Normal? Festival of the Brain brings science and art together to explore, question, and connect around the festival themes.
Running since 2015 in Folkestone, Normal? Festival of the Brain traditionally ran across 4 days. In 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic, the festival consisted of events and activities that took us through the bumpy times, responding to the festival themes: Growing VS Knowing, Power, and Touch. In 2023, we returned with Normal? Festival of the Brain: FIELD TRIP, and after an unprecedented turn of events, Normal? Festival of the Brain’s: A Series of Fortunate Events, which took place in December 2023.
Find out more about past festivals and watch some videos, by clicking here.
Normal? Festival of the Brain was previously delivered by Living Words, Folkestone Fringe, and Creative Folkestone, and is now led by Living Words.
Living Words was established in 2007 and became a registered charity in 2014. The pioneering arts and literature charity works with people affected by dementias and mental ill health, isolated individuals and communities. They champion the voices of those seldom heard, through the creation of high quality arts experiences.
Special mention to Allegra Galvin (now at DCMS, previously at Creative Folkestone) who championed and initiated the festival concept with Susanna Howard (founder and director of Living Words).