New/Changed practices of Higher Education engagement with local communities and arts and cultural organisations during Covid-19

Written by Dr Roberta Comunian and Dr Lauren England, King's College London

Covid-19 has had a profound impact on academic practices of engagement with local communities as well as arts and cultural organisations. 
Many departments in the field of arts, creative industries and arts management collaborate with external partners on multiple agendas. 
In connection with teaching, external partners offer valuable input into courses and provide opportunities for research visits and workshops which during the last three months could not take place. Furthermore, students often engage in internships and placements in arts and creative organisations. This has partially moved online, but as result of the recent lockdown period the inability of arts and cultural organisations to operate has also affected opportunities for teaching collaborations. This is particularly challenging for final year students who might struggle to enter the sector in this period of uncertainty and with little opportunity to network and get noticed.  
However, research collaborations and other collaborative activities have also been affected. Some exchanges like talks or dissemination events have gone ahead online, but many projects involving sharing research facilities and time had to stop. Another important aspect that has had to move online is the engagement with communities (whether via outreach or short-courses or via participatory events). While some universities, such as Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, have created online resources for community engagement.  Others, like Southampton Solent University have committed to delivering art boxes with materials for young people and community groups to continue engagement with arts activities in the city. The completed works by young people will be displayed as part of a special ‘Life in Lockdown’ exhibition in October 2020. Ironically, while it can be difficult to deliver, many universities have experienced a demand for engagement with local communities during this challenging period. Whether to support physical or mental well-being, or work together to rebuild local economies and communities, the pandemic has highlighted the civic role of the university. Maintaining and building relationships through engagement activities is important for the future prosperity of both institutions and their local creative communities and economies, supporting cultural engagement and opportunities for staff and students.  
We would like to discuss what elements of engagement can move online and those which are more challenging to take forward. 
This brief survey aims to capture your recent experience.  

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