Sydney Ideas – An evening with Sir Simon Schama

As an academic Simon Schama has made a distinctive mark on the cultural landscape like no other – “Idiosyncratic, accessible, but always authoritative” as he's been aptly described.

His interests are wide-ranging and influence far-reaching, with a celebrated career that spans writing and criticism on art (New Yorker), food (GQ), fashion (Harper’s Bazaar), history and politics, and everything else under the sun (Financial Times).

He’s authored 20 books so far, which have been translated into 23 languages. His latest literary endeavour, Foreign Bodies, turns attention to the history of pandemics and vaccines.

He's presented award-winning landmark documentaries including A History of Britain and The Story of Jews, the latter based on his book of the same title. He continues the search for answers about who we are, and whether art and culture can bridge divides, with 2025 BBC series Story of Us.

In this event, hear from one of the most influential thinkers today, as Simon Schama reflects on contemporary culture, Jewish history and the Holocaust. Joining Simon on stage as host is Avril Alba, recently appointed Head of the School of Languages and Cultures, and Professor of Holocaust Studies and Jewish Civilisation in Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies at the University of Sydney.