Skip to main content

Public History Festivals

The Raphael Samuel History Centre runs regular Public History Festivals. We work with a network of heritage and archive organisations, which we convene. The History and Heritage Adult Learning London Network (HHALL) works together to deliver engaging public history events around a particular theme.

MIGRATION: A PUBLIC HISTORY FESTIVAL

More events and information to follow.

All events are free and open to all unless otherwise stated.

Past events

AIDS CULTURES AND HISTORIES (2018)

  • The festival took place across London throughout July 2018, and was open to all. Many events were free to attend. It aimed to explore how HIV/AIDS has been experienced, represented and remembered. Events included workshops, film screenings, party nights, music, talks and performance.
  • The festival was convened by the Raphael Samuel History Centre with Bridges events curated by Ash Kotak at Aesthesia. The festival also relied upon many partners across heritage, academic and charitable sector organisations. 

LONDON AT WAR: A HISTORY FESTIVAL (2014)

  • With walks, workshops, lectures and talks, this special events series explored some of the unexpected dimensions of the city during the two World Wars. 
  • Taking place throughout May 2014, the series was convened by the Raphael Samuel History Centre and some of the museums, archives and galleries which make up its History and Heritage Adult Learning Network (HHALL).
  • Events included a keynote lecture from renowned public history author Professor Jerry White, a tour of the National Maritime Museum, a talk on Sex in the Wartime City, and one about animals and humans on the London Home Front 1939-1945.

GAMES WEEK: A CELEBRATION OF GAMES IN HISTORY (2012)

  • History and Heritage Adult Learning London network, convened by the Raphael Samuel History Centre, held a week-long celebration of games in history from 7-15 July 2012, with events at leading museums and archives across London. 
  • Whether discovering children’s forgotten street games, finding out about stadium architecture, or learning about Nazi board games, there was something for every age and interest. 
  • Follow-on events ran from August 2012 to July 2013; there were monthly ‘behind the scenes’ tours and events at each of the venues giving people the chance to understand more about how some of London’s top archives and museums  worked, and to see things not normally on display.

A CELEBRATION OF FOOD IN HISTORY (2011)

  • The History and Heritage Adult Learning Network, convened by the Raphael Samuel History Centre, held a week-long celebration of food in history from 14-20 May 2011, with events at leading museums and archives across London. 
  • From learning about the eating habits of the famous to sampling foods from around the world, the week offered something for every age and culinary taste.

PAST CARING: A CELEBRATION OF LOVE IN HISTORY (2010)

  • The Raphael Samuel History Centre, (then a partnership between Birkbeck, Bishopsgate Institute and the University of East London) was awarded a £27,000 grant to host ‘Past Caring: A Celebration of Love in History’. 
  • This week-long festival of events, timed to coincide with Valentine's Day 2010, brought together a diverse group of 11 heritage, history and HE partners to deliver a series of walks, workshops, talks and exhibitions.
  • The grant was one of 213 awarded from the £20 million Transformation Fund, launched by the Government to offer funding for innovative informal adult learning projects in England. More than 1,400 applications for funding were received.