The UK Centre for Events Management (UKCEM) has been commissioned by Arts Council England, to coordinate a new Knowledge Exchange Network and a series of seminars exploring issues of participation and engagement in the arts.
 
The work is being coordinated by Leila Jancovich, from UKCEM, and Professor Franco Bianchini from the Cultural Planning and Policy Unit in the School of Cultural Studies.
 
The Network will create opportunities for knowledge exchange between cultural researchers, policy makers, managers and practitioners, from across the North of England, to debate key issues around cultural development generally, and participation and engagement in particular.

The first seminar will focus on the meanings and politics of participation. Approximately 50 people will be in attendance including key academics from a range of universities and disciplines, Director- level representatives from many major arts organisations, community arts practitioners and policy makers from Arts Council and local authorities.

A series of seminars will be convened over the next 18 months, with a view to producing a publication in 2012, co-edited by Leila Jancovich and Professor Bianchini.

If you are interested in joining the network please contact Isla Brown on i.k.brown@leedsmet.ac.uk.