It’s one week to go until the biggest free, diverse and inclusive arts festival in the region.
Resonate 2022, the University of Warwick’s three-day festival, kicks off on the Coventry campus during the Easter holiday from Tuesday, April 19 until Thursday, April 21 with more than 70 free events.
Registrations have been pouring in and organisers are urging people from communities across the city and further afield to register early for any events they would like to attend.
Headliners include Gavin & Stacey star, University of Warwick graduate and best-selling author Ruth Jones, who played Nessa Jenkins in the BBC comedy, former Labour politician Ed Balls, the winner of BBC One’s Celebrity Best Home Cook who will talk about his memoir Appetite, crime fiction writer Mark Billingham and poet Lemn Sissay.
Titanic film composer and saxophonist John Altman, who has performed with artists including Amy Winehouse and Jimi Hendrix, will be creating four new compositions inspired by university research live on Wednesday, April 20, especially for the festival.
Wednesday, April 20 is a dedicated Family Fun Day with a full programme of workshops, activities and shows for children of all ages ranging from Stefan Gates’ Fartology! to the UK’s only android walkabout act, circus skills workshops with The Flying Seagull Project and Circus Mash, a stand-up comedian for kids aged six-plus, James Campbell.
The Resonate festival has been organised by the University of Warwick’ Institute of Engagement.
Festival director Helen Wheatley, Professor of Film & Television Studies, said: “Resonate is free and open to everyone! We keep adding more and more events to our festival programme and we’re very lucky to have some incredible performers, artists and academics taking part from best-selling authors to a Scottish comedian and environmental economist who has a PhD in climate change policy!
“At the heart of the Resonate Festival is our work with Coventry's cultural community. Our events celebrate the best and most exciting artistic work from across the region and explore what it means to be inspired by Coventry. These include excellent projects such as Coventry Creates, Coventry Made Me, Lady Godiva’s Legacy and Culture Share.”
Following 12 months of roadshows and events since Coventry’s UK City of Culture year began last May, Resonate 2022 showcases the best of University of Warwick research from staff and students based in each of the University's faculties alongside regional and national partners, collaborators, performers, artists, community groups, and special guests.
Across three evenings a diverse festival line-up encompasses performances, talks, exhibitions, comedy, the arts, sciences and humanities, performances, talks and public conversations, film screenings, walking tours, activities and more for local communities.
They will take place across the campus in two main lecture theatres within the Oculus building, Warwick Arts Centre and the Faculty of Arts Building.
Free shuttle buses will be laid on by the university throughout the festival, running back and forth across Coventry to the University of Warwick Campus, including Foleshill (Station Street & Courtaulds Way), Fairfax Street in the city centre, Earlsdon (Hearsall Common) and Canley (Prior Deram Walk and Ten Shilling Wood).
The University of Warwick has been working in partnership with Coventry City of Culture Trust throughout 2021 and 2022 for Coventry’s tenure as UK City of Culture.
To register for an event, visit https://www.resonatefestival.co.uk/whats-on-campus-festival