ICC academic awarded AHRC Leadership Fellowship
The Leadership Fellows scheme is designed to support research leaders to undertake focused independent research, supported by collaborative leadership activities, which has the potential to generate a transformative impact on their subject area and beyond.
Kerry’s research interests and areas of expertise relate to the cross-sector instrumental value of arts and culture. Signature projects include an AHRC-funded study of public libraries’ response and contribution to social inclusion policy in England (2006-08), and research on the impact and value of an award-winning dementia awareness training programme for health and social care sectors led by National Museums Liverpool (2013 onwards). Her AHRC Leadership Fellows award will fund a two-year study of professional ethics in collaborative cultural work, examining reciprocal codes of practice in prison library services and for museum professionals working in healthcare settings.
Starting in July 2017, academic partners on the Instrumental Values study include the Institute of Applied Ethics, University of Hull and the Centre for Heritage and Museum Studies at the Australian National University. Kerry will also work in close collaboration with key professional bodies including the Museums Association, Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, the National Alliance for Museums Health and Wellbeing and the Prisoners’ Education Trust.
Kerry said:
"I’m delighted to receive this award from the AHRC at this stage in my academic career. It is particularly reassuring and encouraging to see continuing support for research that interrogates relationships between arts and culture and wider public policy objectives, beyond ideological debates on their instrumental versus intrinsic value."
Professor Robin Leatherbarrow, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Scholarship, Research and Knowledge Transfer) commented:
"This award reflects the high standing of collaborative cultural research within the Institute, which has been recognised by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. The award will further strengthen collaborative links between the partner universities and on behalf of LJMU, I extend my congratulations to Kerry on receiving this prestigious Fellowship."
The Institute of Cultural Capital (ICC) is a strategic collaboration between LJMU and the University of Liverpool, launched in August 2010.
Further information on the Instrumental Values study will be available on the ICC website from July 2017.