The Festival of Britain, in 1951, was a vibrant showcase for British science, arts and innovation and an antidote to the drab postwar years. But it's little-known that many who shaped the festival were Jewish refugees who had fled to the UK to escape Nazi-occupied Europe. We take a deep dive into the artists, architects and designers who helped create the event in our Summer 2026 issue, and explore further in this online event, where we'll be joined by Naomi Games, whose father Abram (who wasn't an émigré but worked closely with those who were) created the festival's distinctive ‘Britannia’ symbol; our arts critic Monica Bohm-Duchen, who'll shine a light on the creatives who brought a modernist sensibility to 1950s Britain; and Harriet Atkinson, who'll explore issues around identity and 'Britishness', which still feel pertinent today. Read more about the Festival of Britain in the Summer 2026 issue of JR.
Please register below
The Zoom link will be sent out by 3pm* (BST) on the day of the event. (We would appreciate it if you double check you have entered the correct spelling of your email address.)
Please note: You will need to log into Zoom using the email address you signed up with. If you have multiple accounts, please check you are logging in and/or looking for the link using the email you used to book.
*If you book after 3pm (BST) on the day of the event, you will receive your link in an automated response to your booking, titled ‘Order Confirmed’. If you don’t think you’ve received it, please check your spam folder. If it’s not in your spam, email operations@jewishrenaissance.org.uk.
Pictured: Self-priming centrifugal pump in the Industrial Design Section of the Festival of Britain, 1951 © Getty Images
Free
JR has an ethical ticketing policy and is offering free tickets to this event, but if you can afford it, please donate to support our work.
Purchasing multiple tickets? Please adjust the quantity in your shopping cart for the correct amount. Once you add a ticket, your cart will appear at the top of the page – scroll back up to see it.
