New network to link university arts centres

A UK-wide consortium of university-based arts centres is broadening its scope by establishing an open membership body.

The 22 arts venues that are current members of the University Centres for the Arts Network (UCAN) meet to discuss issues, collaborate on funding bids and develop joint initiatives. To extend their impact they are opening membership to other venues in the higher education sector who share common goals and ways of working.

UCAN is acting in response to the 2015 Warwick Commission report, which challenged higher education institutions to “develop long term commitment and strategies to position themselves as beacons of civic and cultural engagement and as a resource for the local community by offering access to facilities, skills and new avenues of funding”.

Members commit to supporting artists and new work, acting as incubators and catalysts for new ideas and innovative practices. They also pledge to:

• support students and young people as producers, curators and performance makers, helping them to develop transferable employment skills
• enable creatives, academics, professionals and communities to develop cross disciplinary collaboration
• contribute to universities’ research and teaching programmes
• widen participation by engaging with local and regional communities, through events on and off campus
• contribute to the local landscape through cultural place making.

Details of membership are available from Warwick Arts Centre.