Humanities Summit: Policy, Advocacy and Place

This Humanities Summit will bring together colleagues from across the UK to share ideas, approaches and future priorities on the theme of policy, advocacy and place.

📅 Wednesday, September 16th | 13:30-16:45

📍 Scottish Poetry Library

Through open discussion and contributions from guest speakers, we will consider how to engage more effectively in regional and devolved policy contexts, and how to develop more strategic place-based approaches to advocating for the value of our disciplines.

The summit is designed as a collaborative space for reflection and action. Participants will have the opportunity to share experiences, identify common challenges, and develop practical ideas for strengthening the role of the humanities in shaping policy and place.

This event is co-organised by the Scottish Arts and Humanities Alliance (SAHA) and the School of Advanced Study at the University of London.

Programme:

13:30 – Arrival and Registration

13:50 – Welcome

Delivered by Professor Murray Pittock, Co-Chair of Scottish Arts and Humanities Alliance

14:00 – Discussion and Ideas Exchange

An opportunity to share ideas, approaches and future priorities on the theme of humanities, policy and place. How can we make the case for the humanities at a local and regional level? How can we engage more effectively in policy contexts, and in what ways can humanities research influence policy agendas in regional and devolved contexts?

This session will employ a ‘flipped’ model, in which participants are invited to first share ideas, experiences and perspectives on the theme of humanities, policy and place. This will be followed by a panel discussion that will reflect on the themes raised in the discussion and offer new ideas from expert voices.

The panel will include Tom Crick, Chief Scientific Adviser at DCMS, and Dan O’Connor, Executive Director for Partnerships, Portfolios and Engagement, AHRC

15:20 – Break and Networking

15:40 – Tools and Approaches

This second session will focus on examples of tools and approaches that showcase place-based thinking and advocacy in action.

First Elena Zolotariov will provide a lightning demonstration of how the Mapping the Arts and Humanities Project is highlighting regional networks of humanities infrastructure and their impact on key policy issues.

Then Professor Catherine O’Leary, Co-Chair of SAHA, will explore how the case is being made for languages in Scotland.

16:45 – Thanks and Closing remarks

If you would like to attend, please email fsimone@therse.org.uk