work of women writers such as Mary Shelley, Aphra Behn, and Sophie Kirtley. The programme will bring women’s literature to life through all five senses, with walks and talks, graphic novel and poetry workshops, and a Victorian cookery class.

This year's Being Human Festival will take place between 9-18 November, and the University will be hosting events in Canterbury, Margate, Ramsgate and New Romney.

The programme’s highlights include:

• Sea Junk Jars and Monsters (Friday 10 November). This interactive family workshop will use the junk that is found on Thanet beaches, and urban legends about Kent sea monsters to give inspiration to write your own story about our coastline and the changing climate.
• Cook Like a New Woman (Tuesday 14 November). Try out Victorian recipes and learn about the woman who made them famous.
• Walking and Talking Texts (Saturday 18 November). Walk through historic streets of Canterbury pausing to share short readings. On-the-go discussion of the texts will draw on the surroundings and encounters to help consider the everyday in different ways.
• Aphra Behn Prayer-poetry (Saturday 18 November). In the church when Behn’s parents married, come and consider the unique voice of Canterbury’s iconic daughter and one of the most influential woman writers, as we discuss her 17^th century perception of faith and identity.
• Mary Shelley Graphic Novel Workshop (Saturday 18 November). This family workshop will dive into a world of creativity, imagination, and adventure. Learn how to bring a story to life through pictures and embark on an exciting journey into the world of comics, where the words of a classic tale by Mary Shelley will be turned into pictures in this graphic novel workshop.

The full programme can be found here.

Notes to editors

• This event is part of Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities, taking place 9–18 November 2023. Led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, with generous support from Research England, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy. For further information please see beinghumanfestival.org.