Our Festival of Ideas is back, featuring a dynamic and engaging programme of talks, events and activities, led by students and staff from the School of Media, Arts and Humanities.

We are the official Higher Education Partner for Brighton Festival, the city’s annual arts celebration and this year six events from the Festival of Ideas, showcasing Sussex research, are part of the Brighton Festival in May.

In the run up to Brighton Festival, we also have a series of student-led events starting from Monday 22 April!

These are all free and right here on campus – get ready for a mix of talks, workshops, round tables and performances, all curated by Sussex students.

What are these events all about?

Check out this Instagram video interview with students running three of the events in the programme, created by two of our Digital Media Creators. These students tell us a little more about their events and why you should come along!

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African Storytelling Fiesta; A journey into ancestral knowledge – Namse Peter Udosen

Describe your event in one sentence

Storytelling meshed into poetry with drumming and drama and a panel discussion on oral traditions. 

Why should students come to your event?

It would provide a traditional African night's entertainment. The stories and poetry from different cultures across Africa would illuminate conversations around forgotten knowledges. Students interested in decolonisation theories and wanting alternatives to Western centric views would find the panel discussion useful. You also get to listen to a reading from The Legendary Amang Goes to The Village. 

A roundtable on the post-truth rhetoric of the Covid-19 pandemic

Describe your event in one sentence

The event is an interdisciplinary discussion about the way in which persuasive language mediates our experience of infectious disease.

Why should students come to your event?

The event offers students a unique opportunity to debate, both with their peers and eminent scholars from the departments of English, Politics, Media, and Medicine, how and why post-truth rhetoric has shaped public conceptions and perceptions of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Do Your Own Thing: A Conversation with Artist Richard Phoenix

Describe your event in one sentence

An opportunity to hear the multimedia artist and writer, Richard Phoenix, talk about his work.

Why should students come to your event?

It is a unique opportunity to listen to and ask questions to a fantastic artist.

Check out the full list of events

Curating Conflict: Talk by curator Dr Aleema Gray

Monday 22 April, 11.30am-12.30pm. Seminar room, Library, ground floor

BOOK NOW: Curating Conflict: Talk by curator Dr Aleema Gray

Letterpress Masterclass with Printer Richard Lawrence and publication launch

Monday 22 April, 2pm-6.30pm. Arts B151 (workshop), Arts B lounge area (publication launch)

JOIN WAITING LIST FOR WORKSHOP

(no booking needed for publication launch)

Who's That Next to You?

Monday 22 April, 5.30pm-7.30pm. Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts (ACCA) café

BOOK NOW: Who's That Next to You?

A Roundtable on the Post-Truth Rhetoric of the Covid-19 Pandemic

Wednesday 24 April, 3.30pm-5pm. Debating Chamber, Falmer House

BOOK NOW: A Roundtable on the Post-Truth Rhetoric of the Covid-19 Pandemic

Do Your Own Thing: A Conversation with Artist Richard Phoenix

Thursday 25 April, 3.30pm-5pm. Seminar room, Library, ground floor

BOOK NOW: Do Your Own Thing: A Conversation with Artist Richard Phoenix

African Storytelling Fiesta: A Journey into African Knowledges

Thursday 25 April, 6pm-7.30pm. ACCA auditorium

BOOK NOW: African Storytelling Fiesta: A Journey into African Knowledges