An interactive workshop connecting arts and humanities research with other academic disciplines and professionals 

2nd September 2009 

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) are working together in a strategic partnership to explore potential for enhancing knowledge exchange in the arts and humanities in Scotland.  To this end we will be co-hosting a series of themed workshop events to bring together arts and humanities researchers and non academic user communities to identify knowledge exchange successes to date and to explore potential for further activity. Arts and humanities research offers novel and exciting approaches that have profound impacts on society and the economy – its capacity to challenge conventional assumptions is an essential asset if innovation is to thrive.  This is combined with the ability to provide a sense of historical context, traditions and cultural settings in which society and the economy function.  These workshops will expose arts and humanities research to specific areas of policy interest to Scotland and provide new perspectives and novel opportunities for partnership working in future.

Scotland and Asia: cultural translations

This workshop aims to bring arts and humanities researchers in Scotland together with partners from related disciplines and organisations to explore points of contact between the histories, cultures and peoples of Asia and Scotland with a view to shaping future relationships.  These points of contact could be in Asia or in Scotland, or within the wider Scottish and Asian diasporas. 

The key questions are what shapes should future relations between Scotland and Asia take and how can arts and humanities researchers work with non-HEI partners in order to realise these? 

Indicative topics could include:
- Futures of fusion; on what subjects and in which forms should the creative industries and arts of Asia and Scotland meet and merge?
- Challenges of translation; how should the languages, literatures and cultures of Scotland and Asia be represented to each other and shape one another?
- Models and methodologies; what types of ethics, beliefs, and ways of approaching the world can Scottish and Asian traditions offer each other and seek to create through closer understanding?

The core objective of the meeting will be to identify knowledge transfer opportunities so that arts and humanities researchers can work alongside those in government, the business community, the media, the professions and community groups to identify and realise visions of the future of relationships between Scottish and Asian states, peoples, companies and cultures.

Programme

9.00 – 9.30        Convene and refreshments

9.30 – 10.45      Welcome

                        Keynote presentations: speakers to be confirmed

10.45 – 11.00    Refreshments

11.00 – 12.30    Open Space discussion (round 1)

12.30 – 1.15      Lunch

1.15 – 4.00        Open Space discussions (rounds 2 and 3)

                        (Tea and coffee served on tap)

4.00 – 4.45        Plenary – sharing of outcomes

4.45 – 5.00        Next steps

5.00                  Close

For any enquiries please email knowledgetransfer@ahrc.ac.uk