Academics join forces with arts organisations

Posted on 8 May 2015

The White Rose College of the Arts and Humanities (WRoCAH) and Arts Council England will host an event encouraging academic partnerships on 14 May.

The one-day event will bring together academics and doctoral researchers with staff from creative and performing arts organisations. Promoting the benefits of research partnerships, it aims to highlight the changing nature of academic research and encourage collaborations between Higher Education institutions and cultural partners.

Representatives from arts organisations speaking at the event include: Sarah Maxfield, Area Director for the North at Arts Council England, Dominic Gray, Director of Projects at Opera North, Natalie Walton, Head of Learning at the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield, and Antony Dunn, Head of Marketing and Communications at Yorkshire Dance. Senior academics and Heads of Departments from the White Rose Universities will also attend.

Julian Richards, Director of WRoCAH, said: “We are thrilled to work with Arts Council England to organise this event. It gives us a great opportunity to showcase the wide range of research collaboration that takes place between the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York and arts and cultural organisations in Yorkshire. We hope that some of the smaller arts organisations, in particular, will attend as it will provide a chance of them to build up long term relationships with three of the strongest universities in the UK.”

Sarah Maxfield, Area Director for the North at Arts Council England, said: “The Arts Council is pleased to be working with the White Rose College of Arts and Humanities on this event. We recognise that research developed in collaboration with the arts sector makes a significant contribution to the ongoing success of the arts in the UK. We are keen to see early career researchers connecting with arts organisations to develop truly impactful research.”

WRoCAH is a Doctoral Training Partnership bringing together the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York to form a consortium of researchers. Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), it aims to equip academics with the skills to become leaders in their chosen fields, ultimately benefitting the UK economy and society.

Find out more

Arts and Cultural Research: Impact through Partnership

University of Leeds, 9.30am – 5pm on Thursday 14 May

Information and tickets

Further information:

More information about WRoCAH
Arts Council England champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives. They support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries - from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2015 and 2018, they plan to invest £1.1 billion of public money from government and an estimated £700 million from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country. More information at www.artscouncil.org.uk.