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NCACE Lightbox: Researcher Visibility & Collaboration Programme 2026 – Applications Now Open

NCACE

Extended deadline for applications: 9am Monday 22nd June 2026

A new programme for early and midcareer researchers and cultural practitioners

The National Centre for Academic and Cultural Exchange (NCACE) facilitates and supports capacity for Knowledge Exchange between Higher Education and the arts and cultural sector across the UK, with a particular focus on evidencing and showcasing the social, cultural, environmental, as well as economic impacts of such activities. NCACE is part of the School of Advanced Study, University of London.

What is the NCACE Lightbox Programme

Lightbox: Researcher Visibility & Collaboration Programme is a brand-new free pilot programme designed to support early and midcareer academics, artists, and cultural practitioners to develop small scale, high impact collaborative projects between researchers and smaller arts and cultural organisations. This programme is for people who want to work differently: relationally, creatively, and in ways that open new visibilities for research and artistic practice.

It is being designed to help participants to:

  • Gain an understanding of partnership working and knowledge co-creation between universities and smaller arts and cultural organisations
  • Gain an understanding of some of the wider contexts in which partnerships take place
  • Develop capacity to conceive, manage and deliver an innovative, small-scale activity or event in collaboration with a researcher and/or an arts partner
  • Learn about methodologies to communicate with project audience and stakeholder(s)
  • Advocate for the values of transdisciplinary collaborative research and partnerships

The Programme offers a unique opportunity:

To hear from experts in cultural collaboration, communications, cultural production and placemaking

To developing collaborative knowledge and values: Learn how to build equitable, reciprocal collaborations between researchers, cultural practitioners and small arts organisations, understanding the wider context

To develop communication skills:  Develop skills in communicating your collaborative work to diverse audiences, supported by communication experts

To join a cross sector cohort of researchers, artists, and practitioners committed to transdisciplinary collaboration and creative knowledge exchange.

Lightbox is made up of:

  • One in person day event comprising keynote talks, exercises, peer-to-peer activities and networking in areas such as project management, understanding collaborations and how they evolve; thinking about projects in relationship to the places in which they occur
  • Online sessions that build on the in-person sessions and introduce new elements to the knowledge base of the programme
  • Mentoring opportunities with experts in developing collaborative practices, communications, fundraising and related areas
  • Engagement session on content from the NCACE Collection

The NCACE Collection is a growing resource base that explores many facets of relations between Higher Education and the arts and culture sectors, including cultural collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Lightbox facilitators, contributors and mentors include the following: Dr Amanda Egbe (University of West England), Dr Anna Walas (ICS, School of Advanced Study), Dr Cara Courage (Culture, Communities, Place), Claire Malcolm MBE (Chief Executive, New Writing North), Professor Dan Hicks (University of Oxford), Professor David Harradine (Co-Artistic Director and CEO, Fevered Sleep and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama), Evelyn Wilson (Co-Director, NCACE), Helen Nixon (Broadcaster) Dr Mai Musie (Senior Manager, NCACE), Megan Hunter (External Communications Manager, School of Advanced Study), Ruth Catlow (Co-Founder, Furtherfield)

Who Should Apply

We welcome applications from:

  • Early and mid‑career academics in any arts, humanities, or social science discipline
  • Artists, writers, cultural practitioners, and creative producers
  • Individuals interested in community engaged, place-based, or experimental approaches to research and practice based
  • People who value collaboration, curiosity, and working across boundaries

Applications are now open with the extended deadline of 9am Monday 22nd June 2026

For more information and application details please click here.

Please send your completed application to mai.musie@sas.ac.uk