RSA Events

Ever since Margaret Thatcher’s declaration of TINA (There Is No Alternative) in 1980, virtually all policy proposals to fix society’s grave problems work within the dominant framework of growth-based consumer capitalism.

What if this framework is the problem? What if there actually is an alternative? To reimagine and reframe the conversation, join us for an evening with George Monbiot and Jeremy Lent who will discuss what the world might look like if it were organised, not for extraction, exploitation and elite wealth accumulation, but to instead set the conditions for all beings to thrive on a rege...

Bestselling author Lee Child joins award-winning writer Dreda Say Mitchell MBE for a live conversation at The Royal Society of Arts on the 8th of June. Together, they will explore the power of reading to shape and enrich lives and unlock opportunity for all. They will discuss what authors, institutions, and readers need to do to ensure reading remains central to culture, creativity, and human connection.

From Child’s global success with the Jack Reacher series to Mitchell’s work championing literacy and prison reading initiatives, this event examines how books can transform individuals and communities.

Th...

At a time when democracies seem paralyzed by fear and populations are turning inward, award-winning journalist John Kampfner has travelled to ten countries confronting our shared challenges with bravery and imagination. 

From Japan’s inter-generational care system to Moroccan solar panels in the Sahara creating clean energy, John Kampfner’s new book Braver New World explores how countries across the globe are solving the most pressing problems. 

To discuss the finding in his book, John will join us at the Royal Society of Arts for a conversation with The Observer Editor-in-Chief, James Harding, and former UK Foreign Secretary, Davi...

We like to think the future is open. That our lives are shaped by choices, chance, and a bit of luck.

But increasingly, the future is being predicted, and those predictions are starting to decide things in advance. Whether we get a job, a loan, medical treatment, or even how we’re policed, many of life’s possibilities are now filtered through forecasts about who we are and what we might do next.

In this provocative conversation, Oxford philosopher Carissa Véliz argues that prediction has always been less about seeing the future than about contr...

In the three short years since the release of ChatGPT, AI chatbots have reshaped how millions of people live. But while the technology’s economic and political consequences are widely debated, its social and psychological impacts are only just beginning to come into focus.

Mental health is emerging as one of the most pressing – and troubling – frontiers. According to OpenAI’s own data from October 2025, as many as 560,000 users a week were showing “possible signs of mental health emergencies related to psychosis or mania” in their interactions with its systems. Clinicians, researchers, and journalists are now documenting cases in whi...

The Creative Industries are critical to the UK government’s growth plans. To realise the potential, action is needed across education, skills and the creative workforce.

This event sees the unveiling of findings from a major new study looking at skills provision across all sectors of the creative industries from museums and music, to publishing and performing arts. Representatives from across the creative industries will discuss the findings and analyse what they mean for the future of creative education, skills and workforce planning.

Download the reports: https://pec.ac.uk/research_report_entr/creative-industries-skills-audits/

...

Acclaimed royal biographer Robert Hardman takes to the stage at the Royal Society of Arts for an intellectually curious evening exploring the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II.

Marking the centenary of her birth, Hardman draws on unrivalled access to offer a subtle, revealing portrait of the woman behind the crown, guided by insights from his new book, ELIZABETH II.

The conversation will reflect on the Queen’s formative years, her leadership across the century she reigned, and her distinctive bond with the RSA – where she served as President, Patron, and a quiet but infl...

Have you ever been curious about how the news agenda is set and why certain stories lead the front page?

In a live recording of The Observer podcast, The News Meeting, you’ll get a chance to see and hear how conversations shape the news agenda. You’ll get an insight into how newsrooms around the world decide what leads the news, what follows and in what order during their daily editorial conferences. You will be able to have your say, share the stories you think our panel of editors should be talking about, and watch leading journal...

For 13 years, Sir Alex has led one of the world’s most iconic cultural institutions through a period of extraordinary change.

Brexit. A global pandemic that closed theatres overnight. A cost-of-living crisis reshaping audiences and audience behaviour. Few organisations have faced these pressures more intensely, or more visibly, than the Royal Ballet and Opera.

In this wide-ranging conversation, he reflects on what it takes to steward an institution of immense history and global reputation through one of the most defining and difficult decades in its history.

This event will be followed by a dr...

Marking 40 years since the Chornobyl disaster, the Ukrainian Institute London and the RSA invite you to reflect on its enduring legacy not only for Ukraine, but for Europe’s environmental security as a whole. This panel discussion will explore how the lessons of Chornobyl continue to shape environmental policy, cross-border cooperation, and societal resilience across the continent.

Speakers:

Serhii Plokhy, Historian, Author, and Professor of History at Harvard University

Eglė Rindzevičiūtė, Professor of Criminology and Sociology at Kingston University London

Jonathon Turnbull, Assistant Professor of Human Geography at Durham Univer...

The impulse to be creative is ingrained in the human spirit.  

We often turn to art not only to capture the beauty of the world, but also to manage its complexities. In an age where art is often devalued in favour of creating capital, will a new generation of artists be able to maintain their creative output?

To answer this question, we will be joined by John Studzinski, philanthropist and Genesis Foundation founder, for a special conversation about his lifetime support of artists and cultural organisations and on what he has learned about the role cre...

In her new book, Being Old, Prue offers a candid look at the highs, lows and unexpected freedoms of ageing. From changing priorities to rediscovered passions, from loss to laughter, she explores how life can open up in surprising ways as the years advance. 

Expect a conversation full of warmth, humour and refreshing honesty as Prue shares the lessons she’s learned, the things she wishes she’d known sooner, and why she believes ageing should be celebrated, not feared. 

Followed by audience questions and a chance to have your book signed by Prue. 

Speak...

Will you make a stand with us this International Women’s Day?

On 4 March, we’ll come together with The Circle to explore how we can protect women and girls in an increasingly turbulent global landscape, and drive change through collective action.

Founded by Annie Lennox alongside other leading women, The Circle is a global feminist organisation bringing together women and allies to create a fairer, safer world.

The evening will be hosted by Nuala McGovern, journalist and presenter of BBC Woman’s Hour, in conversation with co-founder of the Malala Fund, Ziauddin Yousaf...

Can democracies still function when truth itself is destabilised – and what will it take to restore public trust?

Around the world, democracies are being outpaced by a rapidly evolving information crisis. AI-generated deepfakes, automated propaganda, and weaponised synthetic media are now flooding public discourse faster than institutions can respond. What the world is witnessing is a runaway surge of falsehoods, which is turbo-charging a deeper collapse in our democratic capacity to verify what’s real, deliberate together, and hold power to account.

At this pivotal moment, Eliot Higgins, founder of Bellingcat, is bringing forward a new...

In the past year, AI capabilities have rapidly advanced across fields ranging from coding to higher mathematics. Industry valuations and capital expenditure have soared to hundreds of billions of dollars, and nations are racing to build their own “sovereign” compute capacity. Sceptics warn of an AI bubble, but governments increasingly fear missing out on what could be the most fundamental general-purpose technology since electricity. 

The Observer’s Global AI Index aims to make sense of this landscape in the 93 countries that invest in artificial intelligence. Now in its sixth year, it’s the leading ranking of countries in their...

From debates over impartiality and political pressure to digital consumption habits and culture-war narratives, this Great Room discussion brings together leading voices to examine what a renewed, resilient BBC could become.

Speakers:

Chair:

Donate to the RSA: https://thersa.co/3ZyPOEa

Become an RSA Events sponsor: https://utm.guru/ueemb

Follow RSA on Instagram: https://www.instagram...

In the RSA’s historic Great Room – the home of ideas since the Enlightenment – cognitive scientist Gaurav Suri explores how both human and AI minds emerge from vast, hidden networks of neural activity. A clear, compelling introduction to the science behind intelligence, attention and learning.

Speaker:

Chair:

Donate to the RSA: https://thersa.co/3ZyPOEa

Become an RSA Events sponsor: https://utm.guru/ueemb

Follow RSA on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ther...

The 2025 RDI address will be delivered by incoming Master Johanna Gibbons RDI, founding partner of J&L Gibbons and founding director of Landscape Learn.

Johanna is a Landscape Architect, Founding Partner of J&L Gibbons established in 1986 and Founding Director of social enterprise Landscape Learn. She studied at Edinburgh College of Art and is a Fellow of the Landscape Institute and the RSA, and a Research Partner of Urban Mind with Kings College London with an international profile as design panellist, juror and speaker.

Jo was awarded Royal Designer for Industry in 2019 for her ‘pioneering and...

As the Government looks to appoint a new Freelance Champion for the creative industries we delve into the findings of the latest State of the Nations report from Creative PEC on Arts, Culture and Heritage workforce.

Dr Mark Taylor will unveil the findings and plot the freelancer journey in the creative industries. A panel of guests including Yasmin Khan, Director for Individual Practitioners, Arts Council England, Philippa Childs, Deputy General Secretary, of the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union, Amy Tarr, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Creative UK, and Alexander Jacob, freelance television director, will explore...

Ufi VocTech Trust and the RSA are delighted to unveil the recommendations of the Digital Badging Commission.

Over the past 18 months, the Digital Badging Commission has brought together leading minds across education, technology, policy and employment to reimagine and define the essential steps required for digital badges and credentials to transform learning, recognition, and opportunity in the UK. 

Our collective vision is clear: now is the time for digital badges and credentials to unlock a more inclusive, dynamic and skills-rich economy. 

The recommendations offer a clear roadmap to revolutionise the UK’s skills syst...

Over 13% of 16-24-year-olds in the UK are now classified as NEET – not in education, employment or training – with a growing number also economically inactive and disengaged from the workforce altogether.

This crisis is costing the UK economy billions in lost productivity and social support, while placing young people at greater risk of poor mental health, lifelong unemployment, and social exclusion.

What’s driving this troubling trend? From falling apprenticeship opportunities and rising school exclusions to an overstretched mental health system and declining entry-level jobs, the challenges are complex and urgent.

A panel of lea...

Join us for the final event in our global partnership with the UK at Expo 2025.

With the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals fast approaching, the UK has made ambitious, mission-driven commitments to integrate climate change measures into national policies and planning and to accelerate a just transition to a net-zero, nature-positive future.

Linking speakers in the historic Great Room of the RSA in London and in the UK Pavilion at Expo 2025, this event will feature leading public thinkers, policy influencers and innovators who are driving breakthrough progress on climate action. From pioneering clean energy...

With opportunities for digital connection at an all-time high, and loneliness now a public health concern, are we truly more connected – or just more networked?

Join us in the RSA Great Room for a panel exploring whether technology is helping us form meaningful relationships or simply keeping us online.

Journalist and founder of The Logging Off Club, Adele Zeynep Walton, shares a Gen Z perspective on stepping back from platforms to find real-world connections. Nicola Gunby, co-founder of friendship app Cliq, offers insight into designing tech that actually brings people together offline. Dr Tom Chatfield, au...

We’re delighted to welcome you to the 2025 RSA Spark Showcase – a month-long exhibition spotlighting the most outstanding ideas in response to RSA Spark’s purpose-led briefs.

From reimagining community spaces to innovative solutions for social connection and wellbeing, the showcase captures the energy and potential of the next generation of problem-solvers, creatives and designers.

The exhibition is open to the public in Suthers Court at RSA House from 24 September to 23 October, and we’d love for you to experience it in person.

Whether you’re an RSA Fellow, an educator, a design enthusiast...

With a population of 2 million people and a strategic location at the heart of the UK, the national growth story must include a prosperous East Midlands.

Join us at RSA House as we set out the recommendations in the final report of the East Midlands Inclusive Growth Commission, a bold, region-wide economic plan commissioned by Mayor Claire Ward and chaired by Andy Haldane.

The East Midlands is a region full of opportunity, but beset by some deep challenges and a history of underinvestment. It is not a typical city region like many of the mayoral...

As we face the challenges of climate change, inequality, and environmental degradation, we know that simply sustaining is not enough.

To achieve this, we need a radical reimagining of our current systems – from economic and political to food and energy. And we need a new collective story for humanity. One that celebrates our fundamental interconnection with all life on Earth and galvanises collaborative action.

Linking speakers in the historic Great Room of the RSA in London and the UK Pavilion at Expo 2025, this event will hear from the next generation of disruptors, influencers and innovators wh...

Join us in London, Osaka and online for the second event in our global partnership with the UK at Expo 2025.

The UK has a rich history of advancing women’s rights. In 1918, the Representation of the People Act granted voting rights to women over 30, with equal suffrage achieved in 1928. From the Equal Pay Act of 1970 to the Equality Act of 2010, trailblazing women have been at the forefront of building collective movements for progress and justice.

But there remain stubborn challenges and barriers to women’s full economic, legal, and social empowerment.

Linking speakers in t...

In a world increasingly marked by polarisation and fractured discourse, how can we truly hear each other?

Join us in the Great Room of the RSA for a vital conversation between Emily Kasriel, journalist, broadcaster, and author of the new book Deep Listening, and Professor Paul Dolan, behavioural scientist and author of the new book Beliefism. Together, they’ll explore the transformative power of deep listening and belief systems in shaping how we communicate, understand, and disagree.

Emily’s pioneering work on ‘deep listening’ reveals how active, empathetic engagement can break down barriers and build trust. P...

What if we designed systems not for top-down control – but for human connection?

At RSA House, trust expert and artist Rachel Botsman explores how design thinking and visual storytelling can rethink leadership, power, and trust systems. We often learn something new from studying something old.

Anchored in her 2025 London Design Biennale installation Roots of Trust, the conversation returns to a long-forgotten artefact: the world’s first organisational chart, drawn in 1855. From this intricate, organic diagram, we trace the enduring imprint of pyramid structures and hierarchy – and ask what new forms trust might take.

Expect...

Join the RSA, Insulate Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Institute London for a fireside chat with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk, in conversation with journalist and author Gillian Tett. Their discussion will explore the cycle of impunity and harsh realities in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including cultural erasure, child abduction, and the use of torture. Matviichuk will discuss her work on documenting atrocities and the pursuit of global justice.

Opening remarks will be delivered by Dr Olesya Khromeychuk, Director of the Ukrainian Institute London, an independent charity championing Ukrainian culture and advocating for the urgency o...

In a world on fire, where every system we rely on is buckling under the weight of its own contradictions, it’s time to admit that control is a dangerous illusion. But while politicians and corporations cling to algorithms for predictability, artists, writers, and musicians have always known the truth: chaos isn’t a threat – it’s a gift.

At this RSA event, Margaret Heffernan explores how our obsession with stability and ‘solutions’ – now amplified by artificial intelligence – is not only futile but potentially destructive. She invites us to rethink the role of AI in creativity, questioning whether art and...

Join us to celebrate the opening of the UK Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai and discover the most exciting ideas and innovations shaping our future.

At a time when the world risks becoming fragmented and divided, the World Expo represents a unique opportunity to show what humanity can achieve when we come together.

The UK Pavilion at Expo 2025 will act as a vibrant hub of creativity and innovation, showcasing our nation’s unique energy, heritage, and make-up. A place where fresh ideas and diverse perspectives are welcomed. A place where exploration and curiosity pave the wa...

Tony Juniper and Mya-Rose Craig bring together two powerful perspectives on the interconnectedness of equity and the environment. Tony, an esteemed environmentalist and author, draws on decades of experience advocating for a balance between human needs and ecological preservation. His work demonstrates how fairness – whether in resource distribution, climate justice, or community empowerment – is essential for achieving lasting ecological progress.

Mya-Rose Craig, also known as ‘Birdgirl’, amplifies the voices of young people and underrepresented communities in the fight against environmental degradation. As a prominent advocate for diversity in nature conservation, she underscores the necessity of inclusive action – ensuring t...

This year’s keynote speaker is world-renowned political scientist Robert D. Putnam, author of the groundbreaking work Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, which has shaped global conversations on the importance of communal ties and social capital.

Robert Putnam will be speaking to us about the vital role of social connections in combating the deepening crises of social isolation, political polarization, and economic inequality, drawing on insights from his latest work The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again.

Divisions can be healed, he argues...

What bold actions are needed to realise true gender equity?

This International Women’s Day, the RSA invites you to a powerful event focused on advancing women’s leadership and action for systemic change. Featuring an incredible panel of women including I. Stephanie Boyce, the trailblazing first Black and first person of colour President of the Law Society of England and Wales, journalist Sophia Smith Galer, and Women in Sport policy and public affairs manager Rachel Williams, we’ll explore the transformative power of women’s leadership in addressing society’s most urgent challenges.

Grounded in the RSA...

From big tech scandals to soaring executive pay gaps, public trust in major corporations is at an all-time low. Despite life-changing innovations like vaccines and digital tools, we increasingly “love the product but hate the producer”.

Renowned economist John Kay visits the RSA to deliver a bold critique of modern business. He’ll unpack how the relentless pursuit of shareholder value has gutted some of the 20th century’s most iconic companies and left the 21st-century corporation facing a reckoning.

What must change to restore trust in and purpose to the businesses we rely on?

Cha...

An evening with the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, and BBC journalist Clive Myrie.

On the eve of the third anniversary of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs (2020–2024) and Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School, reflects on the war’s far-reaching consequences with renowned BBC journalist Clive Myrie.

The youngest foreign affairs minister in Ukraine’s history, Dmytro Kuleba led his country’s foreign service through its most challenging times. He was instrumental in forging internationa...

The provision of care for dependents young and old is one of the great challenges of the modern age.

The last 60 years have seen significant shifts in family and working lives with greater choice and autonomy bringing great gains for human freedom.

Yet many private and public challenges and dilemmas remain. The social care system faces ever-rising demands and pressures. The vital skilled work of care – for the young, the elderly, the sick – remains undervalued and under-invested in. And women remain over-represented in the domain of care, in both the domestic realm and in the publ...

In his annual RSA Chief Executive's Lecture, Andy Haldane examines the profound socio-economic consequences of eroding social capital, a theme famously explored by Harvard political scientist Bob Putnam in Bowling Alone. While macroeconomic advancements helped address past crises like the Great Depression, today’s challenge lies in confronting the "Great Division”, the deepening fractures within and between societies. Despite unparalleled global connectivity, communities are fragmenting, leading to slowed economic growth, reduced social mobility, rising loneliness, and declining trust in institutions. Highlighting the critical role of social capital in fostering growth, health, and governance, Andy calls for a transformative shift in p...

Optimism is central to the human psyche: it seems to give us an advantage in both everyday life and in addressing great collective challenges.

Sumit Paul-Choudhury, former editor-in-chief of New Scientist, visits the RSA to make a vital and transformative new argument: that optimism is not only the natural state of humanity, but an essential one.

Sumit argues that without optimism we would never have survived the unpredictable - and often hostile - world we evolved into. Yet optimism is not just reserved for times of extremity. Its benefits manifest throughout our everyday lives: our...