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AHRC Creative Communities Report

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Cover of the Report By All, For All: The Power of Partnership. AHRC creative communities Deep Dive Report 2023

 

AHRC Creative Communities have published a report By All, For All: The Power of Partnership that is published on their website www.creativecommunities.uk

The report calls for greater cross-sector collaboration in R&D with communities and non-academic partners to meet the UK government Levelling Up missions, including in key areas such as skills, wellbeing, the environment, civic identity and pride in place.  

The new report maps for the first time over a decade of AHRC funded Creative Communities R&D from 2012-present day to capture the range of non-academic partners involved in co-creating AHRC R&D across every nation and region of the UK.

The report analysis demonstrates the reach and scale of the Creative Communities cross-sector delivery model of innovation and demonstrates how funders, including UK Government, can more effectively engage cross-sector non-academic partners and communities as researchers, especially those who are affected by geographic, economic, social and health inequalities.  

Also attached is an embargoed press release providing additional information on the headline findings and future plans. In the words of Professor Christopher Smith, Executive Chair, Arts and Humanities Research Council: 

“This project turns a corner for our investment in the creative economy, championing the role of communities themselves, and making clear recommendations for improved coherence in our funding.” 

The next phases of the programme will action some of the key report recommendations through:

  • The first survey of non-academic partners engaged in AHRC R&D to capture opportunities and barriers in past and future collaboration
  • Four nation policy labs to co-create new place-based R&D policy interventions
  • Community Innovation Practitioner (CIP) Pilot as an additional funding stream opportunity for AHRC IAAs that will embed co-creation experts in live R&D projects across the UK and produce a new podcast series.

Together these activities will action our report recommendations and address barriers to collaborative working so we can build back better and create a UK innovation ecosystem that is truly by all, for all.