MMU strengthens cultural profile

AN INTERNATIONAL culture conference touted as “one of the highlights of the UK’s EU Presidency” is to feature leading figures from MMU’s Faculty of Art and Design.

Dean of Faculty Professor Maureen Wayman, art in health pioneer Peter Senior OBE, Niamh Dowling, Head of the School of Theatre and Dr Justin O’Connor, Director of the Manchester Institute for Popular Culture, are to speak at the much-awaited Catalyst Conference which takes place in Manchester and Liverpool from September 15-17.

They join Germaine Greer, Benjamin Zander, Jude Kelly and David Lammy MP in an unrivalled programme which has attracted hundreds of policy-makers, academics, and artists from all over Europe, and is described as “one of the highlights of the EU Presidency” by Tessa Jowell, the Mnister for Culture, Media and Sport.

The themes of the conference are cultural policy, education and entitlement and MMU is the only North West university with academic speakers.

Major player

Professor Wayman, Dean of Art and Design and a major player nationally in textiles-fashion presents on the value to business of art education in Good For Business? - Preparing our Industry: educating the creative workforce on Thursday, September 15 at 1.45pm.

Peter Senior, Director of Arts for Health, and member of MIRIAD, leads a workshop How can the arts impact on the health sector on Saturday, September 17 at 10.45am. And Niamh Dowling, conducts the workshop Developing an acting portfolio for European work also on September 17 at 10.45am. Dr O’Connor will speak about cultural industries.

Tessa Jowell, whose government took over the EU Presidency in July added: “It is fitting that the conference is set in Manchester and Liverpool - two cities of great diversity which mirror their trading history and connections to the rest of Europe and the wider world.

Valuing our culture

“The three-day programme is about the right of every citizen to value their own cultures; to have access to the widest possible range of varied cultures; and to be active participants in and contributors to a shared culture.”

Catalyst also incorporates the first national conference of the Regional Cultural Consortiums England (RCCE), which will capitalise on their role as leading advocates for the cultural sector.

The event in Manchester is held at MICC and in Liverpool at the Royal Philharmonic Hall.

For more information, contact Sam Gray, MMU Regional Office on 0161 247 3429 or go to:
www.catalystconference.co.uk
www.artdes.mmu.ac.uk
www.theatre.mmu.ac.uk
www.mmu.ac.uk/artsforhealth