Festival of the Future

Festival of the Future 2024: Celebrating Arts, Culture, Science and Innovation

The University of Dundee proudly hosted Festival of the Future 2024 from 9 to 13 October, showcasing the vibrant interplay of Arts, Culture, Science and Innovation.
Festival of the Future is part of our cultural engagement which enhances the University’s offering and reputation by engaging in the region, developing and nurturing partnerships and leading on new cultural projects that benefit the people of Dundee and beyond.

This flagship festival brought together our academic community and the public, providing a platform for learning, discussion, and exploration of pressing issues, while highlighting our research and its real-world applications.

Our themes from 2024

This year’s festival embraced the themes of: 

• interconnectedness 
• focusing on the relationships between people and cultures
• health and well-being
• nature
• technologies
• and ideas

Our statistics

Over five days, 32 activities were planned, including talks, workshops, screenings, exhibitions, and performances designed to engage audiences of all ages. The festival aimed to foster a deeper understanding of our research and its relevance to everyday life.

The festival successfully attracted nearly 600 participants joining 20 events including talks, workshops, screenings, exhibitions and performances. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with 55 University academics and staff members who contributed their expertise to various activities.

Additionally, 61 researcher and staff members were involved in planning and delivering the popular Family Fun Day, which brought families together for an enriching experience.

Collaborating with 27 cultural partners and artists, Festival of the Future presented a diverse array of events across the city, strengthening our commitment to making research accessible and engaging for the community. Highlights included free access to the university’s Botanic Garden, which invited the public to explore the beauty of nature while connecting with our research initiatives.

We encourage broad engagement and access to our work by reaching out to communities, schools and third sector organisations and encouraging involvement.

We want to contribute to bridging the divide within which social and economic inequality exist and recognise the transformative effect that culture can have on individuals and communities. Through our community engagement we were able to give away free tickets to any of our events during the festival to individuals and families where cost may have been a barrier to attending.

We asked participants who took part in festival events several questions about their experiences. Here are some key stats:

• 93% of participants surveyed at events said the overall festival was either very good or good and 90% said the quality of the programme was either very good or good
• 88% of participants surveyed found their visit inspiring
• 83% of participants surveyed at events either strongly agreed or agreed that they had a greater understanding of the topics showcased at the Festival of the Future
• 87% of participants survey at events said they would seek out new chances to get involved in these topics and activities
• 100% of those surveyed at events said they would attend another University event or Festival of the Future again

Festival of the Future not only celebrates the accomplishments of our University, but also strives to inspire new audiences to engage with our work and foster community connections. As we reflect on this year’s festival, we look forward to continuing these meaningful dialogues and collaborations in the years to come.

Emma Preston, Cultural Projects Manager
Anna Duffy, Engagement Coordinator