City expected to be full of bright ideas

More than 50 events are planned across the city for the festival, whose organisers include York University, York Council, York Museums Trust and the York Civic Trust, ranging from themes such as the turbulence of the financial markets, architecture in heritage cities and the perceptions and perils of ageing.

Speakers include best-selling authors Anthony Horowitz, Jung Chang, author of Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China, and John Lanchester.

Sculptor Jane McAdam Freud, daughter of artist Lucien Freud and great granddaughter of Sigmund Freud, will also be introducing the drawings and sculptures she made of her father in the last weeks of his life.

The organiser of last year’s inaugural Festival of Ideas, Professor Jane Moody, died in October after a four-year battle with cancer.

This year’s event runs from June 14 to June 30.

For more information, visit www.yorkfestivalofideas.com or call York University on 01904 324466.