Take Courage as the RSA launches its 2024 Fellows Festival

With 11 events in 11 locations across the globe and online taking place from 29 February to 2 March 2024, this year's Fellows Festival takes the theme of COURAGE, with speakers including:

• Wildlife broadcaster Chris Packham
• Executive director of the National Theatre Kate Varah
• Eden Project founder Tim Smit
• Former Royal Ballet Principal dancer and broadcaster Darcey Bussell
• Award-winning cultural business strategist Amanda Parker
• Urban wildlife conservationist Kabir Kaul
• Award-winning composer Walter Werzowa
• Young Vic artistic director Kwame Kwei-Armah

All of whom, and more, will be hosted by the RSA’s chief executive Andy Haldane.

Taking place from 29 February to 2 March 2024 this year's series of events marks the third year of the RSA’s Fellows Festival. Eight of the 11 events will take place in regions across the UK and Ireland, with online sessions hosted in Oceania, the US and Europe. We invite guests from across the globe to join these conversations and take part in these important discussions placing courage at the centre of social impact.

Andy Haldane, chief executive of the RSA, said:

“We are thrilled the Fellows Festival has grown internationally as it shines a light on the individuals and communities that are forging brave new paths to better futures for people, places and the planet. This year, as the RSA celebrates its 270th anniversary, we think it’s time to be even bolder in our global social change ambitions; the 2024 festival theme of courage couldn’t be more apt.”

On Thursday 29 February, there will be events hosted across the UK and Ireland - from Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Plymouth, Southampton and Dublin to online events hosted across the globe - in Italy, Australia and the US. Each event presents a range of diverse speakers exploring how we can unlock the potential in people and places to create connected, just and prosperous citizen-powered futures for local communities.

The festival’s flagship event will be hosted at RSA House in London on Saturday 2 March, playing host to a diverse range of innovators and changemakers, reflecting on the theme of courage. Speakers will include Kwame Kwei-Armah (Young Vic), Kate Varah (National Theatre), Lucy Kerbel (Tonic Theatre), Tim Smit (Eden Project), Emily Bolton (Our Future) and Lorraine Whitmarsh (University of Bath).

Wildlife broadcasters Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin will focus on passing the mic to the next generation of naturalists and creating a platform for the environmental issues and campaigns they care most about. They will be joined on stage by young filmmakers from the hit series 8 Out Of 10 Bats.

The RSA will also showcase the latest in its Design for Life mission with a series of interactive workshops. The RSA’s latest project, Day One Manifesto for Change will also be launched, unveiling a new public declaration focused on regenerative futures for people, places and the planet.

Notes to editors

• Download images from the 2023 Fellows Festival here (link valid until 1 Feb 2024)
• For further information, press tickets and interview opportunities, contact RSA's Head of News and Public Affairs: ben.oliver@rsa.org.uk

About the RSA

We are the RSA. The royal society for arts, manufactures and commerce. Where world-leading ideas are turned into world-changing actions. We’re committed to a world where everyone can fulfil their potential and contribute to more resilient, rebalanced, and regenerative futures.

The RSA has been at the forefront of significant social impact for over 260 years. Our research and innovation work has changed the hearts and minds of generations of people. Central to all our work are our mission-aligned Fellows; a global network of innovators and changemakers who work collectively to enable people, places and the planet to flourish in harmony.

We invite you to be part of this change. Join our community. Together, we’ll unite people and ideas in collective action to unlock opportunities to regenerate our world.