National Centre for Academic and Cultural Exchange (NCACE)

Artful economies: How business schools can help arts organisations, new Arts Professional article by our Co-Director Suzie Leighton. We are all aware of the intense and increasing financial challenges the arts sector is facing. Many organisations dependent on Arts Council England (ACE) funding report worsening deficits, and most face escalating overheads and challenges to existing models of fundraising, touring and performance, making their business models increasingly unsustainable. Small, independent organisations are struggling with reduced grant availability and high competition, forcing them to rethink their activities, and freelancers are hit particularly hard. These challenges are compounded by deep cuts in local authority funding. The new Labour government, recognising the sector’s precarious financial situation, has outlined plans to “rescue” the arts from what Arts Minister Chris Bryant described as a “financial black hole”. While it is encouraging the government recognises both the value of arts and culture and the urgent need for support, the recent budget was singularly lacking in good news. Fresh thinking, new approaches to sustainable business models, and the resources and capacity to try new ways of working are badly needed – by arts organisations and funders. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eREjgM4T

NCACE Monthly Bulletin Check out our latest Bulletin. We have two events coming up in the New Year, make sure you register for our upcoming workshop on 15 January 2025. We’re delighted to be a partner of the Future Ecologies: Producing Dance Network (FE:PDN), a research network funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). The network focuses on reimagining an inclusive, extended and sustainable ecosystem for dance. This hybrid event will discuss and workshop some of the key themes and questions arising from the research to date.   NCACE Evidence Café 14: Artists and Universities on Wednesday 22 January, in this session, we seek to build on our research to better understand and evidence how artists are working with Higher Education, with a focus on projects including: research collaborations, public engagement, knowledge exchange activities or other institution specific initiatives. This session is being held to create a space for sharing models of practice, both from the perspective of the practitioner and from Higher Education Institutions. We’re delighted to share with you two new blogs; Community Innovation Practitioners: Fostering a Community of Practice by Dr Lauren Baker Mitchell (Northumbria University) and Georgina Aasgaard (University of Liverpool) and Incorporating digital commons into government policies: An introduction to the Digital Commons Policy Council’s Best Practices guide by Angela Daly (University of Dundee), Gary Leeming (Liverpool City Region Civic Data Cooperative), Riccardo Nanni, PhD (Fondazione Bruno Kessler) and Mathieu O’Neil (University of Canberra). Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e6nVB2nZ #Dance #Arts #Artists #Universities #HigherEducation #KnowledgeExchange #Community #Research

NCACE Blog Community Innovation Practitioners: Fostering a Community of Practice Our blog this month features some of the key findings from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Community Innovation Practitioners (CIP) pilot programme. In a rapidly evolving world, the ability of cross-sector partners to share knowledge and collaborate effectively is essential for driving innovation and change. Communities of practice - groups of people who share a common interest or field of expertise - play a vital role in facilitating co-creation, knowledge exchange and fostering a sense of belonging. By providing a platform for individuals to connect, learn from one another, and develop shared skills, communities of practice can empower individuals and organisations to discover untapped knowledge, identify common challenges and opportunities, and realise their goals. Read the full blog: https://lnkd.in/eKq8DDwY Authors: Dr Lauren Baker Mitchell, Senior Research Fellow for AHRC Creative Communities, Northumbria University Georgina Aasgaard, Community Innovation Practitioner 2023-24, University of Liverpool The call for the second round of the Community Innovation Practitioner (CIP) Awards 2025-2026 is now open. More information here: https://lnkd.in/eudMwmdJ #community #devolution

StoryArcs Opportunity Have you just completed a PhD or returned from a career break? Are you an Early Career Researcher with expertise in storytelling or story analysis. If so, then consider becoming a Story Fellow with StoryArcs! StoryArcs is excited to announce an opportunity for early career researchers to join a unique programme that combines storytelling leadership with real-world cultural impact through funded placements across the UK. We’re recruiting a diverse cohort of nine Story Fellows with skills in telling, collecting, and championing stories to undertake unique but interconnected funded placements with Host organisations. These placements are based in Cardiff, London and Nottingham, offering the chance to use the art of story to celebrate meaningful transformation and change. About StoryArcs Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and delivered by The Story Society at Bath Spa University, StoryArcs provides an immersive experience in networked storytelling leadership. As a Story Fellow, you’ll join a Host organisation beginning in February 2025, where you will develop and apply your storytelling expertise to address social and cultural challenges. These placements offer a unique professional development experience, as well as access to our Deep Story Leadership Platform, which includes mentorship, leadership training, and networking opportunities. Through the Deep Story Leadership Platform, Story Fellows receive hands-on experience, mentorship, and become part of a larger movement dedicated to positive change. Successful Fellows will be recognised with the StoryArcs Award, acknowledging their contributions to storytelling and societal impact. Interested? You can read more about the nine opportunities here: https://lnkd.in/eAx9WjPY Deadline to apply is Monday 18 November.

NCACE / Future Ecologies: Producing Dance Network (FE:PDN) Hybrid Workshop on 15 January 2025 NCACE is delighted to be a partner of the Future Ecologies: Producing Dance Network (FE:PDN), a research network funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) bringing together academics and arts professionals to reimagine an inclusive, extended and sustainable ecosystem for dance. The work takes into account the challenges posed by Brexit and Covid-19, coupled with acute concerns regarding diversity, social justice and climate change that have been exacerbated by economic and political instability and war. In this context, envisioning a new future for producing dance and practice research through an ecological perspective, seems vital. This requires a collective and inclusive approach, and this event will discuss and workshop some of the key themes and questions arising from the research to date. We warmly invite interested colleagues from across academia and the arts and cultural sector, and are particularly keen that those within the wider performing arts and humanities, arts and cultural and policy sectors beyond dance join the conversation. A limited number of travel bursaries of circa £50 are available to freelance artists or those who are fractionally employed, please email noshin.sultan@sas.ac.uk upon registration if you would require a bursary in order to attend. Register: https://lnkd.in/eigaPbVe _____________________________________ The Future Ecologies: Producing Dance Network consists of: AHRC Investigators 'Funmi Adewole Elliott, Co-Investigator, De Montfort University Christopher Bannerman, Principal Investigator, London Contemporary Dance School Sarah Hopfinger, Co-Investigator, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Rachel Krische (PhD), Co-Investigator, Leeds Beckett University Vida Midgelow, Co-Investigator, University of the Arts London Stefanie Sachsenmaier, Co-Investigator, Middlesex University Arts Partners Anand Bhatt, CEO/Artistic Director, Dance City  Anita Clark, Director, The Work Room  Andrew J. Hurst MBE, Chief Executive, One Dance UK  Suzie Leighton, Co-Director, The Culture Capital Exchange Eddie Nixon, Artistic Director, The Place  Efrosini Protopapa, Director PG Courses & Research Hannah Robertshaw, Creative Director, Yorkshire Dance  Paul Russ, CEO/Artistic Director, FABRIC #dance #research

NCACE / Future Ecologies: Producing Dance Network (FE:PDN) Workshop on 15 January 2025 NCACE is delighted to be a partner of the Future Ecologies: Producing Dance Network (FE:PDN), a research network funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) bringing together academics and arts professionals to reimagine an inclusive, extended and sustainable ecosystem for dance. The work takes into account the challenges posed by Brexit and Covid-19, coupled with acute concerns regarding diversity, social justice and climate change that have been exacerbated by economic and political instability and war. In this context, envisioning a new future for producing dance and practice research through an ecological perspective, seems vital. This requires a collective and inclusive approach, and this event will discuss and workshop some of the key themes and questions arising from the research to date. We warmly invite interested colleagues from across academia and the arts and cultural sector, and are particularly keen that those within the wider performing arts and humanities, arts and cultural and policy sectors beyond dance join the conversation. For more information and to register: https://lnkd.in/eigaPbVe #dance #arts #artsandculture #research

NEW NCACE ESSAY The Codex of Basquiat Equals Pi by Dr Nick Makoha is a powerful and moving meditation on poetry, art, language, time and voice that connects the author’s poetry with the work of the artist Basquiat, encouraging us to think about the capacity of painting and poetry as powerful mediums for knowledge transfer. Read the full essay here: https://lnkd.in/gQjpayCN   Visit NCACE Collection: https://lnkd.in/en5ZEwMy #Basquiat #Arts #Artists #Culture

NCACE Blog Incorporating digital commons into government policies: An introduction to the Digital Commons Policy Council’s Best Practices guide Our blog this month introduces the Digital Commons Policy Council’s Best Practices Guide, which provides recommendations for integrating digital commons into government policy. By adopting open-source and community-driven resources like free software and Creative Commons content, governments can save money, enhance transparency, and reduce reliance on major tech companies. The guide provides interested policymakers and public service officials with best practices to support digital commons projects, it draws on existing cases of government-digital commons interactions and points out where improvements can be made. Authors: Angela Daly - Professor of Law and Technology, University of Dundee Gary Leeming - Director, Liverpool Civic Data Cooperative, University of Liverpool Riccardo Nanni, PhD - Researcher in Data Governance, Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Italy) Mathieu O'Neil - Professor of Communication, University of Canberra Read more here: https://lnkd.in/egAMWWJc Download the guide: https://lnkd.in/eBqmT8MC #DigitalCommons #GovernmentPolicy #OpenSource

Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) Conference on Wednesday 16th October Our Co-Director, Suzie Leighton, will be chairing Westminster Insight's Knowledge Exchange Framework conference this Wednesday. Come along to hear an overview and timeline for the KEF; the impact of the new Government; and the next steps for the sector to enhance knowledge exchange.   Register here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eWzuh8hu Booking discount code for 20% off: SPKR4380   #KnowledgeExchangeFrameworkWM