Festival of the Mind is a biennial festival showcasing a unique collaboration between University of Sheffield researchers and the city’s cultural and creative industries, to help bring research to life in exciting, entertaining and innovative ways.
The festival takes place in various venues across the city including the iconic Spiegeltent in Barker’s Pool, the Millennium Gallery on Surrey Street and Persistence Works at Yorkshire Artspace on Brown Street. The programme includes free exhibitions, films, performances, workshops and talks exploring University of Sheffield research that is helping tackle some of the biggest issues impacting society.
The festival is free and open to all and has brought more than 170,000 visitors into Sheffield city centre since its first edition in 2012.
A warm welcome to Festival of the Mind 2024.
Twelve years in and seven festivals strong! We’re thrilled to welcome you to another exciting exploration of the wonders of research here at the University of Sheffield.
Festival of the Mind 2024 is a celebration of collaboration, showcasing the incredible work of our researchers alongside creative talent from across South Yorkshire. This year’s programme promises a wealth of fantastic events that reflects the breadth and diversity of our academics who undertake worldleading research.
Our mission is simple: to entertain, inspire, and engage. We want to ignite curiosity in current and future generations, demonstrating the profound impact that university research has on all of our lives, locally, nationally, and globally.
Festival of the Mind is your chance to connect. Over the years, we’ve facilitated over 800 researchers in sharing their knowledge with hundreds of thousands of visitors. Our events are free, open to all, and our audiences reflect the rich diversity of all Sheffield’s wonderful communities.
But the exploration doesn’t stop there! We’re committed to extending the festival experience beyond its dates. The University Player, a groundbreaking platform featuring podcasts and films about our research, will support the festival and remains (as far as we know!), the only one of its kind in the UK. Additionally, our Festival of the Mind website offers a space to continue interacting with us after the events.
Creativity, participation, cohesion, and learning are the cornerstones of the 2024 festival. We’re delighted to be back in the iconic Spiegeltent at Barker’s Pool as well as Futurecade at the Millennium Gallery and Winter Garden. This year, we’re also excited to unveil a new venue: Persistence Works, an award-winning studio complex part of Yorkshire Artspace on Brown Street.
Festival of the Mind 2024 is our most ambitious yet. We’ve embraced partnerships with creative minds and residents across the region to bring you an unforgettable programme. We truly hope you’ll join us on this journey of discovery.
Professor Vanessa Toulmin – Festival Director (Director of City & Culture)