Activating Creativity in UK Universities: (Re)Connect, Reframe, Reimagine

From 17 – 18 June 2026, the University of Exeter’s Arts and Culture team are hosting a free two-day gathering, bringing together colleagues from across the higher education sector to explore how creative process and artist-led practice can help shape a better future for UK Universities.  

Activating Creativity in UK Universities: (Re)Connect, Reframe, Reimagine will create space for conversation, exchange, and shared reflection for those with strategic, operational, creative, or engagement-focused roles who are supporting arts and culture activity within higher education institutions. 

Rather than a traditional symposium or conference, the gathering has been designed as an active, participatory experience. Attendees will take part in interactive deep dives into shared challenges and emerging opportunities, practical labs focused on professional skills, tools and knowledge, and guided collective enquiry sessions. The programme will also prioritise meaningful networking, alongside nourishing food, lively entertainment, and dedicated moments for reflection and rest. 

The event is intended to encourage open discussion about the challenges and opportunities facing creative practice in universities today. Through facilitated conversations and shared case studies, participants will consider how institutions can connect creative activity across research, teaching, and civic engagement, and how arts and culture strategies can be sustained within evolving context around policy and funding.  

Further details and registration

The full programme is to be announced by the end of March 2026. You can find out more and register your interest in attending here.