RSA

The ability to read is a skill that most of us take for granted. Yet, more than two-thirds of prisoners in the UK have the reading skill of a primary school child.

Earlier this year, The Reading Agency launched a campaign to deliver 480,000 books into prisons across the UK, helping to ensure that every person in prison has access to high-quality, accessible reading.

The campaign is being championed by Lee Child, internationally bestselling author and the UK's first Prison Reading Laureate.

On Monday 8 June, the author of the Jack Reacher novels joins us at the Royal Society of Arts to discuss the transformative power of reading.

Limited free tickets available ▶️ https://thersa.co/3RGzHm5

After last week's heatwave, summer has officially arrived. ☀️

Here's a look at some of the conversations, performances and big ideas coming to the Royal Society of Arts this June.

✅ Is reading in decline? Lee Child on the importance of literature - Bestselling author Lee Child joins award-winning writer Dreda Say Mitchell MBE to discuss what authors, institutions and readers can do to ensure reading remains central to culture, creativity and human connection.

✅ Edinburgh Fringe Preview Season at the Royal Society of Arts - Every Thursday in June, catch preview performances from some of the comedy acts heading to this year's Edinburgh Fringe.

✅ Yes, there is an alternative - Author and journalist George Monbiot joins author Jeremy Lent to explore what a life-enhancing future could look like.

Explore our full event programme ▶️

RSA Events See what's on this month at RSA House. Explore our unmissable events programme.

How can archives and heritage collections help spark conversations across generations?

RSA Senior Archivist Abby Matthews explores how collections can foster dialogue, strengthen communities and preserve collective memory through the relationship between historic archives and contemporary art.

Read the full article on RSAJournal+ ▶️

Drawing similarities Senior Archivist, Abby Matthews argues that museums and archives do more than preserve the past. At their best, they ignite conversations between generations, reimagining memories and mapping the futures we choose to build