Being Human Festival Wrap Up
From the 6-15th November, the University of Hertfordshire took part in the Being Human Festival, the UK’s national celebration of humanities research. This year’s theme, ‘Between the Lines’, explores the spaces between cultures, identities, histories and ideas through a nationwide programme of free events.
The University’s Hub—one of 5 across the UK—involved 11 free events across Watford, Stevanage and St Albans. The programme kicked off with ‘HorrorFest’ at St Albans Museum and Gallery, where visitors could watch a live horror prosthetics demonstration, learn more about horror film research at Herts and even paint their own 3D-printed heart.
Families in St Albans enjoyed folklore-themed events such as a hands-on workshop about witch bottles, magical objects used to break a witch’s curse, and a spooky storytelling performance in the ruins of Sopwell House.
In Watford, there was something for everyone, with a sculpture making workshop for kids in Cassiobury Park and a day of crafts, films and food centred around refugees at Watford Library.
During the week, visitors at Stevanage Museum could enjoy an interactive poetry workshop based on the work of former Stevanage resident and author E.M. Forster, and families at South Oxhey Library took part in a comic making workshop themed around the history of protest.
Finally, we rounded up the Festival with ‘Decolonising the Humanities’, a day long programme of events at Watford Library that included an embroidery workshop, a zine-making session and a film screening of work by Black British filmmakers.
The Festival reached over a hundred audience members across the county and was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the University’s arts and humanities research.
