Arts and Humanities Day 2025

Join researchers from the University of Southampton, community groups and artists for a family-friendly day packed with interactive activities, workshops, talks, exhibitions and live performances, suitable for all ages. You will be given an insight into the amazing arts, humanities and social sciences research that take place on your doorstep, as well as the role that these disciplines play in shaping our local communities and neighbourhoods.

Activities and events will take place at the Southampton Cultural Quarter, at:

• Sir James Matthews Building
• John Hansard Gallery
• Southampton Central Library
• SeaCity Museum

Archaeology, history, music and creative writing, social sciences, photography, design and fashion, with just a pinch of science are just some of the exciting topics to be explored on the day.

You can craft, build and draw creatively, discover past, present and future communities and even have your senses surrounded through virtual reality worlds.

You'll also have the opportunity to immerse yourself in an interactive world of words, sounds, colours, textures, ideas and rhymes that will shape your journey to explore human experience.

The event is FREE to attend, but we require all guests to book a general admission ticket in advance.

For more information about the programme, visit www.southamptonartshumfest.co.uk

If you have any additional needs, you can start planning your experience by visiting the Accessibility section on our website. To organise your journey to Arts and Humanities Day please visit the 'Find us' section on our web page. For all other queries, please visit our comprehensive Frequently Asked Question 'FAQ area'.

This year's programme also showcases activities for the ESRC Festival of Social Science, the UK’s annual celebration of the social sciences, taking place 18 October - 08 November 2025. The Southampton branch of the festival is led by the Impact team at the University of Southampton, in partnership with Bournemouth University. For more information please visit esrcfestivalofsocialsciencesouthampton.org.

Arts and Humanities Day is part of Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities, taking place 06 –15 November 2025. Being Human is led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy. For further information please see beinghumanfestival.org.

Arts and Humanities Day, previously known as Hands-on Humanities Day, is the flagship event of Southampton Arts and Humanities Festival, the University of Southampton's annual celebration of humanities and the arts, taking place 6th - 15th November 2025.

Follow #UoSArtsHumFest on social media to stay up-to-date with the latest news, events and activity announcements.

Take a look at the video to find out what Arts and Humanities Day is going to be all about!