The CHEAD Research Innovation and Knowledge Exchange (RIKE) Alliance works to expand and enhance public understanding of arts, media, and design key subject areas and their vital social, economic, political and cultural impact. The Alliance aspires to influence policy through research, practice and advocacy, keeping curiosity and exemplary arts processes at its core.
The CHEAD RIKE Alliance is chaired by CHEAD Co-opted Trustee, Dr Sian Vaughan
RIKE Alliance Vision Statement
The CHEAD RIKE Alliance is a collaborative, entrepreneurial partner in the UK’s creative and cultural economy – demonstrating how our research creates impact by shaping practice, activating innovation and informing policy. We engage with external research organisations including other research partners, international institutions, local and national agencies, policy makers and our colleagues in member institutions.
We are keen to nurture research leadership, research-curious staff and early career researchers to broaden the scope of research, innovation and knowledge exchange. We endeavour to be a vibrant, well-connected and confident community of practice for new ideas and methods, with no limiting boundaries, a reputation for boldness and a growing international profile.
The RIKE Alliance brings together researchers, leaders and staff within CHEAD members institutions through a dedicated REF Forum and our Innovation and Knowledge Exchange (IKE) Forum. Our activities include regular events for members of the Alliance throughout the year via the Forums, the development of advocacy pieces and working papers, and informing CHEAD responses to sector consultations. Focused RIKE working groups support specific projects, pieces of advocacy and research, training and events.
The CHEAD RIKE Alliance welcomes new members from any CHEAD member institution. If you would like to join the mailing list, please contact: info@chead.ac.uk
Through bi-monthly meetings, the REF Forum brings together UoA leads and research managers from the range of REF Units of Assessment where art and design research might be returned (including UoAs 13, 33, and 34 as well as 32). The REF Forum enables sharing of practice and technical understanding of REF criteria, processes, and frameworks to develop REF-literacy in the art and design sector. The REF Forum is also an advocacy vehicle to promote the needs and recognition of research in the creative disciplines in quality audit mechanisms more broadly.
The REF Forum is co-chaired by Debbie Savage, Associate Dean for Research at Cardiff School of Art and Design, Richard Bibb, Professor of Medical Applications of Design and Associate Dean Research at Nottingham School of Art & Design and Kamini Vellodi, Head of Painting at the Royal College of Art, London.
The IKE Forum was created by CHEAD’s RIKE Alliance to catalyse innovation and knowledge exchange in art, design, creative media, and related disciplines. It does this through providing space for open dialogue, sharing of practices, and the co-development of understanding and advocacy to:
· Support members’ engagement with industry, third sector and cultural partner organisations, international institutions, local and national agencies, and policy makers
· Develop understanding and literacy around the KEF Framework, innovation practices, civic engagement, and ethical practice in knowledge and cultural exchange
· Advocate for the value of innovation, knowledge and cultural exchange in institutional policy, sector frameworks, and public discourse
· Catalyse and build strategies, capacity and capabilities towards future KEF cycles, and other frameworks
IKE Forum membership is open to those with leadership roles or organisational responsibility for Innovation and Knowledge in member organisations as well as staff from those organisations involved or interested in innovation and knowledge exchange.
The CHEAD IKE Forum is co-chaired by Rowan Bailey, Professor of Culture, People and Place and Strategic Lead for Research in the Arts and Humanities at the University of Huddersfield, Charlotte Nicol, Associate Dean, Research & Knowledge Exchange (People & Place) at Teesside University and Charlotte Frost, Associate Dean at the UCA Canterbury School of Art, Architecture and Design.
If you would like to join either the REF or IKE Forum, please contact info@chead.ac.uk
Civic and Place: framing the role of cultural development in Art and Design Working Paper
A working paper arising from the event in April 2025: Civic and Place: Exploring the Role of the Civic in Art and Design which brought together researchers, educators, practitioners and community stakeholders to examine how art and design can shape, sustain, and animate civic life.
The paper is co-authored by: Dr Rowan Bailey, Director of the Centre for Cultural Ecologies in Art, Design and Architecture, University of Huddersfield; Evelyn Wilson, co-Director of National Centre for Academic and Cultural Exchange; Dr Rhiannon Jones, Associate Professor (Civic Practice). Head of Civic and Communities, University of Derby; Professor Steve Millington, Professor of Place Management, Manchester Metropolitan University; Adam Ellis Leach, Programme Director, National Civic Impact Accelerator (NCIA) and Head of Civic Strategy & National Initiatives, Sheffield Hallam University and Sandra Booth, Director of Policy and External Relations, CHEAD
