York St John Events

The last few tickets remain for 'Grunge Included', an exciting event taking place on campus on Monday 7 September.

The conference will explore the evolution, cultural context and enduring impact of the grunge movement, bringing together academics from across the globe. The impact of grunge goes beyond music, with its influence felt in fashion, politics, design, art and more.

A very special guest hailing from Seattle and New York, the legendary record producer and musician Gordon Raphael, will be in attendance. Known most widely for his work with The Strokes, Gordon produced their EP 'The Modern Age', and first two albums 'Is This It' and 'Room on Fire'.

Expect research, discussion and networking.

Get your FREE ticket before they all go!

We're sure you've heard the news...

York St John has become the custodian of King's Manor, one of York's most historically significant buildings!

Built in the 15th century to house the abbots of St Mary's Abbey, it later became the headquarters of the Council of the North under the instruction of Henry VIII. More recently, King's Manor has been a place for learning, a legacy which we are proud to continue.

YSJ Events are thrilled to be able to offer a number of exceptional spaces within King's Manor for event hire. As of last week, we have the keys, and work is underway.

Watch this space, as we'll be announcing our very first events at this new venue soon!

Last week, we hosted the inaugural 'Consciousness & Education Conference: Why Consciousness Matters for the Future of Education'.

The keynote talk was delivered by Dr Federico Faggin, an Italian-American physicist and engineer best known for designing the first microprocessor, and leading the company that developed the first commercial touchpad and touchscreen. Dr Faggin was a pioneer at the forefront of modern computing, and he now supports research into consciousness through the Faggin Foundation.

This well-attended two-day conference explored the implications of a new world view for education - one which considers the growing evidence that mind is not generated by brain activity, and that consciousness is a fundamental aspect of reality. Drawing on emerging perspectives in science, philosophy and the humanities, it reconsidered assumptions about knowledge, learning, agency and meaning in educational theory and practice.

Tickets are live for Quiet Pride, an annual event hosted on campus in partnership with York Disability Rights Forum.

This event aims to be as accessible and inclusive as possible for LGBTQ+ people, and is aimed at those who want to celebrate without the noise, flashing lights and alcohol which can often accompany Pride events.

Join one of two identical sessions on Thursday 6 August, involving craft and writing workshops, talks and discussions. The full programme will be available on the Quiet Pride website.

Tickets are free and must be pre-booked via the link in bio. Get yours now! 🌈

This July, we are proud to present a new on-campus symposium in partnership with York Minster.

This event marks the 800th anniversary of the canonisation of St William of York, whose shrine at York Minster became one of the great medieval centres of pilgrimage and prayer for healing.

The theme is the reconsideration of our understanding of healing in the 21st century. While the language of healing has often been associated with miraculous restoration or cure, the symposium will explore a broader theological vision - one that includes reconciliation, belonging, dignity, and the restoration of communities as well as bodies.

Featuring an impressive line-up of international speakers, this event aims to bring the wisdom of the Christian tradition into dialogue with the complex realities of modern life.

Further information and booking via the link in bio.

York Minster

Our annual School of the Arts Festival invites you to be challenged and inspired by the work of our talented Art, Design, Performance and Production courses.

The Festival is a unique opportunity for friends, family and members of the public to engage with the brilliant work of our students.

Events open to the public:

💥Reignite XV: Liftoff - Breaking In & Building Forward, 4 June. Hear directly from artists and filmmakers, including Turner Prize nominee Heather Philipson, who will share their personal stories of breaking in to the creative industry.

🎨 Art Degree Show Exhibition, 4 - 10 June. View the work of our talented Fine Art, Illustration and Photography students.

👾 Design Degree Show Exhibition, 6 - 10 June. Visit our vibrant showcase of creativity from Animation Design, Games Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design and Product Design.

🎤 Music and Musical Theatre Showcase, 3 June. Join us for an exciting evening of student performances with a wide range of genres and styles.

Info and booking through the link in bio!

Join us at the 1st Consciousness & Education Conference, exploring how new ideas about mind, meaning and human potential could reshape education and society.

Featuring a keynote from Dr Federico Faggin and a special conversation with Professor Ron Barnett, this conference brings together educators, researchers, therapists, parents and curious thinkers to explore a new vision of learning and being human.

Topics include:
✨ Consciousness and human potential
✨ The future purpose of education
✨ Rethinking knowledge and learning
✨ Meaning, agency and wellbeing
✨ New perspectives from science, philosophy and the humanities

⏳ There is only ONE WEEK left to book your place. The link is in our bio.

We are thrilled to be hosting a diverse range of innovative events on campus as part of York Festival of Ideas 2026.

This 2026 theme, Place and Space, explores how place both shapes and is shaped by identity and community, while highlighting the importance of giving people the space to think, discover, generate new ideas, and tackle global challenges.

Highlights include...

- Toilet Talk: Flushing out better school loos. Sat 30 May, 11am. School toilets significantly impact children's health and wellbeing. This event invites families, teachers and the community to help re-imagine them through research, graffiti and Lego.

- The Climate Resilience Jam: A Participatory Panel Experience. Tues 2 June, 3pm. Join the York St John Living Lab at this event for an interactive panel on ecological justice and climate resilience.

- Words Matter: Language and inclusive spaces. Wed 3rd June, 12pm. Explore why language - and the analysis of language - is crucial to creating inclusive spaces for diverse populations.

- A Dose of Nature: Our National Parks as a Natural Health Service. Tues 9 June, 6pm. This interactive workshop will explore how protected landscapes such as National Parks and National Landscapes can be a health resource for people.

The link to events hosted on campus can be found in our bio, and further information about the full Festival is over at York Festival of Ideas

Last week we launched the Design Centre, our brand new immersive learning facility 💡

From high powered computing suites, to bespoke and industry standard design studios (for Games, Animation, Interior, Product and Graphic Design), attendees heard about how YSJ is inspiring and supporting the next generation of creative professionals, and strengthening our creative communities across the region and beyond.

Guests heard from YSJ Visiting Professor and industry expert Andrew McNamara, lead of the global Generative AI exploration unit at VFX and Animation studio, Cinesite, before being the first to tour the state-of-the-art teaching and research environments.