The Executive Chair of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) hears of the desire to strengthen the region's arts and humanities research collaboration
Midlands Innovation recently brought together research leaders from the arts and humanities disciplines for an opportunity to meet and have a collective conversation with Professor Christopher Smith, Executive Chair of the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
This conference was an opportunity for Professor Smith to meet with representatives from a spectrum of Midlands universities, of Combined Authorities and the third sector. The conference, hosted at the University of Warwick, was also an opportunity for the audience to hear from Professor Christopher Smith and to feedback to the AHRC.
Christopher opened the conference by giving delegates an overview of the changes to UKRI strategy and insights into the future AHRC strategy.
The event provided an opportunity for delegates to collectively consider whether arts and humanities expertise is sufficiently represented in the regional research and innovation fora who inform regional decision making on place-based funding.
Attendees considered how the region should better come together to tell the story of arts and humanities strengths within the region with a particular focus on the unique context of the Midlands.
The event concluded with delegates sharing with Professor Smith examples of exemplar Arts and Humanities projects taking place in the region that can demonstrate growth and could be replicated and scaled.
Dr Helen Turner, Director of Midlands Innovation, said: “ A common thread of collaboration shone through the day – the need for closer collaboration within the region, the importance of collaboration between universities, public sector and third sector organisations but also in light of UKRI’s missions focus the need for arts and humanities to work closely with other disciplines to strengthen responses to clean energy, defence and AI research challenges.
“As a regional research partnership with a track record of collaborating, I am delighted that we could bring together research leaders in the arts and humanities, representatives from the region’s combined authorities and the third sector together for the first time to provide a platform for them to hear directly from Christopher Smith on the significant changes to strategy and focus of UKRI and the AHRC.
“I also believe delegates were able to demonstrate to Professor Smith their desire to work collectively to strengthen collaboration in the arts and humanities across our region. I hope the conference has provided a platform for us to build upon together in the future.”
Professor Emily Keightley, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor Vibrant and Inclusive Communities, at Loughborough University, said: “There was significant enthusiasm from the nearly 20 universities represented at the conference and members of the Midlands ats and humanities community to work together to tell a better and more joined-up story of the region’s unique strengths. I am grateful that Midlands Innovation provided a platform for us to be able to do this, and to Professor Christopher Smith for coming to the region to both talk to and hear from our community.”
