AHRC's World Class Labs Transform UK's Arts and Humanities Research
Published: 3 October 2024
The University of Glasgow's Kelvin Hall showcased as success story
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) has released an evaluation report highlighting the transformative impact of its World Class Labs (WCL) programme on the UK's creative and heritage facilities.
The £300 million investment, launched in 2020, has significantly upgraded research infrastructure across the country, with the University of Glasgow's Kelvin Hall highlighted as one of the success stories.
Professor Christopher Smith, AHRC Executive Chair and UKRI Creative Industries Sector Champion, reflected on the program's achievements: "The WCL investment has materially transformed the arts and humanities research landscape. But much remains to be done."
The evaluation report, conducted by Technopolis and BOP Consulting, revealed:
- 83% of surveyed grant holders reported research-related benefits
- Over 66% reported skills and training benefits, including 58 new full-time equivalent posts
- 649 new national partnerships were formed, along with five international collaborations
- Significant innovation and economic benefits were noted, including improved productivity and new commercial contracts
One of case studies highlighted in the report is the University of Glasgow's Kelvin Hall project. Professor Christina Young and her team received a Capability for Collections (CapCo) grant to upgrade and purchase state-of-the-art equipment for collections-led Conservation Science research.
The grant funded high-resolution microscopes, spectroscopic mapping tools, and other advanced instrumentation, which are co-located alongside collections at Kelvin Hall, and in the ARC. This investment has significantly enhanced the university's research capabilities, enabling conservation science techniques to be applied to cultural heritage that were previously unattainable.
The project has yielded numerous benefits:
- Expanded research scope: The team has undertaken 20 research projects using the equipment. This has included technical examination of John Hoyland’s 18-06-69 painting in The Hunterian Gallery to support its conservation, and the Citizen’s Theatre historic paint frames.
- Skills development: Staff and post-doctoral researchers have been trained on cutting-edge equipment, enhancing their career prospects and competitiveness in the job market.
- New partnerships: The University has forged collaborations with organisations such as the Royal Opera House, London and the Culture, Heritage & Arts Assembly, Argyll & Isles (CHARTS).
- Public engagement: The team has organised events to share research insights with both technical specialists and the general public, strengthening ties between the community and heritage science research.
As the AHRC looks to the future, priorities include ensuring that investment in arts and humanities research infrastructure becomes a fixture in the research landscape and enabling access to tools and technologies needed for groundbreaking work.
The success of the World Class Labs programme, exemplified by projects like the University of Glasgow's Kelvin Hall, demonstrates the vital role of infrastructure investment in advancing arts and humanities research in the UK.
First published: 3 October 2024