Manchester researchers discuss policy with government officials

30 Apr 2024

Policy@Manchester hosts Department for Culture, Media and Sport to discuss arts, heritage and tourism, and civil society and youth.

Leading officials from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) visited campus for discussions with our academics on arts, heritage and tourism, and civil society and youth.

Organised by Policy@Manchester and chaired by Professor John McAuliffe, Professor of Poetry and Director of Creative Manchester, the event was part of a series of engagements with government departments facilitated by the Policy team in their role as the convenor for policymakers and University researchers.

Other recent initiatives have included hosting a meeting of the GM Analysts Network and arranging a tour of the Arrowfield Low Carbon Living Project for senior figures at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), demonstrating a commitment to work closely with the growing community of civil servants based in Manchester.

University colleagues attending this event included Professor Neil Humphrey, Professor of Psychology of Education; Dr Leandro Valiati, Senior Lecturer in Creative and Cultural Industries; Dr Abigail Gilmore, Senior Lecturer in Arts Management and Cultural Policy; and Dr Eric Lybeck, Senior Lecturer in Sociology.

They provided a brief synopsis of their individual specialisms and current research projects before our visitors were invited to describe their roles within the DCMS.

Attendees examined arts, heritage and tourism and civil society and youth and focused on Areas of Research Interest, a list of research questions on which the DCMS has sought more research to inform their policies and help close the evidence policy gap.

The event concluded with an open exchange of views on how academic research can positively influence DCMS policymaking.

Professor McAuliffe said: “We always welcome the opportunity to feed Creative Manchester research networks into policy development and our interactions with the DCMS officials were especially fruitful.

“As well sharing case studies, the event enabled us to connect University researchers with DCMS experts based at their Manchester office.

“Research and policymaking are ongoing processes, meaning these important personal relationships will continue to develop and deliver mutual benefit far into the future.”