Just before Christmas the AHRC, like the other Research Councils, learnt of its funding allocation for the next four years. In the context of a tough economic climate, the allocation represents something of a vote of confidence in arts and humanities research. But it is clear at the same time that the AHRC will need to work with colleagues across the research community to help establish priorities and to maximise investment in arts and humanities research.
 
This meeting was organised to ensure that subject associations within the arts and humanities were informed at the earliest opportunity of the funding allocation and the priorities outlined in the AHRC Delivery Plan. The Plan, submitted to BIS as part of the Spending Review process, provided the basis for the allocation received by the AHRC and was published on the 20th December. (The AHRC Delivery Plan is available at www.ahrc.ac.uk/About/Policy/Documents/DeliveryPlan2011.pdf)

Professor Rick Rylance, Chief Executive of the AHRC, and Professor Shearer West, AHRC Director of Research, presented the AHRC’s main priorities outlined in the Delivery Plan. There was also the opportunity to feed back views on those priorities in discussion sessions and through informal networking.
 
The meeting was held at the RSA on Friday the 4th February.

 Professor Shearer West's presentation (pdf 493kb)