The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) has released a major new Policy Provocation Paper focused on NI, offering a set of actionable proposals for how culture – and particularly co-created, community-led creative work – can strengthen belonging, resilience and civic identity.

As well as presenting versions for Scotland, England and Wales, the paper- based on a 2024 policy lab held in Belfast – presents a clear direction for how devolved culture powers and budgets could be used to better support creative practitioners, address inequality and foster cross-sector collaboration across the North.

Key recommendations include:

– Introducing community-led, participatory funding models to give local creative practitioners and citizens more say in how public culture funds are allocated
– Establishing a Northern Ireland Culture Data Observatory to collect and analyse real-time data on the value and impact of the cultural sector
– Creating a Cultural Assembly Network, enabling communities to co-design cultural policy from the ground up
– Embedding creative practice in education to make arts and culture more accessible, visible, and central to young people’s development

The document also makes the case for recognising creative work – particularly when rooted in place and community – as essential to health, reconciliation, civic engagement and inclusive economic growth.

Alongside the paper, AHRC has published a toolkit designed to help cultural practitioners, community groups and cross-sector collaborators apply the programme’s learning in practical ways. The toolkit offers guidance on cultural R&D, collaborative design methods, and how to engage with policy and funding structures more effectively.

Read the paper in full here.

For musicians and others working in the arts across NI, it’s a valuable framework for thinking about where support, influenceand opportunity might emerge next.