Bristol, United Kingdom

Arts, Activism & Social Justice

Are you a future community leader with a passion for social justice and activism? If you want to learn from activists and change-makers working in the UK’s thriving arts and voluntary sectors, this three-week summer school is for you.

This is a summer school with a difference: you will join local activists, community members, University of Bristol students and Fulbright Commission scholars as you contribute directly to a city-wide movement of change.

We want you to share your experiences and knowledge in interactive and reflective sessions that invite you to think about Bristol and the UK's past, current, and future engagement with arts, activism and social justice, ultimately comparing and contrasting that engagement with that of your own home community.

Course leader

Dr Joanna Burch-Brown (PhD, MPhil, BA) - Senior Lecturer, Department of Philosophy.

Target group

This summer school particularly suits undergraduate students who aspire to be community leaders and activists.
We welcome students from any major who are interested in understanding the context for and learning the tools to effect change in their home communities.

You will be joined by University of Bristol students on this summer school and so have a unique opportunity to learn alongside UK peers. This programme is also offered in associated with the UK-US Fulbright Commission as a Fulbright Summer Institute.

Course aim

Over the course of the programme, you will:

*Discover how people from diverse social contexts have used a combination of philosophy and the arts as vehicles for social change;

* Investigate the role of literature, music, visual arts, poetry and storytelling, dance, philosophy and critical social theories in social justice movements;

* Learn about the key role of Bristol in the development of transatlantic slavery, the legacies of racism, slavery and colonialism, and the impact of these legacies on the lives of people today;

* Examine what responsibilities we might have today because of historical legacies of racial injustice;

* Explore how race and ethnicity intersect with gender in shaping social experience;

* Develop transferable skills for use in future leadership and social entrepreneurship;

* Get involved in a variety of community and civic activities;

* Develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills.

The summer school focuses on six overlapping themes:
* Racism and social justice
* Colonialism and independence
* Global feminisms
* Migration and refugees
* Environmental sustainability
* Health and wellbeing

Credits info

10 EC
Suggested as equivalent to 5 ECTS, or 2.5-3 US semester credits.

Fee info

GBP 3295: The programme fee includes:
* All tuition, workshop and session fees, and a travel pass;
* Single-room university residence accommodation, with a half-board meal package throughout;
* 24-7 support from the Bristol Summer team, as well as University of Bristol student leaders, who are also available to help with your questions and lead activities;
* An exciting leisure and social programme, including weekend trips.

Scholarships

A 10% discount is available to University of Bristol Study Abroad partners, applicants from International Partnership Universities and any students who apply by the early-bird deadline of 1st March 2024.