Prof Katy Shaw, Director of the AHRC Creative Communities programme, provided the keynote provocation ‘Culture Works’ at the Key Cities Innovation Network 2026 conference i-PLACE.
The keynote considered how ‘culture works’ for communities in cities, towns and devolved contexts across the UK. Drawing on evidence from the AHRC Creative Communities programme, the talk profiled live opportunities presented by devolution and the catalysing role culture can play in shaping places, fostering belonging, supporting skills and jobs and creating good growth.
i-PLACE is the UK’s national platform for place innovation, created by the Key Cities Innovation Network, a civic partnership of 22 cities and 12 universities in England and Wales. The theme for the 2026 conference was ‘Liveable (and loveable) places’, exploring how urban areas foster community identity, culture, citizen agency and resilience.
The Culture Works panel included:
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