National Centre for Academic and Cultural Exchange

NCACE Independent Researcher Network (IRN) Meeting on 25 February 2026

Next NCACE IRN Meeting on 25 February

How can artists better articulate and retain ownership of their research in academic contexts?

We’ll explore Practitioner Research frameworks & more equitable academia/creative sector collaborations.

Info & register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ncace-inde...

Next IRN Event: 25 February 2026

Join NCACE’s Independent Researcher Network (IRN) to explore how an action research framework might better support artists in academia. We will also introduce the new IRN Writing Retreats.

Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ncace-inde...

A Community of Practice for Independent Researchers: Scoping NCACE’s Independent Researchers Network (IRN) report

A Community of Practice for Independent Researchers

New publication by Associate ‘Funmi Adewole-Elliott, edited by Suzie Leighton, exploring how the IRN can strengthen cross-sector research culture across the arts, culture, community and HE ecosystems.

Read: ncace.ac.uk/wp-content/u...

Home - National Centre for Academic and Cultural Exchange NCACE champions Knowledge Exchange and collaboration between Higher Education and the arts and cultural sectors.   NCACE Resources 2020-2024 Download and explore the resources

It also set the scene for The Collaboration Lab, a new pilot initiative supporting university and arts and cultural sector partnerships which will launch with an Ideas Pool event on 21 January.

Find out more about NCACE's work by visiting their website: ncace.ac.uk

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Cultures of Change event explores sustainability and collaboration in arts and humanities research The National Centre for Academic and Cultural Exchange held the Cultures of Change: Arts and Humanities as a Space of Invention event ahead of the launch of The Collaboration Lab.

The @ncace.bsky.social recently hosted their Cultures of Change: Arts and Humanities as a Space of Invention event. The hybrid event explored what sustainability and entrepreneurship mean in the context of arts and humanities research collaborations: www.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...

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Nothing Without Us: Disability in the arts and cultural sector - Arts Professional Dr Mai Musié, senior manager at the National Centre for Academic and Cultural Exchange (NCACE), speaks to three leaders working at the intersection of research and the cultural sector about disability...

Delighted to write my first article for @artsprofessional.co.uk celebrating disability! @ncace.bsky.social

Thanks to my three wonderful interviewees: Kyle Lewis Jordan @davidturners.tcgs.co & Jessica Thom ! It’s been such pleasure to hear your stories!
www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/fea...

Do you work at the intersection of universities, the arts 🎭 & culture? If so, we are very keen to hear from you! At @ncace.bsky.social we are organising our 2nd Festival of Cultural Exchange, taking place in April 2026.

If you want to get involved apply by 8 Dec.

files.ncace.ac.uk/NCACE%20Fest...

Working in a university-cultural sector partnership and looking for support, shared learning and a space to develop new possibilities for your collaboration? Register your interest for @ncace.bsky.social's The Collaboration Lab pilot and the Ideas Pool event in January 👉 tinyurl.com/EOI-form-NCACE

NCACE Festival April 2026

NCACE Festival 2026 - Proposal Deadline

Last week we hosted our Meetup, a chance to hear more about our Festival plans, taking place in April 2026.

Listen to the recording here: soundcloud.com/user-2458372...

Apply to contribute to the Festival by 8 Dec 2025:
files.ncace.ac.uk/NCACE%20Fest...

Arts & culture highlights of the week: interviewing the inspiring & talented @danhicks.bsky.social
again but this time in Bristol @bookhaus.bsky.social . @ncace.bsky.social work visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum (cannot believe this was my first visit!!). So much to celebrate & fight for!

Taster Session: Introduction to Responsible AI

Join us in person on 18 November for an Introduction to Responsible AI (RAI): www.sas.ac.uk/digital-huma...

Big thanks to @ncace.bsky.social for this fantastic session and so generative to connect with so many inspiring and talented independent scholars and creatives. Feeling seen and valued is important.

Moving Forward: A snapshot of NCACE future plans - National Centre for Academic and Cultural Exchange We are delighted to announce the very welcome news that NCACE will continue to be funded by Research England for the next four years. It is a great achievement and one that has only been made possible...

We’re delighted to share that NCACE will continue to be funded by Research England for the next four years! We’ll keep supporting collaboration and knowledge exchange between higher education and the arts.

Read more: ncace.ac.uk/2025/09/10/m...

NCACE Meetup Theme: NCACE Festival of Cultural Knowledge Exchange 2: Getting Involved

Join us for our NCACE Meetup on 20 November 2025, to hear about plans for our next Festival of Cultural Knowledge Exchange which will take place in April 2026. A chance to share ideas, connect and get involved.

For more information and register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ncace-meet...

NCACE Independent Researcher Network Launch Building connections. Creating opportunities. Recognising your work.

Building connections. Creating opportunities. Recognising your work.

Independent researchers shape culture, knowledge & society—too often without recognition or support. The NCACE Independent Researchers Network aims to change that.

Info and register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ncace-inde...

From Practice to PhD Workshop From Practice to PhD Workshop: Embedding Research Collaborations in Arts & Culture

From Practice to PhD Workshop - 22 October 2025

Jointly hosted with @bathspauni.bsky.social, we’ll ask: how can arts & cultural organisations & researchers work together through PhD research - and what does it take to make it successful?

Register & more info: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/from-pract...

NCACE Summer Reads

Over the past year, our Arts Professional series explored: migration, climate emergency, governance, cultural support for young people, local authority-arts-HEI collaborations, and business schools supporting arts organisations.

Read here: www.artsprofessional.co.uk/tags/ncace

Upcoming NCACE Events

NCACE Events Coming Soon

We’ve got exciting events this autumn as we continue the conversation around cultural knowledge exchange.

For more information and to register, visit:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/ncace-3228...

NCACE Evidence Café 15 - Collaborative Research Between Universities and Cultural Institutions: Achieving Transformative Impact

NCACE Evidence Café 15

Join us for our next café session, where we will explore how collaborative research between universities and cultural institutions can drive meaningful and transformative change.

Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ncace-evid...

We're hiring a Senior Manager – Knowledge, Evidence and Resources at NCACE.

Deadline: Friday, 11 July 2025 – don’t miss it!

Apply here: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DNK292/n...

More about us: ncace.ac.uk

Arts and research: Shaping climate action - Arts Professional How are universities and the arts working together on challenging environmental issues connected with climate change? And what initiatives are emerging as a result? NCACE’s Evelyn Wilson has been find...

In our new @artsprofessional.co.uk article, our Co-Director Evelyn Wilson explores: How are universities & the arts working together on challenging environmental issues connected with climate change? And what initiatives are emerging as a result? Read here: www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/fea...

NCACE Independent Researcher Network Roundtable Consultation - listen now on SoundCloud

Thanks to everyone who joined our Independent Researcher Network Roundtable last week!

This was the first step in shaping a new network for independent researchers that spans HE, the arts/cultural sector & their collaborative partners.

Listen to the full recording:
soundcloud.com/user-2458372...

New Job opportunity at NCACE

We're hiring! NCACE is seeking a Senior Manager – Knowledge, Evidence & Resources to lead work on our Knowledge Base, Evidence and Policy events & training for ECRs and mid-career academics.

Apply by 11 July 2025

More info & details on how to apply here: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DNK292/s...

NCACE Blog: Call for Contributions

NCACE Blog: Showcasing your Collaborative Projects

We welcome reflections on collaborations between HE and the arts, especially from diverse voices. Freelancers/fractional staff receive a small honorarium.

Blog Guidelines: ncace.ac.uk/wp-content/u...

Email: noshin.sultan@sas.ac.uk

NCACE: Growing the Garden of Cultural Knowledge Exchange

Our new publication by StoryArcs associate Dr Josh Weeks is out now.

It begins with a realisation. Suddenly, you’re in a garden surrounded by stars. You don’t know how you got there; have no idea which interstellar threshold you had to cross...

Read more here: ncace.ac.uk/wp-content/u...

Last week I was delighted to host our latest NCACE Collection showcase. If you couldn't join us, do tune in to hear from poet Dr Nick Makoha, Professor Bambo Soyinka, Dr Josh Weeks, Dr Josh Edelman, Zoe Seaton, Hannah Conway and Dr Laura Kemp and myself on our latest publications and case studies

Undisciplined is a pioneering development programme for Guildhall students - designed to mirror programmes in arts organisations - which empowers them to build creative friendships, collaborate and create innovative work together Photo: Matthew Ferguson

Just published in @artsprofessional.co.uk our new article 'Conversations on the challenges of governance'. Exploring how closer collaboration between the arts sector and universities could strengthen leadership and governance.

Read more: www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/fea...

NCACE Collection Spring Showcase - Listen now on SoundCloud

Thanks to everyone who joined and contributed to last week’s NCACE Collection Spring Showcase! We spotlighted some of our latest contributors and their recent publications.

Listen here: soundcloud.com/user-2458372...

NCACE Collection: ncace.ac.uk/collection/c...

NCACE Independent Researcher Network Roundtable Consultation NCACE Independent Researcher Network Roundtable Consultation

Are you an independent researcher working across Higher Education, arts, culture, and the creative sectors? Join NCACE’s Independent Researcher Network Roundtable Consultation on 19th June to share your experiences and shape future support.

Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ncace-inde...

An emerging space of possibility - Arts Professional Besides awarding degrees, how are our universities supporting young people? This is a question NCACE’s Evelyn Wilson has been investigating, with contributions from Penny Hay, Jen Wong, Rebecca Johnso...

Besides awarding degrees, how are universities supporting young people? Our Co-Director @evelynwilson.bsky.social explores this in our latest @artsprofessional.co.uk article, contributions from @penahay.bsky.social, Jen Wong, Rebecca Johnson and Akil Hunte: www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/fea...