The AHRC Creative Communities programme Policy Lab took place at the MAC Belfast, on 20 March 2024. The Lab brought together a broad range of participants, including policy-makers from the Northern Ireland Executive, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Creative Ireland, academics, creative freelancers, third sector and community representatives, to co-create new policy solution suggestions on the role of arts and culture in Belonging and Civic Identity, within the context of UK Government in Northern Ireland and the devolved Northern Ireland Executive.
The Policy Lab encouraged cross-sector discussion through creative facilitation, to uncover opportunities and address challenges using culture as a lever to unlock the potential of devolution. More than Minutes have now created an illustrated record of the opportunities and challenges, key issues, needs and potential solutions identified by participants, and of the discussion on how to embed communities in policy making and R&D to create a more inclusive innovation ecosystem.
The recommendations from the Policy Lab will enable the arts and culture to create a stronger, fairer economy and society through cross-sector collaboration and delivery of shared aims around Belonging and Civic Identity. The policy proposals will be presented to a diverse range of stakeholders including UK Government, the Northern Ireland Executive, universities, funders and third and private sector organisations later this year.
Across 2024, the AHRC Creative Communities team are hosting Policy Labs in each of the four nations of the UK, using co-creation methods in generating new policy solutions specific to the contexts of each nation, with potential to influence wider UK policy.
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