Join us for a celebration of the arts and culture at Queen Mary University of London.

Queen Mary is a major contributor to London’s cultural diversity. Established as a Victorian philanthropic institution dedicated to improving the lives of the people of the East End, QMUL is a global arts institution, firmly anchored in our East London community. QMUL is home to three Arts Council national portfolio organisations and countless practicing artists. Our cultural activities range from student societies to multi-million pound music technology spin-outs. And while QMUL has been at the forefront of developing links between the creative industries and higher education, we have always valued culture and the arts as a means to communicate our research, deliver innovative teaching, foster social justice and care for each other.

This event celebrates the transformative cultural experiences that students, staff and members of the public enjoy at QMUL. Focussing on the themes of our new five-year arts and culture strategy - global research, community engagement, and creative leadership - it brings together artists from the QMUL community with international leaders from the cultural sector.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Colin Bailey, Principal and President of Queen Mary University of London;

• Tristram Hunt, Director of the V&A Museum;

• Stella Hall, Co-founder of the Green Room and leading festival director.

• Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England

Performances include: Lois Weaver, performance artist and Professor of Contemporary Performance at QMUL; ‘My Saree’s Story' performed by Showmi Das, directed by Rokshana Khan; the Chinese Music Studio; pianist Kate Ryder; poet Nick Makoha; singer and song writer Saida Tani; QMUL Associate Research Fellow and performance artist Dickie Beau; and live jazz music from QMUL's students.

The launch will be held in the People’s Palace on our Mile End Campus – a venue which was created in the Victorian era to bring new and dynamic cultural opportunities to the people of East London. The formal part of the event is followed by a networking reception.

We look forward to welcoming you for an evening of fun and provocation, which showcases the distinctive arts and culture that make QMUL a world-leading institution.