Fellows Festival 2024 FAQs

Thank you for your interest in the RSA Fellows Festival 2024. Answers to our most frequently asked questions can be found below, if you can't find the answer you're looking for please do get in touch with our team and we'll be happy to help.

What is the RSA Fellows Festival?

The RSA Fellows Festival is the highlight of our annual calendar. Our London event is a day packed with excellent speakers for you to come and watch, hear and by whom to be inspired. For the 270th anniversary of the RSA, our 2024 theme focuses on courage, emphasising how our past has embodied this so we can continue to be courageous in the future. This year, the festival will be bigger than ever, as we are hosting the festival in eight locations across the UK, Ireland as well as in the US, Oceania and Italy, helping Fellows connect and celebrate together.

Where is the Festival taking place?

We have festival events taking place in eleven locations globally as stated below. Each event takes place on 29 February, with the exception of the London event which takes place on 2 March.

• Central - Birmingham (STEAMhouse, Belmont Row, Birmingham B4 7RQ)
• Italy - Online
• London (RSA House, 8 John Adam Street, London, WC2N 6EZ)
• North - Newcastle (Northern Stage, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RH)
• Oceania - Online
• South East - Southampton (The Bugle, 1A Bugle Street, Southampton, SO14 2AL)
• US - Online
• Wales - Sbarc/spark, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ 

What time are the events taking place?

Each regional event takes place over a different time frame – see the list below for details. Please turn up at least 15 min before for registration.

• Birmingham - 5:30pm-8:30pm
• Cardiff - 2pm-7pm
• Italy - 6:30pm-8pm local time / 5:30pm-7pm GMT
• London - 10:30am-5pm
• Newcastle - 6pm-9pm
• Oceania - 7:30pm-8:30pm AEDT, 8:30am-9:30am GMT
• Southampton - 3:30pm-7:30pm 
• US - 8am-9:30am PST / 11am-12:30pm EST / 4pm-5:30pm GMT

Can I take part online only?

Unless specified as online, the events will be in person and entrance will be on a ticket-only basis.

Are children able to attend?

You can only bring children to the London-based event at RSA House though please note, we won’t have a programme of activities suitable for children. They will not be able to attend the speaker sessions in the Great Room due to limited seating.

Children will need to be accompanied at all times by their parents/carers. We will have a den making activity as part of the Design For Life workshop at RSA House and will provide a colouring corner.

When booking your ticket using Eventbrite, please make a note if you will be bringing children and how many.

What are the ticket prices?

Early bird tickets will be on sale from 8 January to 9 February 2024. After this date, it will revert to standard pricing as stated at the time of booking. 

Joining the online-only events is free of charge. 

Is PayPal the only way to pay for tickets?

The payment is processed by PayPal but you do not need an account – you can simply pay by card. If you have a PayPal account but do not wish to use it, you will have to enter a different email address than the one linked to your PayPal account.

If you follow through the registration process, choose the ‘Pay by Debit or Credit Card’ option, which does not require you to have an account

Follow the prompt to enter an email – this will not open an account but will link to a Paypal account if you already have one. To avoid this, use another email, and it will then take you through to a payment page for you to fill out your card details.

Please ensure the box stated ‘save information and create your PayPal account’ is unticked and you are using a browser and not the mobile phone app.

What does my ticket get me?

One (in-person) ticket per person gives you one entry to the events and covers allocated food and beverages at that specific location.

Will catering cover my dietary requirements? 

The ticket price includes food and refreshments. Clinical dietary requirements will be catered for. You will be asked to state if you have any medical food allergies or intolerances at the time of booking.

Do I need to collect my ticket?

No, your ticket will be emailed to you via the email address you provide at booking via Eventbrite. 

How do I register?

Registration is via Eventbrite. You can access all links on the Fellows Festival page on the RSA website and choose your preferred location. 

Can I attend more than one festival event? 

Yes, you can register for multiple events, however, many are on the same day apart from London. You will need to purchase a separate ticket for each event you wish to attend as the UK and Ireland events are mainly in person.

When does registration close?

Registration for all UK and Ireland events (excluding London) will close 27 February. London registrations will close 20 February.

We do have a limited number of spaces so be sure to sign up as soon as possible to save your place.

What sort of events can I expect?

As our theme this year is courage, we have a truly interesting lineup of speakers discussing this through their own work and specialisation. The speakers will be selected from five areas - environment, economy, innovation, culture and society. We hope you will enjoy participating, sharing your own ideas and networking with others at the events.

How long are the online events?

Our US, Oceania and Italy events will be 1.5 hours long. All other UK and Ireland events vary. Please see our listings on the Fellows Festival page on our website for more information.

What if I have accessibility considerations?

All of our venues will cater to accessibility needs whether it be wheelchair accessible or accessible bathrooms. 

Can I get a refund if I no longer wish to attend?

Refunds can only be requested up to 10 days prior to the event. They may take up to 28 days to process the refund.

Can I purchase multiple tickets for friends and family?

You will only be able to register up to two tickets in one booking. If you register for a guest, you will be asked at booking to supply the basic details, contact details and any dietary allergies or intolerances for each guest.  

We suggest every attendee is registered separately to have their specific details on record and be able to check them in on the day more easily. 

Do I need to be a Fellow to attend?

Fellows and non-fellows alike are welcome to attend our Fellows Festival events. There is no difference in price for Fellows. 

Will there be discounted pricing for 18-25 year olds? 

Yes, there is a 50% discount for people aged 18-25 available at the point of booking. Please note that you may be asked to provide ID on arrival. 

Will there be cloakrooms?

We advise against bringing large items of luggage or bags which you cannot carry with you. Any personal items you choose to bring are at your own risk and the RSA can take no responsibility for any damage or loss. 

Who can I contact if I have any further questions? 

If you have any further questions in regards to the Fellows Festival, get in contact with us via fellowship@rsa.org.uk or call us on 020 7451 6939.