Past, Present and Future Festival - Join the Steering Group

Steering Group – Past, Present, Future Weekender 2026 – Festival Producing Opportunity

We’re pleased to share the very first opportunity for students to become part of The Oxford Cultural Programme at The Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities.

The Past, Present, Future Weekender (5–7 June 2026) is a three-day, multi-artform festival inviting young people, artists, and communities to explore hidden histories, today’s urgent realities, and imagined fairer futures through theatre, spoken word, music, workshops, and more. The festival will be held within The Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, throughout its lobby, theatre, black box and wider performance spaces.

To guide this ambitious vision, we are bringing together a Steering Group – a collective of individuals who will help shape the festival’s direction, values, and legacy.

What the Steering Group will do:

  • Champion youth-led creativity and decision-making

  • Shape and challenge the programme to reflect diverse voices

  • Support collaboration between artists, academics, and communities

  • Ensure the festival creates impact beyond the weekend itself

Confirmed parts of the festival programme include performances from Inula Ellams, Fuel Theatre and Pegasus Theatre. The steering group will shape much of the remaining programme for the festival.

Who We Are Looking For
We welcome people from across the arts, education, heritage, community and youth sectors, as well as those with lived experience that can bring fresh perspectives. Whether you are an artist, a teacher, a cultural leader, or someone passionate about the role of creativity in society, we want voices that will question, inspire, and guide.

Commitment
The group will meet once a month, from October 2025 to June 2026. Each meeting will be held between 6:30 and 7:30pm. Meetings will be accessible online, with opportunities to gather in person where possible. We ask members to bring their ideas, experience, and constructive challenge.

What You Will Gain

  • A chance to influence a world-class festival and its legacy

  • The opportunity to work alongside young people shaping the arts of tomorrow

  • New connections across the cultural, academic, and community sectors

  • Visibility and recognition as part of a pioneering project

How to Get Involved
If you are interested in joining the Steering Group, please send a short expression of interest outlining who you are and why you’d like to be involved. Expressions of interested should be submitted via this form by 9am on Thursday 16th October: https://forms.office.com/e/BC4vBTQZG5 

Any questions please contact Noah Wild, the University Drama Officer, at drama.officer@admin.ox.ac.uk