As the AHRC approaches its fourth anniversary on 1st April 2009, our rapidly changing context and the prospect of a Government Spending Review impel us to take stock of where we are and what we must do to maintain our distinctive and valued role.

Over the last four years the AHRC has benefited from a 35% uplift in funding, from £80.5 million in 2005/06 to £109 million announced for 2010/11, significantly increasing the funds available for arts and humanities research.

During the summer of 2008 AHRC senior staff consulted colleagues in the academic community, through institutional and subject association visits as well as one-off events, to elicit views on the Council’s evolving strategy and future plans. ‘Future Directions’ is the next stage of our consultative process, during which we put forward certain key questions affecting the AHRC and its core mission, namely, to support research that delivers ‘excellence with impact’.

The accompanying document, ‘Arts and Humanities Research Landscape’, provides a history of the AHRC’s achievements to date and outlines in detail the rapidly changing context in which it is currently operating.

We hope you will take the time to answer the questions put forward in ‘Future Directions’. Your views are vital if the AHRC is to build on the progress made so far and focus its priorities as it takes an increasingly strategic approach to the support of arts and humanities research.