The University of Warwick welcomed the community to campus on Saturday 31 May for a day of hands-on exploration, creativity and performance at the ‘Resonate Festival of Arts and Culture’.
Part of the University’s flagship public engagement programme, the event featured more than 40 activities, workshops and performances designed to spark curiosity and connection. Over 800 attendees from the wider community came along, making it the biggest ‘Resonate Festival Day Out’ to date.
Highlights included interactive circus and dance performances on the Oculus Field with House of MASH and Ascension Dance, performances by Opera Warwick and the Warwick Pantomime Society, and drop-in puzzles and games with the Puzzle Society. Visitors explored language learning, met a medieval doctor, and experimented with creative activities from pottery to book making, to maths-inspired embroidery and traditional Ukrainian crafts.
A festival atmosphere ran throughout the day, supported by music, food and informal spaces for visitors to relax and reflect. Dr Caroline Summers, academic lead for the event, said: “I love being part of Resonate events because of the inspiring atmosphere they create, giving us an opportunity to open up our research and our beautiful campus to the wider community.
“The Festival of Arts and Culture shows the enormous breadth of the Arts as a discipline and celebrates its links to identity, wellbeing, creativity, performance, maths, technology and so much more. It’s wonderful to see people of all ages engaging with ideas from our work, and I always learn something from running an activity – whether it’s a fresh perspective on my project or a new understanding of how to share it with people.”
Dr Kerry Baker, Associate Director of the Warwick Institute of Engagement, added: “This year’s festival was a fantastic celebration of how arts and culture can connect us across generations, disciplines and communities.
“We’re so grateful to everyone who made it possible, and to all who took part with such energy and openness.” Now in its fourth year, ‘Resonate’ will return in 2026 with a special programme to mark the festival’s fifth anniversary, keep an eye on the webpages for more information.
