Stoking Curiosity, a free ‘festival of ideas’ that aims to build a community of curious people in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, is returning this November.

The festival, led by Keele University and Staffordshire University, will include workshops, talks and exhibitions on various topics, showcased by people from across the community. It’s an opportunity for the public to get involved in creative activities, debate and research around the big issues that affect our communities and the wider world.

The festival is being held on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 November at the historic Spode Works factory site. Activities will be taking place in the Potbank and Spode Heritage Museum.

Running from 10am to 4pm on both days, there will be over 90 activities which will offer visitors the chance to nurture their curiosities in various ways. Exhibitors include academics, artists, creative thinkers and curious people from the local area who are passionate about exploring and sharing knowledge more widely. Visitors will be invited to contribute their curiosities to the Repository of Curiosities with Poet Laureate Stephen Seabridge and Entrepreneurs Network, have fun in the Playground of Illusions and encounter a range of weird, wild and wonderful experiences.

Keele University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, Professor David Amigoni, said: “It is great that we are able to hold Stoking Curiosity again for a second year after the success of last year’s festival. It is hoped that the festival will continue to become a space for pleasure in shared enquiry, debate and learning, as well as dialogue between our local universities and communities.”

All events at the festival are free to attend and appropriate for most ages including clay, cooking, creative negotiations and singing workshops, art exhibitions, talks and discussions about social issues, culture, arts and science events, and many more.

Stoking Curiosity was conceived and led by Keele University. The festival is co-produced and co-organised by a partnership between Keele and Staffordshire Universities, the communities of Stoke-on-Trent, the Spode site communities – the Spode Heritage Museum Trust, the Potbank and ACAVA studios, and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

For more information and the full timetable, please visit facebook.com/stokingcuriosity

Stoking Curiosity will take place in the Potbank and Spode Heritage Museum at Spode Works, Elenora St, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 1QQ.