1 - 5 March 2010

This prestigious festival held at DMU, Leicester, features guests and speakers from the arts, media, literature, politics and film.

Cultural Exchanges brochure 2010  

This year's highlights included:

• Ken Loach - celebrated British film director
• Germaine Greer - distinguished Academic and Writer
• Michael Billington- Cancelled due to illness 
• Josie Long - award winning Comedian and Writer for the Channel 4 hit series Skins
• Stephen Deuchar - former Director of Tate Britain
• Alexei Sayle - iconic comedian and writer 
• Gob Squad - international live art performance collective
• Tim Exile - acclaimed Producer and Musician signed to Warp Records

The main programme is often complemented by workshops, day conferences and performing arts events.

The festival's current patron is Lars Tharp, Director of the Foundling Museum in London and 'expert' on the BBC programme, Antiques Roadshow

The festival started in 2000 and is organised by our third year students on the BA (Hons) Arts and Festival Management course. It attracts upwards of 4,000 people every year.

Previous festival guests include Sue Townsend, Bonnie Greer, Adele Parks, Ken Loach, Janet Street-Porter, Ben Okri, Billy Bragg, Andrew Davies, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Grayson Perry, Alan Moore , Trevor Nelson, Debbie Issit, Ken Loach and Lemn Sissay.