The Bath Festival’s pledge to extend into more venues and reach wider audiences has been realised as it forms a partnership with Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution who will be hosting A Collection for the Curious Mind, a series of events as part of the festival’s celebration of books and music , which will run from Friday 13 May to Saturday 21 May 2022.

Our historic institution in Queen Square, which dates back to 1824, has undergone a huge transformation since lockdown and a collaboration with Bath Festival feels both natural and very exciting at this time. Since 2019 the institution has launched a new digital programme, an app and an updated website in addition to its regular offering of live evening lectures and exhibitions.

Teaming up with The Bath Festival to host a series of talks, the institution continues its determination to offer world class talks with a welcome to all.

The institution’s summer exhibition Beyond Beastly, sees some magical treasures taken out from the natural history and ethnological collections to delight and inspire the child in all of us. There are also plans to encourage first-time visitors and families to enter the building and take part in activities.

Here are some of the events that are part of A Collection for the Curious Mind:

· Creating Compelling Characters: a writing workshop. Acclaimed novelist Jason Hewitt (The Dynamite Room) will provide practical steps to help you create complex and fully formed characters that bring your story to life and drive the narrative in fresh and exciting ways. Monday May 16, 10am. There will be a second writers’ workshop on Friday 20 May, with advice on how to pitch your work to an agent.

· A series of lunchtime lectures at 1pm, to stimulate the mind. On Monday 16 May Nino Strachey will be talking about the Young Bloomsbury set, on Tuesday Jim Al-Khalili celebrates the joy of science, on Wednesday writer and broadcaster Nicholas Crane will be sharing the real life story of his book Latitude, on Thursday we’re invited to look back 100 years to the discovery of the tomb of the young Pharoah, Tutankhamun, while on Friday 20 May, there’s a chance to explore the history of books.

· On Saturday 21 May at 1.30pm war reporter Toby Harnden will be talking about First Casualty, his gripping account of the six-day battle that began the War in Afghanistan following 9/11.

· There will be talks throughout the festival at the institute about the big topics of our age, from the BBC (celebrating 100 years of broadcasting) to the re-telling of Greek myths, analysis of politic and war. Discover too a fresh take on stories from our past, including the fascinating facts behind Catherine the Great’s secret mission to smuggle a British doctor into her court.

For full programme details and to buy tickets visit: thebathfestival.org.uk

Discover more about what goes on at the Bath Royal Scientific and Literary Institution at: https://www.brlsi.org.

The Bath Festival opens with the traditional Party in the City on Friday 13 May, offering dozens of free live music events in city venues, including in Queen Square. This evening of free music attracts thousands of visitors who enjoy everything from choirs singing in churches, to samba on the streets, punk rock in pubs and the stars of the local music scene playing on stages in local parks. And for the first time a new Festival Hub will be set up in Queen Square over the first weekend of the festival. This will provide a welcoming gathering space with a music stage, food and drink traders, hands-on activities for families and live entertainment.

The institution joins an illustrious list of city venues as part of The Bath Festival, including Bath Abbey, The Assembly Rooms and the former Art Deco cinema The Forum, Komedia, known for as band and comedy venue and the official festival bookseller, Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights will also be hosting a series of book events in store in John Street. Festival-goers will also find events at Persephone Books in George Street, at Walcot House and in the festival’s intimate Literature Lounge which will be set up in Alfred Street. Dorothy House Hospice is also hosting book events at its charity shop in Broad Street as part of the festival.

With thanks The Bath Festival would like to thank sponsors, including Bath Recreation, Bath Spa University, Bath BID, Wessex Water, the Kaleidoscope Collection, Kingswood School and The Royal High School. The festival is supported by Arts Council England, Bath & North East Somerset Council,

Panda Sanctuaries, Visit Bath, The Forum, Komedia, BRLSI, Steinway and Sons, The Roper Family Charitable Trust, The Coles-Medlock Foundation, The Trevor Osborne Charitable Trust

Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation and the Brownsword Foundation. It would like to thank its patrons and members and its invaluable army of volunteers, without which the festival would not happen. The festival official bookseller is the independent Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights and festival partners are: The Bath Magazine, Scala Radio, GWR, The Francis Hotel, Bath Box Office, Sparkfest and Minuteman Press.

To get priority booking for future events, including the Bath Children’s Literature Festival, sign up to become a Bath Festivals member: https://bathfestivals.org.uk/the-bath-festival/sign-up/