Over the next twelve months, to celebrate Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture and our role as a principal partner, the University of Warwick is hosting The Resonate Festival. This exciting programme of public events will include talks and public conversations, exhibitions, film festivals, walking tours, debates and so much more. The grand finale will be a multi-day festival on campus in April 2022. The entire programme and festival is linked with the themes and timings of the City of Culture year, and our events form part of the wider City of Culture programme.

Through the festival, we want to engage with people across Coventry and Warwickshire, aiming to reach those we’ve never engaged with before as well as our ‘regulars’. That means adults who wouldn’t typically know the University or come along to University-run events, those who are interested in culture, who want to make a difference, the curious and the inquisitive. We also have events that are for to families and children of all ages and backgrounds.

The roadshow which forms part of the Resonate Festival will see us collaborating with many of our wonderful community partners, meaning the programme will represent and reflect on the varied cultural traditions of our city, as well as highlighting diverse voices and artistic traditions in our events. The festival will include performances, shows, activities, experiences, talks, debates, panel discussions, creativity, fun, and inspiration. We’re collaborating with each other on this – our activities rely on the participation of staff and students from across campus – as well as our partners in the city and beyond.

We’re really trying to ensure that Warwick is recognised and embedded as a valued contributor to Coventry lives and hope that the Resonate Festival will establish a legacy of engagements in our local communities. We’re also working closely with colleagues at Warwick Arts Centre to make sure that our programme of events supports and complements their exciting plans for the year ahead.

We’ve been challenged by our current situation to look at how to reorganise and rethink some of these activities in the first quarter of our programme. Whether that’s by figuring out how best to continue reaching local communities online (our first couple of months of the roadshow will now largely be delivered digitally, for example), or by getting creative about delivering engaging, socially distanced activities for all, the show will definitely go on! We hope that all staff and students will enjoy getting involved in the Resonate Festival over the next 12 months.

Find out more at warwick.ac.uk/resonate