The Hidden Architecture: Systems that Shape Research Culture
About this Event
Universities and cultural institutions must change to allow interdisciplinary, collaborative research to flourish. This ambition takes many forms – from building shared digital systems to partnering equitably with communities and embracing the civic purpose of our institutions. Yet these transformative projects are often held back by a legacy of interrelated technical and administrative systems.
These frameworks actively permit certain actions while structurally inhibiting others. Within universities and cultural institutions alike, this soft infrastructure tends to enable traditional, siloed work but constrains collaborative, cross-boundary projects. From research bid conventions to information inaccessibility, and from finance protocols to metadata incompatibility, the outcome is the same: the infrastructure dictates the boundaries of the research.
This Research Café provides a space for information-sharing and collaborative problem-solving between academic researchers, GLAM professionals, and digital practitioners. How exactly does our shared infrastructure inhibit our practice, and what essential work are our current systems failing to support? What informal workarounds are you using to bypass these constraints today? And how do we move beyond these temporary stopgaps to redesign the infrastructure itself? Join us on July 8th at Contact Theatre to collectively outline the structural shifts required to build an environment that genuinely enables equitable, cross-institutional innovation.
Agenda:
12-12.30pm: Lunch and networking
12.30-12.40pm: Welcome (Chair: John McAuliffe)
12.40-13.25: Four short lightning talks (10 minutes each)
13.25-13.55: Panel discussion (Moderator: Tom Flavel)
13.55-14.25: Audience Q&A
14.25-14.30: Closing words/next steps
Panellists:
Anna-Maria Sichani, BRAID / School of Advanced Studies, University of London
Ed Watts, Head of Civic Engagement, The Whitworth Gallery
Jessica Smith, Senior Curator and Creative Arts Archivist, Special Collections, The John Rylands Library
Jamie Robinson, Imaging Manager, Digital Reach, The John Rylands Library
Lunch will be provided for all attendees.
Accessibility
If you have particular access or dietary needs, please let us know in advance by providing details when registering for your ticket or by emailing [email protected]
Please see access information for this venue provided here.
About Creative Manchester
Creative Manchester is an interdisciplinary research platform based at The University of Manchester. The platform champions research in creativity and creative practice, bringing together research communities with external stakeholders to explore new research areas and address strategic opportunities. Please visit the website for more information: Creative Manchester.
Register here to receive regular updates on upcoming Creative Manchester news, events and funding opportunities. You can also connect with Creative Manchester via Bluesky, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 0.00
