OUR STORY
Like most things, The Philosophers' Yard began as an idea.
This particular idea had its roots in Birmingham - a city full of diverse cultures, traditions, and ways of understanding life. However, these diverse perspectives rarely interacted with each other. Whether due to social media echo chambers or people not associating with others outside of their own academic, cultural or religious traditions, we had missed opportunities to learn from each other and to grow in wisdom.
From our research and interviews with students, professionals, and community members, a clear picture emerged:
Mental health challenges and loneliness are widespread, amplified by a fast-paced, digitally mediated lifestyle.
People crave spaces that are neutral, inclusive, and stigma-free, where ideas can be exchanged without hierarchy or agenda.
There is a strong desire for wisdom-led approaches that foster connection, creativity, and personal growth.
Philosophy — at its heart, the love of wisdom — could provide the framework for addressing these challenges, but is often seen as inaccessible, overly academic, or disconnected from everyday and professional life.
Our History
Work on The Philosophers' Yard began in early 2022, with the creation of a name and visual identity. Dan’s early draft is shown here. Thankfully we were able to employ a designer to bring this to life!
The name 'The Philosophers' Yard' was chosen because the literal meaning of a philosopher is someone who loves (philien) wisdom (sophia). The idea and dream of The Philosophers' Yard remains to create a suitably robust, balanced, and open space for people to come together to explore life's big questions.
In May 2022, a survey was circulated via social media, providing an opportunity for respondents to vote on topics that they would be interested in learning about and to join the planning team.
From the summer of 2022, a small group of volunteers began to meet regularly to set the vision for The Philosophers' Yard and to plan the first series of events, which had been selected unanimously from the survey as being ‘Individualism and Collectivism’. All event themes are chosen democratically by attendees.
Our inaugural series of events took place across May and June 2023, featuring academics, practitioners and performers from across the region. In September 2023, The Philosophers' Yard became a registered charity; Charity number: 1204617.
Our Activities
At The Philosophers’ Yard, we create brave, creative, and inclusive spaces for exploring life’s biggest questions. Our approach turns philosophy from an abstract discipline into a lived, shared and relevant practice - one that helps us make sense of how we live today.
From structured courses and main events to informal meetups, we offer multiple pathways into philosophical conversation. All activities are carefully curated to ensure that ideas are presented in an accessible and welcoming format. We identify a diverse set of speakers – both academics and practitioners, either from external organisations or from among The Philosophers’ Yard community – to provide a breadth of perspectives on a chosen topic.
Activities are designed to be inclusive:
We have flexible ticketing prices, including free tickets, so that cost is not a barrier to participation.
Where permission is granted, recordings of talks and performances are uploaded to YouTube.
Events follow a structured, tailored, and guided format led by knowledgeable and experienced professionals and experts.
We remove barriers to engagement — from the way ideas are introduced to the spaces we use. Our events are designed for the general public, making philosophy something to be experienced and enjoyed.
Our Accommodations and Disability Policy sets out the steps we have made to ensure that events are as inclusive and accessible as possible.
Over 1,000 people have taken part in our events and courses, giving them an average enjoyment rating of 4.6 out of 5. Our growing community reflects the richness of Birmingham itself — young, curious, and culturally diverse, with 63% of attendees under 35 and 60% from ethnic minority backgrounds.
We have also produced a suite of activities and team building ‘games’ suitable for corporate organisations, community groups, and schools. Please contact us to find out more.
