Mission Research: The University of òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ awarded one of the UKRI Community Innovation Practitioner Awards
Creative òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ at The University of òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ is one of the recipients of Creative Communities funding, part of a major research programme to drive cultural innovation and community cohesion.
Ruth Flanagan will work with Cartwheel Arts as Community Innovation Practitioner (CIP) during 2025-2026.
The , funded by the UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and led by Northumbria University, has extended its signature award, the , for a new 2025-26 cohort. This represents an investment of nearly £500,000 to catalyse place-based innovation across all 4 nations of the UK research ecosystem.
The AHRC Creative Communities programme examines the role of culture and devolution in unlocking cross sector co-creation and place-based innovation across all 4 nations of the UK.
AHRC Executive Chair Professor Christopher Smith said:
Culture is crucial to the prosperity and wellbeing of communities, from ensuring children can develop creativity to driving growth across the UK. That’s why Governments and local actors prize the role of arts and humanities research in community-based projects - and why we launched the Creative Communities programme, to capitalise on the enormous opportunity to harness this potential to benefit places and people across the breadth of the UK.
So far, the programme has worked with more than 100 partners, generated a wealth of new knowledge and policy proposals, and created a successful podcast. I’m excited to see where this latest round of Community Innovation Practitioner Awards will take us.
I’m honoured to receive the CIP Award. This llows me to continue working with Rochdale’s diverse communities in collaboration with Cartwheel Arts, while also introducing a research dimension through Creative òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ and the University of òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ.
Artist Ruth Flanagan's work in Rochdale has uncovered common ground and shared interests across an unusual range of communities - "all stitches speak the same language", as one participant said to Ruth. How do we make connections with one another? This interdisciplinary project is about the tangible positive impacts of craft traditions - and how we can model good practices by weaving together our different research, artistic and community resources.
The University of òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ is committed to research that impacts positively on our region, and to a model of inclusive innovation which serves our communities. In this field, our Creative òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ platform engages strongly with Greater òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ’s pioneering Creative Health strategy and we are delighted now to be working with Cartwheel Arts, artist Ruth Flanagan and the AHRC in delivering work whose collaborative methods and benefits we are optimistic about.
Ruth Flanagan is an artist who has been working with Creative òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ partner organisation, Cartwheel Arts, with diverse communities in Rochdale to deliver craft and heritage projects. During 2025-2026, Ruth will work as Community Innovation Practitioner (CIP), along with University of òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ researchers through Creative òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ and the School of Arts Languages and Cultures to introduce a research framework to her work finding connections through diverse communities through craft traditions.
is one of six new UK CIPs across a spectrum of projects that represent the rich cross-sector community research and inclusive innovation that is catalysing growth.
In partnership with Cartwheel Arts and national organisation Heritage Crafts UK, and working closely with Greater òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ Combined Authority, this project draws on the history and legacy of òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ’s Co-Operative movement by using crafting methods to promote resilience, belonging and cultural engagement in diverse communities in Rochdale (which is Greater òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ’s Town of Culture 2025).
Ruth Flanagan said of the award:
About the Community Innovation Practitioner Awards
This is a major investment in place-based innovation and cross-sector research partnerships across the devolved nations and regions of the UK. Each CIP will work in their devolved policy context to explore how co-created cultural innovation can enhance belonging, address regional inequality, deliver devolution and break down barriers to opportunity.
The CIPs will generate vital new knowledge about co-creation and the unique role played by their communities and partnerships in growth through new research, development and innovation (RD&I).
Each CIP will produce a , and an episode of the to share learning from their community and cultural partners. Together, the CIPs will form a Community of Practice network with the aim of fostering new relationships and sharing innovative practice.
Funding has been awarded to six new CIPs across a spectrum of projects that represent the rich cross-sector community research and inclusive innovation that is catalysing growth in all 4 nations of the UK.
About Creative Communities
is a £3.9m major research programme based at Northumbria University in Newcastle. It builds a new evidence base on how cultural devolution can enhance belonging, address regional inequality, deliver devolution and break down barriers to opportunity for communities in devolved settings across all four nations of the UK.
For more information you can also visit the .