Best of CASE Europe Region Award
 

Institution: Trinity College

Title of entry: Byron Bicentenary at Trinity College

About this entry: The Byron Bicentenary at Trinity College Cambridge in Spring 2024 celebrated the life and works of alumnus Lord Byron (1788-1824) through new commissions of music and art, a poetry competition, exhibition, conference, and a 24-hour livestreamed reading of the poet’s works in the College’s atmospheric Chapel.

Together with the release of a newly discovered letter in the Wren Library about Byron’s notorious memoirs, the Byron Bicentenary at Trinity secured widespread media coverage, amplified our key messages and secured campaign objectives.

Key messages/calls to action (Byrothon, 23-24 February 2024; the Byron Festival, 19-20 April 2024):

· There is more to Byron than his bear! Lord Byron’s remarkable literary output deserves a wider audience.

· Hear Byron’s works at The Byrothon, read by students, staff, alumni - including actor Pip Torrens and the current Lord Byron – at a unique livestreamed event in College’s atmospheric Chapel, complete with Byron’s ghost.

· Discover more about his life and works at the Byron Festival.

Key impacts
· Substantial media coverage including Radio 4’s Today programme and World Tonight, The Times, The Telegraph, the Independent and BBC News online, ITVX, ITV Anglia, BBC Look East and Cambridge Independent, plus local papers across the UK.

· More than 2,300 people joined the Byrothon livestream from North America, Europe and Asia (average dwell time 20 mins) and up to 300 people came in person - full houses for three sessions.

· Positive feedback (qualitative and quantitative) from the public, Byrothon readers and College community and on social media.