Working in partnership with the School of Performance and Cultural Industries

Working in partnership

The School of Performance and Cultural Industries has many established and newly emerging collaborative links with creative organisations in Leeds and the Yorkshire Region, the UK and across the world.

At a local level we are proud to work with organisations including Leeds Playhouse, Opera North, Invisible Flock, Human VR, Slung Low, Red Ladder Theatre Company, Transform and many more to create, develop, deliver, research and evaluate outstanding events and opportunities for students, staff and communities in Leeds and the surrounding areas.

We also work closely with local institutions such as schools, hospitals, Leeds City Council and Leeds Museums and Art Galleries, as well as a range of third sector organisations. Some of our local interdisciplinary partnerships include working with patient participation groups in General Practice to develop more effective decision making processes via theatre techniques, and with schools in economically deprived areas using drama methodologies to improve oral health education.

We have developed national collaborations with diverse groups and organisations from the Kendal Mountain Festival to the National Theatre, while through the Centre for Cultural Value and its core partner The Audience Agency, we work with almost 30 affiliate partners including the BBC, the British Library, the Museums Association and the BFI.

Our global partnerships

Our international collaborations seek to create transformative effects on the communities local to our partners. Our creative and research partnerships include a number of Shanghai-based organisations for instance Shanghai Theatre Academy, Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre, Shanghai Yue Opera House in China, Tshisimani Centre for Activist Education in Cape Town, South Africa and Association Ndam Se Na, a Chad-based organisation that uses dance as an educational tool in the fight against violence.

Our links with industry leaders

Professional Perspectives, a series of guest lectures by leading figures in the cultural industries, forms part of our Masters courses and is one of many examples of how our students have opportunities to engage in debate and conversation with the industry. It’s also popular with the general public as part of an open campus approach to knowledge exchange.

Speakers have included: Chenine Bhathena, Creative Director of Coventry City of Culture; Stella Duffy, Director of Fun Palaces; John McGrath, Director of Manchester International Festival; Juliet Cornford, Head of Social and Creative Enterprise at the British Council; and Matt Fenton, Artistic Director, Contact Theatre Manchester.

conference participants having a discussion

Arts education

The School has an ongoing commitment to arts education and to providing development opportunities for teachers, particularly evidenced by our annual drama teachers’ conference. Delivered in association with our partners Leeds Playhouse, the conference has attracted teachers from across the region and from as far afield as Cumbria, the Midlands, and Wales.

stage@leeds

stage@leeds is a public contemporary performance space, situated at the heart of the University of Leeds campus, dedicated to the supporting the work of new and emerging artists.

Centre for Cultural Policy

The Centre for Cultural Policy supports and provides a showcase for rigorous, critical and cutting-edge academic research and knowledge exchange across the arts and cultural sector and the wider creative industries.

Working in partnership with the School of Performance and Cultural Industries