University of Hertfordshire unveils programme for Being Human Festival

From spooky horror prosthetics and folklore storytelling to refugee art workshops and recycled sculpture-making, the University’s Festival Hub programme will bring together communities to explore identity, history and creativity in fresh and inspiring ways.

Event highlights include:

• HorrorFest (St Albans Museum & Gallery, 8 Nov): A behind-the-scenes look at horror film prosthetics with live demonstrations and hands-on mini organ painting.
• Seeking Sanctuary (Watford Library, 8 Nov): Short films, poetry and art reflecting refugee experiences, ending with Syrian canapés from a refugee-led caterer.
• Spooky Stories (Sopwell Ruins, 9 Nov): Family-friendly storytelling exploring Hertfordshire myths and legends.
• Trash or Treasure (Cassiobury Park Hub, 9 Nov): Sculpture-making from recycled materials with wildlife experts and Hertfordshire artist David Kefford.
• Writing Queerness with E.M. Forster (Stevenage Museum, 12 Nov): An interactive poetry workshop inspired by the author’s life and legacy in Stevenage.

In total, around a dozen family-friendly events will run between 8–15 November, spanning workshops, film screenings, art sessions and performances. Full details are available on the Being Human Festival website and see below listings.

Professor Wendy Wills, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the University of Hertfordshire, said:

“We are proud to be part of the Being Human Festival, which shows how the humanities help us understand ourselves, our relationships and the world around us. Our programme draws on Hertfordshire’s rich heritage of film, folklore and literature to create events that inspire curiosity, spark creativity and encourage meaningful conversations.

“Each event is rooted in the study of the human experience, drawing from disciplines such as literature, history, archaeology, philosophy, art history, languages, music, theatre, theology and more. We’ve worked closely with local communities to develop engaging and accessible events that promote the exchange of ideas and celebrate the value of the humanities in everyday life.”

Established in 2014, the Being Human Festival is run by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy.

It is the UK’s national celebration of the humanities, with hundreds of free public events each year that show how humanities’ research matters to everyday life and foster public engagement across the higher education sector with events that go beyond traditional academic formats.

FULL EVENTS LISTING

Being held in Watford:

Saturday 8th November 4-6pm – The Community Table – Watford Library for an adult audience

Charity Art Refuge will host a creative arts activity delivered by artists with lived experience of displacement. This includes craft activities such as making maps, postcards and poetry.

Saturday 8th November 7-9pm – Seeking Sanctuary – Watford Library for an adult audience

Watch a series of short films about the displacement of Sahrawi refugees in the Sahara, explore an exhibition of art and writing created by Syrian refugees in North Jordan, and try your hand at word tile poetry in a collaborative poetry workshop. The evening concludes with a drinks reception and tasting Syrian canapes from a refugee-led catering company.

Sunday 9th November 2-4pm - Trash or Treasure - The Hub, Cassiobury Park, Watford - Families with children 8-12

With the assistance of Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, Renowned Hertfordshire sculptor David Kefford leads a family-friendly workshop where you’ll have the chance to create your own pocket sculpture out of recycled materials.

Friday 14th November 4-5:30pm - Comics for Change - South Oxhey Library - Families from age 8+

This family-friendly workshop will explore how comics have been used throughout history as a form of protest and a way to change society. You will learn how to make your own comic, create and draw characters and address an issue you care about.

Saturday 15th November 1:30-4pm - Stitch Your Story - Watford Library – adult audience

Award-winning artist and poet Suman Gujral leads a workshop combining storytelling and textile art at Watford Library. She’ll show you how to use your own history and heritage sew a unique embroidered artwork to take away with you.

You will also get the chance hear Suman talk about her own creative practice and how her family history has inspired her work.

Saturday 15th November 5-6pm - Decolonising through Zines - Watford Library – adult audience

Herts’ academic Dr Christopher Lloyd is joined by and author, journalist and zine-maker Kieran Yates for a zine-making session exploring the history of zines as a form of expression for marginalised communities. They will deliver a workshop enabling you to create a zine of your own through a decolonial lens – thinking about history, power, place, identity, and resistance.

Saturday 15th November 7-9pm - An Evening of Black British Artists' Films - Watford Library – adult audience

Some of the foremost black British artists working today, Onyeka Igwe and Darryl Daley show films and talk about themes of colonialism in Africa and the Caribbean, black identity and memory, often from very personal perspectives.

This is followed by a Q&A led by Dr James Harvey, Senior Lecturer in Film and Media at the University of Hertfordshire, and the evening finishes finish with a wine reception.

Being held in St Albans:

Saturday 8th November 7-9pm -HorrorFest - St Albans Museum and Gallery

Take a behind-the-scenes look at horror film prosthetics with Herts horror-film experts Dr Laura Mee and Dr Shellie McMurdo as they guide you through a live demonstration of horror film makeup and prosthetics, led by an experienced prosthetics technician. You will then have a chance to paint your own ‘mini organ’ to take home. The evening finishes with a wine reception.

Sunday 9th November 10-11am - Witch Bottle Painting - Cottonmill Community and Cycling Centre, Sopwell, St Albans – Families with children aged 5-11

Witch bottles were magical tools used to break a witch's curse during the 17th century. You'll hear about the history of these fascinating objects with Dr Ceri Houlbrook, Lecturer in Folklore at the University of Hertfordshire. Wear your painting-friendly clothes and roll up your sleeves to create your own to take home.

Sunday 9th November 12-1pm - Spooky Stories – Sopwell Ruins - Family event 8+

In the spooky ruins of Sopwell Nunnery, professional storyteller Olivia Armstrong will reimagine tales of fairies, werewolves and the Green Lady of Hertfordshire for a family audience. These explore magic, myth and legend and are based on original stories inspired by the research of academics such as Dr Sam George, Dr Kaja Franck and Dr Ceri Houlbrook.

Being held in Stevenage:

Wednesday 12th November 5-6pm - Writing Queerness with E. M. Forster - Stevenage Museum – adult audience

Led by Herts’ poet and literature academic Dr Chris Lloyd, who explores the legacy of the Edwardian author E.M. Forster. Forster grew up in Stevenage and his novel Maurice, published after his death, explores homosexual love in early 20th-century England. Using Forster’s life and literature as inspiration, this interactive workshop will guide you through the process of writing your own poetry and discovering your unique voice.