The University of Warwick welcomed over 600 visitors to its inaugural Resonate Festival of Arts and Culture, with families getting stuck into free hands-on activities and fascinating performances.

The event saw Coventry and Warwickshire residents and attendees from far and wide join in with a huge range of drop-in sessions, from literary adventures to dance masterclasses, delivered by over 200 members of the local community and University of Warwick staff and students.

The festival is part of the Warwick Institute of Engagement’s Resonate programme, which has been engaging people in the region with family-friendly fun and eye-opening talks and activities hosted by the university in collaboration with Warwick researchers, students and community partners since its launch in 2021. 

Sessions on Sunday included discovering Dante’s Divine Comedy through children’s books, drop-in sessions on Spanish for kids and Arab history and heritage, immersive virtual reality workshops, samba percussion and traditional Afro-Haitian Yanvalou dance, as well as looking at how stories travel the world.

The day also featured circus, dance and theatre performances, as well as a chance to learn about Chinese culture and language through calligraphy sessions and immersive workshops. Visitors of all ages could also explore new languages through games, challenges, trails and creative activities.  

Participants were also treated to a range of food stalls, allowing guests to try fresh food made by a local vendor as part of their day immersed in cultures from across the globe - while many enjoyed free ice creams in the sun.

Dr Kerry Baker at Resonate said: “This was our busiest festival yet and it was great to see so many people making the most of the brilliant range of exhibits and events on show across the campus.

“The event brought together so many people who all will have come away having learned something new, whether exploring a new language, learning a new skill, or hearing from an expert on a topic they are passionate about.

“Resonate has been running for three years now and the fact we can bring events like these to so many people for free is really incredible. We’ll be taking a bit of a break but are already excited about what we’ve got on offer from September so get ready for another jam-packed year heading into 2025, with plenty for everyone to get involved in.”