Research Programme for Story: Exploring the value of story in life, learning and work.
Lead Research Organisation:
Bath Spa University
Department Name: Research Support Office
Abstract
Bambo Soyinka is Professor of Story at Bath Spa University with significant expertise in multi-platform storytelling and strategic leadership. As a Programme Director for AHRC, Soyinka will help to shape the future of narrative research in the UK with a vision of story as an essential skill for life, learning and work. Soyinka will bring to this role expertise in the application of story across a range of professional contexts, stemming from her 25-year career in creative co-production in the public and private sectors.
The overarching purpose of this programme is to specify a transferable 'story skill set' and to establish a model for embedding this into a range of professional settings so that the value of story is more widely recognised and activated. To achieve this, it is proposed that Soyinka will develop a co-production framework that will place 'Story Associates' into a wide variety of organisations (e.g., care settings, local community interest companies, technological companies, creative enterprises and businesses more generally). Each placement holder will define their own research and impact objectives, resulting in subject-specific findings with localised benefits for each host organisation and for their service users (such as young people in care, businesses, customers and audiences). As the Programme Director, Soyinka's role will be to help AHRC to provide thought leadership on this theme, advocating the importance of story as a key skill in life, learning and work.
The overarching purpose of this programme is to specify a transferable 'story skill set' and to establish a model for embedding this into a range of professional settings so that the value of story is more widely recognised and activated. To achieve this, it is proposed that Soyinka will develop a co-production framework that will place 'Story Associates' into a wide variety of organisations (e.g., care settings, local community interest companies, technological companies, creative enterprises and businesses more generally). Each placement holder will define their own research and impact objectives, resulting in subject-specific findings with localised benefits for each host organisation and for their service users (such as young people in care, businesses, customers and audiences). As the Programme Director, Soyinka's role will be to help AHRC to provide thought leadership on this theme, advocating the importance of story as a key skill in life, learning and work.
Organisations
- Bath Spa University (Lead Research Organisation)
- Local Trust (Collaboration)
- University of the Arts London (Collaboration)
- University of Nottingham (Collaboration)
- Royal Holloway, University of London (Collaboration)
- University of Exeter (Collaboration)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- Bournemouth University (Collaboration)
- York St John University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER (Collaboration)
- Cardiff Metropolitan University (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Bambo Luci Soyinka (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Bambo Soyinka
(2023)
Why do stories matter?
Bambo Soyinka
(2024)
Connecting through story skills: an introduction to StoryArcs
Bambo Soyinka
(2024)
Embedding Story Skills into Subject Benchmarks
Ploszajsk, A
(2024)
The Storyology Podcast
| Description | A key finding of Soyinka's research is that story skills can be broken down into four key domains: Sense-Making, Thematic Values, Operational Narratives, and Narrative Representation. Within each of these domains, the research has identified specific skills. For example, within the Sense-Making Domain, some of the key skills include Analysis, Archival Knowledge, Curiosity, Insight, Observation, and Pattern Finding. In addition to defining and discovering an identifiable skill set, Soyinka's research has also uncovered the underlying mechanisms by which Story Skills arise and are used. In brief, Soyinka has discovered that Story Skills typically emerge under conditions of uncertainty within self-organising systems, and they are used to regulate and negotiate the roles between individual agents and the emergent whole. Within a given context, Story Skills can be critical in resolving key needs of both the individual and the collective. For example, they can address the need to grow, repair, coordinate, and transmit novel information, impacts, or findings. Story Skills, therefore, have both an archetypal quality (they are patterns of response to uncertainty inherited from the past) and an adaptive quality (these patterns are renegotiated to meet the challenges and uncertainties of the present). Pulling this all together, the most significant finding of the research is that, while it is possible to define a taxonomy of skills, storytelling is highly contextual, and agent driven. In other words, storytelling is an adaptive and networked process. Within a given context, an individual will use their own key skills to tackle a defined challenge or problem in their unique way. The unique blend of story skills that an individual brings to a problem is used to 'negotiate' a result with other individuals or agents, in keeping with the regulatory narrative patterns and features of the organising system or network. This process eventually leads to 'narrative coherence'-which Soyinka describes as the alignment of different ways of seeing, values, and purposes, resulting in an agreed solution or 'resolution.' The new archetypal narrative pattern that emerges through this process continues to maintain balance or stability within the system, until a new uncertainty, problem, or challenge arises. Story Skills, in short, can function as an integrative, adaptive, and problem-solving toolset within living cultural and social systems. There is further evidence arising from this research that Story Skills and the narrative processes that govern them strongly mirror deeper biological, physical, and ecological processes. However, more modelling, testing, and empirical research are needed to understand whether this is simply a metaphorical correlation or an objective, functional analogy. |
| Exploitation Route | Our findings have been encapsulated and shared through workshops, downloadable resources and an innovative i.story (i.docs) framework. The i-Story in StoryArcs is a dynamic space for exploring and conceptualising Story Skills, co-developed by Ella Harris and Soyinka and inspired by the broader practice of i-Docs. It serves as both an analytical tool and a collaborative platform for the StoryArcs team and Story Fellows to examine how different contexts and people activate Story Skills. The i-Story also acts as a way to communicate the Story Skill set to external audiences, allowing them to explore each skill and its applications. Beyond StoryArcs, the i-Story has the potential to become a valuable framework for training and interdisciplinary collaboration, offering a model for integrating storytelling into leadership, education, business, policy, and community development. StoryArcs has catalysed the development of an evolving storytelling network across the UK. Partnerships with universities and non acacedmic host organisations have fostered cross-sector connections. From the initial Pilot phase to the Full Programme, Story Fellows, Mentors, Partner Universities, and the AHRC network have formed a dynamic, interconnected community. This rhizomatic growth suggests that the Programme's most enduring legacy may be the continued expansion of this network. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Creative Economy Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Education Environment Healthcare Government Democracy and Justice Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
| Description | Pathways to Impact: Findings from StoryArcs The findings from StoryArcs provide a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of how Story Skills function as an adaptive tool within social and cultural systems. As we enter the final quarter of our programme, we are identifying clear pathways to impact across multiple sectors. Key Findings and Their Impact Breaking Story Skills into Domains The identification of four distinct domains-Sense-Making, Thematic Values, Operational Narratives, and Narrative Representation-makes the complex nature of storytelling more accessible and measurable. Each domain encapsulates a range of creative and emotional processes essential for both individual and collective storytelling. This structured approach is already generating impact across cultural and commercial contexts. Adaptive and Archetypal Qualities Our research finding regarding the dual nature of Story Skills-both archetypal (inherited from the past) and adaptive (adjusted to current challenges)-provides a critical pathway for impact. This finding highlights that Story Skills can be applied both as a response to historical uncertainty and as a dynamic tool for addressing contemporary issues. The StoryArcs placement projects have revealed impacts across multiple fields of application, from environmental art to organisational leadership, showing how understanding past narratives helps navigate present challenges. Self-Organising Systems The concept that Story Skills emerge in self-organising systems under conditions of uncertainty is a significant pathway to impact, influencing contexts ranging from organisational practice to rapid emergency response It aligns storytelling with systems thinking in a novel way, demonstrating how narrative processes regulate relationships and structures within social and cultural systems. This finding has been instrumental in shaping our understanding of how Story Skills can support organisational impact, particularly in vision-setting approaches that integrate both top-down and bottom-up perspectives to develop a shared institutional narrative. Contextual and Agent-Driven Nature of Storytelling Storytelling is not a one-size-fits-all process. The contextual and agent-driven nature of Story Skills highlights the diversity of human experience, reinforcing the idea that individuals bring their own unique narrative abilities to a challenge. StoryArcs has demonstrated that this perspective can reshape approaches in fields such as education, community-building, and conflict resolution, where storytelling is proving to be a powerful tool for engagement and transformation. Narrative Coherence The concept of 'narrative coherence'-where different perspectives align to create a shared understanding or resolution-is particularly relevant in today's fragmented world. It underscores the power of storytelling to bridge divides, mediate conflicts, and foster collaboration. This impact is evident in Tom Burroughs' project and Andy Barratt's work, which illustrate how storytelling facilitates collective problem-solving. Connection to Biological, Physical, and Ecological Processes Emerging evidence suggests that Story Skills mirror deeper biological, physical, and ecological processes, opening an exciting avenue for future research. If storytelling is intrinsically linked to these fundamental systems, it could offer profound insights into how humans interact with and adapt to their environment. While this is still a speculative area of our research, it has significant implications for fields such as environmental conservation, climate change policy, and sustainability initiatives. Demonstrating the Value of Story Skills as a Bridge Between Past and Future Research conducted ahead of the Full StoryArcs Programme identified institutional memory as a key need for organisations. Several institutions-including Tomorrow's Warriors, Nutkhut, Boots UK, and Nottingham City Council-are now working with Story Fellows to develop forward-looking narratives from their archives. This suggests that one of StoryArcs' lasting contributions could be in demonstrating how narrative skills help organisations connect historical knowledge with future action, ensuring continuity, learning, and adaptability. Sector-Specific Impact As we progress into the final quarter of our programme, we are translating these insights into real-world impact across multiple sectors: Local Authorities: Strengthening Community Engagement Local governments are increasingly looking for innovative ways to engage diverse communities. The Story Skills framework developed through our research is helping local authorities improve community engagement by enabling individuals and groups to share their experiences and perspectives in a structured and empowering way, strengthening local identities through storytelling. With the UK government's focus on devolving power to local areas, storytelling is becoming crucial in bridging the gap between communities and government initiatives. While cities often harness storytelling effectively, smaller communities are yet to fully explore its potential. The work of Pilot Story Fellows Jenny Hulme (Corsham) and Tom Bullough (Hay-on-Wye) highlights how Story Skills enhance local engagement, with the potential for StoryArcs' legacy to be in shaping and sustaining local identities. The Arts: Empowering Creatives Our findings are being applied in the creative industries, helping artists, writers, and filmmakers understand the mechanisms of storytelling and use them to engage audiences more deeply. For example, Story Fellow Angharad Hampshire is investigating who reads working-class fiction, collaborating with New Writing North to produce a policy paper aimed at demonstrating the viability of working-class writing for publishers. Meanwhile, our latest collaboration with the AKO Storytelling Institute is exploring how different sectors use Story Skills in similar but differentiated ways to drive social change. Education: Storytelling as a Pedagogical Tool By positioning storytelling as a tool for sense-making and knowledge transmission, our research is influencing educational practices. Soyinka's consultancy work has demonstrated the impact of Story Skills within and beyond formal education. As Chair of the 2024 Creative Writing Benchmark, Soyinka has integrated key Story Skills into the national curriculum, underscoring their value for personal development, growth, and employability across diverse sectors. This inclusion in a national benchmark highlights the broader influence of Story Skills research, equipping students with transferable competencies that support both academic success and professional development. Embedding these skills within educational frameworks enables students to engage with complex ideas, foster critical thinking, and improve their career prospects across industries. This year's Story Fellow projects with Nottingham Castle and Boots are further illustrating the pedagogical power of Story Skills. These projects use storytelling as a tool to surface and share institutional memory, and serve as a method for post-university learning. In these contexts, Story Skills are being used to help national museum staff and employees at a national pharmaceutical organisation navigate and communicate complex ideas and social issues, further demonstrating how StoryArcs' Deep Story Framework is relevant in both educational and professional environments. Environmental and Social Change: Driving Collective Action Story Skills, as researched and defined by our programme, are proving to be a powerful tool for social change, particularly in tackling issues such as rural isolation, climate change, and community resilience. For example, Tom Burroughs' project demonstrated how Story Skills can facilitate discussions on environmental degradation and rural perspectives on renewing the River Wye in response to pollution. Beyond Tom Burroughs' project, in 2025, StoryArcs will work with several other local environmental renewal projects to develop shared narratives that encourage collective action in sustainability efforts. Business: Institutional Memory & Brand Identity In the business sector, the Story Skills set is being recognised as a key asset for building institutional memory, enhancing brand identity, and deepening customer engagement. Our project with Boots UK captures stories from the COVID-19 pandemic to guide organisational learning, including operational shifts, pandemic preparedness, and community impact strategies. Public Health and Education: Supporting Critical Thinking Story Skills can be an essential tool for public health education, helping individuals engage with complex topics and make informed decisions. In 2025, a new StoryArcs project with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board will use our Story Skills framework to co-create educational resources for women and girls with cystic fibrosis, helping them make informed reproductive health decisions. Final Thoughts As we approach the conclusion of our programme, the impact of Story Skills across local governance, the arts, education, business, public health, and environmental activism is becoming increasingly evident. These findings are not only transforming how we understand storytelling but also demonstrating its potential as a practical tool for navigating complexity, fostering resilience, and shaping the future.. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology,Security and Diplomacy |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal Economic Policy & public services |
| Description | Chair of Advisory Board for QAA Subject Benchmark in Creative Writing |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | A revised structure for the QAA Subject Statement for Creative Writing, which includes the introduction of cross-cutting themes of: - equality, diversity and inclusion - accessibility and the needs of disabled students - education for sustainable development - employability, entrepreneurship and enterprise education · a comprehensive review updating the context and purposes, including course design and content, in order to inform and underpin the revised benchmark standards. |
| URL | https://www.qaa.ac.uk/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements/sbs-reviews-2023-24 |
| Description | Deep Story Leadership Platform |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | The Deep Story Leadership Platform empowers Story Fellows through immersive training and hands-on experiences that merge career aspirations with the art of storytelling. This platform uses an adventure framework emphasising experiential learning and encouraging self-directed professional development. Story Fellows engage in real-world projects, refining storytelling techniques while developing both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. This ensures Fellows can implement storytelling solutions that address specific organisational challenges, foster inclusivity, and engage diverse audiences. A key element of the leadership platform are the Deep Story Training Camps, undertaken up to three times per year in collaboration with one of our Partner Universities. The camps are an opportunity for the Story Fellows to engage as a cohort, discuss ideas, and develop internal working partnerships. Key Features of the Deep Story Leadership Platform include: StoryArcs Fellowship: A peer-led network of diverse storytellers and experts, fostering mentorship and values that support individual and collective creativity. I-Story Research Space: Access to story patterns, knowledge packs, and collaborative tools to enhance innovation and refine your narrative style. Hands-On Story Projects: Lead initiatives tackling real-world challenges, contributing to cultural production while building leadership capabilities. The Narrative Exchange: Share resources, celebrate their storytelling journey, and showcase the strategic role of storytelling across industries. The Deep Story Leadership Platform equips Story Fellows with essential storytelling strategies, serving as a model for future programmes focused on interdisciplinary research. The 20 postdoctoral researchers will benefit from gaining knowledge on various structures of story, the development of Story Skills and their potential implementation, collaborations with fellow Story Fellows and the variance of story uses across sectors. The leadership platform has supported Story Fellows and story research to expand domains like Content Development and Networked Storytelling Values, crucial for community trust and collaboration. Story Skills utilised in pilot StoryArcs projects such as Story Town, Hay Castle, New Writing North and NCACE have shown the networking value of Story. Anna Ploszajski at UKRN, Andy Barrett at Superflux and Kayla Jones at Local Trust developed expert podcasts to help translate Story Skills communication, utilising knowledge gained on the platform. Discussions with the UKRI leadership team have explored the role of StoryArcs in leadership development. This builds on previous work-such as Bambo Soyinka's Clore Leadership talk-highlighting the value of storytelling in leadership. A lasting impact of the Programme could be the recognition of storytelling as a fundamental leadership skill. |
| URL | https://storyarcs.com/your-story/ |
| Description | Deep Story Training Camp |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | The Deep Story Training Camp changed perceptions on the use of Story in a range of situations. The collaborative work between participants who all introduced individual Story Skills which were then debated and utilised by the rest of the cohort. Changes in the practices of Story Associates and the research outcomes of the StoryArcs project continue to be evidenced through Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Transformation aspects. Learning from the Deep Story Training Camp will impact on the projects led by the Story Associates, support their attached Host organisations and be spread through the Story community via the additional networks of University Gateway Partners. |
| Description | NCACE Sounding Board Revolving Chair (21/6/2023) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | The NCACE Sounding Board agenda included sections on: NCACE Directors Report Updates from Sounding Board members Reflections from workshops and Ideas Pools Research activities Evaluation update Group discussion on building strengths Research Impact and REF |
| Description | Storytelling Institute Advisory Board |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | The Advisory Board met to discuss the literature connected to the Storytelling Institute's Storytelling for Change Report.The research was commissioned to inform and shape the Storytelling Institute's long-term strategy. There was also a focus on evaluation and evidence, relevant debates and considerations around funding and relationships with funders, and recommendations to the institute. The AKO Storytelling Institute Advisory Group will: - Support the AKO Storytelling Institute in its mission and contribute to the development AKO Storytelling Institute's strategy - Provide advice and expertise - Offer insights and identify opportunities, trends and gaps ensuring that the Institute is kept abreast of developments in the sector - Ensure the work of the Institute is effectively connected into relevant networks, organisations and individuals. - Advocate for the AKO Storytelling Institutes work. |
| URL | https://www.arts.ac.uk/storytelling-institute/our-team |
| Description | Storytelling Institute Advisory Board Member |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | The Advisory Board met to discuss the literature connected to the Storytelling Institute's Storytelling for Change Report. The research was commissioned to inform and shape the Storytelling Institute's long-term strategy. There was also a focus on evaluation and evidence, relevant debates and considerations around funding and relationships with funders, and recommendations to the Institute. The AKO Storytelling Institute Advisory Group will: - Support the AKO Storytelling Institute in its mission and contribute to the development AKO Storytelling Institute's strategy. - Provide advice and expertise. - Offer insights and identify opportunities, trends and gaps, ensuring that the Institute is kept informed of developments in the sector. - Ensure the work of the Institute is effectively connected into relevant networks, organisations and individuals. - Advocate for the AKO Storytelling Institute's work. |
| URL | https://www.arts.ac.uk/storytelling-institute |
| Description | AKO Storytelling Institute: Truth and Lies', examining how stories can help counter misinformation and disinformation |
| Organisation | University of the Arts London |
| Department | AKO Storytelling Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The contribution of Soyinka and the StoryArcs team was, in essence, to frame and develop the collaboration. At the start of the project, Soyinka applied her research into Story Skills to the development of the AKO project brief, Job Description and call for a Story Fellow. Once the project had started, ongoing dialogue with the StoryArcs team and Fellows enabled Teasdale to reflect on and refine how best to communicate the narrative of the AKO Fellows and programme. This process also strengthened Teasdale's analytical problem-solving skills, equipping him with a clear, narrative-informed evaluation methodology for his future research. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The AKO Storytelling Institute set a business challenge, which StoryArcs refined into a brief embedding Story Skills. Francesca Panetta, AKO's Director, conceived the 'Truth and Lies' theme and led AKO's parallel Fellowship, which explored storytelling's role in countering misinformation. Fellows from diverse fields combined theory, practice, and mentoring to create public-facing artworks. The University of the Arts London (UAL) employed the Story Fellow, with Shreepali Patel providing mentoring and research guidance. Ben Teasdale (Story Fellow, 0.5 FTE, 14 months) used his Story Skills, identified through StoryArcs, to evaluate UAL's Storytelling Fellowship With experience in BBC Drama, screenwriting, a PhD in Creative Writing, and an MSc in Experimental Psychology, Teasdale shaped and delivered the project, helping StoryArcs further understand the applied value of the StoryArcs Skillset. |
| Impact | A key output of Francesca Panetta's AKO Truth and Lies Fellowship was the Museum of Truth and Lies podcast series, which aims to inspire the next generation of museum curators, policymakers, and creatives to be better truth-tellers. Hosted by Yasmin, a socially engaged curator, the podcast brings together a diverse range of commentators and cultural leaders for deep and impactful conversations. The series features extraordinary interviews with grassroots artists, activists, and changemakers, exploring critical questions such as 'Do you believe what museums show you?' and 'What stories are missing?' Ben Teasdale produced an evaluation of this podcast and other outputs of the Storytelling Institute, helping to inform the future direction of their work. of their work. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Local Trust: Learning from Big Local |
| Organisation | Local Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | As the Principal Investigator for the StoryArcs Programme, Bambo Soyinka worked with the Host to define and frame their business challenge, using her research-informed Story Skillset to guide the development of the project. This led to the commissioning of Kayla Jones as the Story Trust Project Lead. Throughout the development of this collaborative project, Soyinka and the StoryArcs team supported Jones in reflecting on the use of Story Skills through monthly discussions and in-person Deep Story Training Camps, where Soyinka's Story Skills framework was collaboratively explored and refined. This process aimed to help Kayla identify her unique Story Skills, while also providing professional development to further demonstrate and showcase these skills. In essence, Soyinka and the StoryArcs team played a pivotal role in framing and developing the collaboration, guided by Soyinka's key finding that Story Skills serve as an integrative and adaptive tool for sense-making, value-setting, narrative operation, and representation. Moreover, ongoing dialogue with the StoryArcs team and fellow participants helped Jones build confidence in the value of her unique methodologies and skills, deepening her understanding of how to use them to communicate organisational impacts and facilitate the legacy of the organisations she represents. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Host Organisation defined the initial challenge, relating to a business need, which StoryArcs refined into a brief, embedding Story Skills. This allowed the Host to explore how a Story Fellow (Kayla Jones) could enhance their organisation and contribute to understanding the impact of Story Skills. The Host worked closely with Jones for a year, providing context, resources, and support for her project. Bournemouth University, the Partner University, employed Jones and provided additional mentoring and resources, such as technological equipment. Kayla Jones served as the lead Story Fellow for 14 months (0.5 FTE), managing the project from start to finish. Dr Kayla Jones is a creative practitioner and researcher in digital storytelling, holding a Masters in Professional Writing and a PhD in Welsh History. Her research explores using media like podcasting and blogging to enhance storytelling in the heritage, nonprofit, and tourism sectors. |
| Impact | A representation of Local Trust's community impact. This output, which is still under development, will be delivered in a podcast form by March 2026. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | New Writing North: A Writing Chance |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Department | Centre for New Writing |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | As Principal Investigator for the StoryArcs Programme, Soyinka collaborated with New Writing North to design the original project brief, integrating her research into the Story Skillset to define the challenge and establish the criteria for selecting the Story Fellow. An independent judging panel later commissioned Angharad Hampshire as the Story Fellow. Throughout the development of the project, Soyinka and the StoryArcs team provided a collaborative framework for Hampshire and the cohort of Fellows to reflect on the use of the Story Skillset through monthly discussions and in-person Deep Story Training Camps. Ongoing dialogue between Soyinka and Hampshire as the project neared its conclusion highlighted the importance of advocacy as value-based Story Skills, emphasising the ways in which story skills can be used to address barriers within the publishing industry, particularly those faced by working-class and under-represented groups. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Host organisation set the initial challenge statement, which StoryArcs translated into a detailed project brief, embedding Story Skills to enhance the organisation and explore their impact. York St. John University, the Partner University, employed Angharad Hampshire as the lead Story Fellow for 14 months (0.5 FTE), guiding the project from conception to completion. While Soyinka served as the Principal Investigator for StoryArcs, Hampshire took on the role as the Project Lead for the New Writing North project. With a diverse background in radio production, journalism, and creative writing, including a Doctor of Arts in Creative Writing, Hampshire's expertise was crucial in effectively developing the project and achieving its goals. Dr Hampshire conducted a survey of working-class readers and further in-depth interviews which seek to uncover the diverse range of books that working-class readers like to read, to learn about their reading habits and motivations, and to hear their opinions on working-class representation in fiction and in publishing. This research aimed to shed light on the importance of working-class writing within the literary landscape of the UK, to illustrate the benefits of employing, retaining and supporting the careers of working-class people, and of nurturing and publishing more working-class writers in whichever genre they choose. |
| Impact | Dr Hampshire has produced a policy paper and report, to be published in 2025 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Partner Universities |
| Organisation | Bournemouth University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We took an agile approach to developing university partnerships. Professor Bambo Soyinka initially contacted interested universities and then, through a snowballing effect, other university partnerships engaged with the Programme. By the end of the process four types of partnership had emerged: TYPE 1 - Standard Partner University TYPE 2 - Partner University Hub TYPE 3 - Partner University, and Project Host TYPE 4 - Partner University Hub and Project Host The Partner Universities we engaged and created formal collaboration agreements with were: University of the Arts London (UAL), Royal Holloway, University College London, University of Nottingham, Exeter University, York St John University, Bournemouth University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and Edinburgh University. Running the Full StoryArcs Programme, it was decided to concentrate on three key partnerships, to reduce contracting times which could delay the programme. They were: University of Nottingham, UAL and Cardiff Metropolitan University. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Partner Universities employ the post-doctoral researchers or Story Fellows who have been employed to work with a range of Host Organisations. Each Partner nominates an academic mentor who is the key contact between the Story Fellow and university. They will support with theoretical and practical elements connected to their research. The Partner Universities will also look to expand the concept of Story through their networks, engaging extra partners both for the Pilot and Full Programme. |
| Impact | Outcomes: Highlighting cross cutting values of Story Skills; Building momentum towards the theme of Story; Developing inter-partnership contractual agreements. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Partner Universities |
| Organisation | Cardiff Metropolitan University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We took an agile approach to developing university partnerships. Professor Bambo Soyinka initially contacted interested universities and then, through a snowballing effect, other university partnerships engaged with the Programme. By the end of the process four types of partnership had emerged: TYPE 1 - Standard Partner University TYPE 2 - Partner University Hub TYPE 3 - Partner University, and Project Host TYPE 4 - Partner University Hub and Project Host The Partner Universities we engaged and created formal collaboration agreements with were: University of the Arts London (UAL), Royal Holloway, University College London, University of Nottingham, Exeter University, York St John University, Bournemouth University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and Edinburgh University. Running the Full StoryArcs Programme, it was decided to concentrate on three key partnerships, to reduce contracting times which could delay the programme. They were: University of Nottingham, UAL and Cardiff Metropolitan University. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Partner Universities employ the post-doctoral researchers or Story Fellows who have been employed to work with a range of Host Organisations. Each Partner nominates an academic mentor who is the key contact between the Story Fellow and university. They will support with theoretical and practical elements connected to their research. The Partner Universities will also look to expand the concept of Story through their networks, engaging extra partners both for the Pilot and Full Programme. |
| Impact | Outcomes: Highlighting cross cutting values of Story Skills; Building momentum towards the theme of Story; Developing inter-partnership contractual agreements. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Partner Universities |
| Organisation | Royal Holloway, University of London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We took an agile approach to developing university partnerships. Professor Bambo Soyinka initially contacted interested universities and then, through a snowballing effect, other university partnerships engaged with the Programme. By the end of the process four types of partnership had emerged: TYPE 1 - Standard Partner University TYPE 2 - Partner University Hub TYPE 3 - Partner University, and Project Host TYPE 4 - Partner University Hub and Project Host The Partner Universities we engaged and created formal collaboration agreements with were: University of the Arts London (UAL), Royal Holloway, University College London, University of Nottingham, Exeter University, York St John University, Bournemouth University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and Edinburgh University. Running the Full StoryArcs Programme, it was decided to concentrate on three key partnerships, to reduce contracting times which could delay the programme. They were: University of Nottingham, UAL and Cardiff Metropolitan University. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Partner Universities employ the post-doctoral researchers or Story Fellows who have been employed to work with a range of Host Organisations. Each Partner nominates an academic mentor who is the key contact between the Story Fellow and university. They will support with theoretical and practical elements connected to their research. The Partner Universities will also look to expand the concept of Story through their networks, engaging extra partners both for the Pilot and Full Programme. |
| Impact | Outcomes: Highlighting cross cutting values of Story Skills; Building momentum towards the theme of Story; Developing inter-partnership contractual agreements. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Partner Universities |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We took an agile approach to developing university partnerships. Professor Bambo Soyinka initially contacted interested universities and then, through a snowballing effect, other university partnerships engaged with the Programme. By the end of the process four types of partnership had emerged: TYPE 1 - Standard Partner University TYPE 2 - Partner University Hub TYPE 3 - Partner University, and Project Host TYPE 4 - Partner University Hub and Project Host The Partner Universities we engaged and created formal collaboration agreements with were: University of the Arts London (UAL), Royal Holloway, University College London, University of Nottingham, Exeter University, York St John University, Bournemouth University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and Edinburgh University. Running the Full StoryArcs Programme, it was decided to concentrate on three key partnerships, to reduce contracting times which could delay the programme. They were: University of Nottingham, UAL and Cardiff Metropolitan University. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Partner Universities employ the post-doctoral researchers or Story Fellows who have been employed to work with a range of Host Organisations. Each Partner nominates an academic mentor who is the key contact between the Story Fellow and university. They will support with theoretical and practical elements connected to their research. The Partner Universities will also look to expand the concept of Story through their networks, engaging extra partners both for the Pilot and Full Programme. |
| Impact | Outcomes: Highlighting cross cutting values of Story Skills; Building momentum towards the theme of Story; Developing inter-partnership contractual agreements. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Partner Universities |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We took an agile approach to developing university partnerships. Professor Bambo Soyinka initially contacted interested universities and then, through a snowballing effect, other university partnerships engaged with the Programme. By the end of the process four types of partnership had emerged: TYPE 1 - Standard Partner University TYPE 2 - Partner University Hub TYPE 3 - Partner University, and Project Host TYPE 4 - Partner University Hub and Project Host The Partner Universities we engaged and created formal collaboration agreements with were: University of the Arts London (UAL), Royal Holloway, University College London, University of Nottingham, Exeter University, York St John University, Bournemouth University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and Edinburgh University. Running the Full StoryArcs Programme, it was decided to concentrate on three key partnerships, to reduce contracting times which could delay the programme. They were: University of Nottingham, UAL and Cardiff Metropolitan University. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Partner Universities employ the post-doctoral researchers or Story Fellows who have been employed to work with a range of Host Organisations. Each Partner nominates an academic mentor who is the key contact between the Story Fellow and university. They will support with theoretical and practical elements connected to their research. The Partner Universities will also look to expand the concept of Story through their networks, engaging extra partners both for the Pilot and Full Programme. |
| Impact | Outcomes: Highlighting cross cutting values of Story Skills; Building momentum towards the theme of Story; Developing inter-partnership contractual agreements. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Partner Universities |
| Organisation | University of Exeter |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We took an agile approach to developing university partnerships. Professor Bambo Soyinka initially contacted interested universities and then, through a snowballing effect, other university partnerships engaged with the Programme. By the end of the process four types of partnership had emerged: TYPE 1 - Standard Partner University TYPE 2 - Partner University Hub TYPE 3 - Partner University, and Project Host TYPE 4 - Partner University Hub and Project Host The Partner Universities we engaged and created formal collaboration agreements with were: University of the Arts London (UAL), Royal Holloway, University College London, University of Nottingham, Exeter University, York St John University, Bournemouth University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and Edinburgh University. Running the Full StoryArcs Programme, it was decided to concentrate on three key partnerships, to reduce contracting times which could delay the programme. They were: University of Nottingham, UAL and Cardiff Metropolitan University. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Partner Universities employ the post-doctoral researchers or Story Fellows who have been employed to work with a range of Host Organisations. Each Partner nominates an academic mentor who is the key contact between the Story Fellow and university. They will support with theoretical and practical elements connected to their research. The Partner Universities will also look to expand the concept of Story through their networks, engaging extra partners both for the Pilot and Full Programme. |
| Impact | Outcomes: Highlighting cross cutting values of Story Skills; Building momentum towards the theme of Story; Developing inter-partnership contractual agreements. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Partner Universities |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We took an agile approach to developing university partnerships. Professor Bambo Soyinka initially contacted interested universities and then, through a snowballing effect, other university partnerships engaged with the Programme. By the end of the process four types of partnership had emerged: TYPE 1 - Standard Partner University TYPE 2 - Partner University Hub TYPE 3 - Partner University, and Project Host TYPE 4 - Partner University Hub and Project Host The Partner Universities we engaged and created formal collaboration agreements with were: University of the Arts London (UAL), Royal Holloway, University College London, University of Nottingham, Exeter University, York St John University, Bournemouth University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and Edinburgh University. Running the Full StoryArcs Programme, it was decided to concentrate on three key partnerships, to reduce contracting times which could delay the programme. They were: University of Nottingham, UAL and Cardiff Metropolitan University. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Partner Universities employ the post-doctoral researchers or Story Fellows who have been employed to work with a range of Host Organisations. Each Partner nominates an academic mentor who is the key contact between the Story Fellow and university. They will support with theoretical and practical elements connected to their research. The Partner Universities will also look to expand the concept of Story through their networks, engaging extra partners both for the Pilot and Full Programme. |
| Impact | Outcomes: Highlighting cross cutting values of Story Skills; Building momentum towards the theme of Story; Developing inter-partnership contractual agreements. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Partner Universities |
| Organisation | University of the Arts London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We took an agile approach to developing university partnerships. Professor Bambo Soyinka initially contacted interested universities and then, through a snowballing effect, other university partnerships engaged with the Programme. By the end of the process four types of partnership had emerged: TYPE 1 - Standard Partner University TYPE 2 - Partner University Hub TYPE 3 - Partner University, and Project Host TYPE 4 - Partner University Hub and Project Host The Partner Universities we engaged and created formal collaboration agreements with were: University of the Arts London (UAL), Royal Holloway, University College London, University of Nottingham, Exeter University, York St John University, Bournemouth University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and Edinburgh University. Running the Full StoryArcs Programme, it was decided to concentrate on three key partnerships, to reduce contracting times which could delay the programme. They were: University of Nottingham, UAL and Cardiff Metropolitan University. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Partner Universities employ the post-doctoral researchers or Story Fellows who have been employed to work with a range of Host Organisations. Each Partner nominates an academic mentor who is the key contact between the Story Fellow and university. They will support with theoretical and practical elements connected to their research. The Partner Universities will also look to expand the concept of Story through their networks, engaging extra partners both for the Pilot and Full Programme. |
| Impact | Outcomes: Highlighting cross cutting values of Story Skills; Building momentum towards the theme of Story; Developing inter-partnership contractual agreements. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Partner Universities |
| Organisation | York St John University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We took an agile approach to developing university partnerships. Professor Bambo Soyinka initially contacted interested universities and then, through a snowballing effect, other university partnerships engaged with the Programme. By the end of the process four types of partnership had emerged: TYPE 1 - Standard Partner University TYPE 2 - Partner University Hub TYPE 3 - Partner University, and Project Host TYPE 4 - Partner University Hub and Project Host The Partner Universities we engaged and created formal collaboration agreements with were: University of the Arts London (UAL), Royal Holloway, University College London, University of Nottingham, Exeter University, York St John University, Bournemouth University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and Edinburgh University. Running the Full StoryArcs Programme, it was decided to concentrate on three key partnerships, to reduce contracting times which could delay the programme. They were: University of Nottingham, UAL and Cardiff Metropolitan University. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Partner Universities employ the post-doctoral researchers or Story Fellows who have been employed to work with a range of Host Organisations. Each Partner nominates an academic mentor who is the key contact between the Story Fellow and university. They will support with theoretical and practical elements connected to their research. The Partner Universities will also look to expand the concept of Story through their networks, engaging extra partners both for the Pilot and Full Programme. |
| Impact | Outcomes: Highlighting cross cutting values of Story Skills; Building momentum towards the theme of Story; Developing inter-partnership contractual agreements. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Company Name | Storyology Ltd |
| Description | |
| Year Established | 2024 |
| Impact | She started out her career as an award-winning materials science researcher, and honed her craft as a storyteller through stand-up comedy, podcasting, and writing; her debut popular science book, Handmade: A Scientist's Search for Meaning Through Making was published by Bloomsbury Sigma in 2021. Anna's professional mission is to engage underserved communities with science and engineering through storytelling. She does this through community engagement projects such as Bedtime Stories for Very Young Engineers and Welsh Engineering: Past, Present and Future, as well as founding a collective of experimental science writers called Absolute Zero. Recognising the benefit of storytelling in her own research and engagement work, Storyology was founded to help others to do the same. To formalise her expertise as a storyteller, in 2024 she embarked on a part-time research project as a Story Fellow at University of the Arts London, in association with StoryArcs, a research programme at Bath Spa University. Storyology brings together these Anna's hands-on storytelling practice and underpinning research expertise, creating impact through a deep knowledge of the systems of science into a communication approach that is inclusive, creative and unconventional. The most significant impact has been created to date has been delivered through the The Storyology Podcast which has led to a broader understanding of what happens when happens when science meets story. |
| Description | 4 x Town Hall events for prospective Story Associates and partners |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The StoryArcs team created a digital presentation that included video, audio and extra visuals as the main element for the Town Halls. The StoryArcs team were then available to answer any queries that the online participants had about the programme. The Town Halls were generally 30 minutes long, being dynamic and information packed. For the series of four events, 153 individuals signed up to attend and 126 attended (a conversion rate of 82%). In addition, StoryArcs gained 128 new newsletter subscriptions through these Town Hall events. During the second half of June, in the runup to the application deadline, The Story Society held four Town Hall meetings, inviting potential applicants to learn more about the Programme and offering the opportunity to ask questions. The purpose was to generate interest in StoryArcs and also to provide information for people considering applying for the post-doctoral positions we were advertising. The Town Halls had the combined benefit of engaging academics, creatives and other interested parties in the mission behind StoryArcs. The questions asked also assisted the team in developing their FAQs which are present on the website. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://storyarcs.com/blog/meet-the-story-associates/ |
| Description | AHRC Area Council Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on the StoryArcs programme to AHRC Council, the details of which were outlined in a presentation paper. The purpose of this paper was to provide a written summary prior to the meeting, showcasing the Director-led StoryArcs Programme. Active since April 2022, the programme sets out to explore the concept of Story as a transferable 'Story Skill Set' and to establish a model for embedding this into a range of professional settings so that the value of Story is more widely recognised. Council were asked to: • Note the underpinning aims of the programme. The panel raised interesting questions with respect to the centrality of listening as a key element within the skillset. Soyinka noted that listening is a foundational element and will do more work to clarify this further. The panel also raised questions with respect to the possibility of collaborating further with scientists, and in particular narrative psychologist. Soyinka noted that there are scientific applications of the skillset, but she herself is not a scientist. The next round of StoryArcs will include opportunities for scientists to engage with the programme. • Note the current Story Associates placements of the Pilot phase. • Note the scope and ambition for the final and expansive full programme phase. • Raise any questions with Professor Soyinka after her presentation. Professor Soyinka's presentation on March 5th, 2024, was delivered in person using multimedia elements and with opportunities for discussion. It focused on progress relating to the overarching purpose of StoryArcs - i.e. our specification of transferable 'Story Skill Set', and on how StoryArcs is establishing novel models for embedding this into a range of professional settings. Further subtopics of the presentation were: a) Soyinka's emerging Theory of Story b) The 34 core elements of the Story Skill Set (developed through research and learning from the pilot StoryArcs programme). c) Soyinka's plans for transferring this learning into the expanded StoryArcs programme d) A discussion about the anticipated legacy of the Skill Set and her plans for using it to support career development for ECRs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | AHRC ECDG Programme Directors' Away Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | AHRC Programme Leaders' event on the theme 'Place and Places', contributing to AHRC's Place narrative. The main questions for the engagement day were: Telling the stories of how Arts and Humanities research generates public value (how is public investment in Arts and Humanities research and innovation relevant to places?) Informing our approach to funding (i.e. how could/should place inform how/who/what/where we fund and what expectations we place on the funded research(ers)?) How do we connect with/ respond to the public policy narrative on "place" (e.g. levelling up)? |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | AHRC ECDG Programme Directors' Away Day (15th July) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This event was about how data and the digital drive innovation through arts and heritage, and included a discussion of case studies, how to build a stakeholder community, and resulted in the creation of policy recommendations. Programme updates were made, connecting the various elements of each programme which interlink. This was a collaborative day with the AHRC Programme directors and AHRC leadership team looking at the concept of 'Data and Digital'. Some of the themes included digital innovations, building communities through data knowledge and a series of questions relating to data and digital. Each of the Programme Directors also provided an update on their area, with Bambo Soyinka providing information on the StoryArcs programme. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | AHRC-NERC Archaeological Joint Programme Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Objectives of the workshop: The event sought to bring the Arts, Humanities and Environmental communities together to refine the concept for a possible archaeology research programme that will consider how human responses to environmental and societal change in the past millennium can inform resilience to change in the next 50 years. The programme established a shared methodology in understanding the complex relationship between environmental and societal landscapes through exploring how they were valued and managed in historic societies. Through concepts including Place and Identity, the event sought to understand how we will respond to future changes in the environment and discover how past societies experienced and reacted to environmental change, analysing how resilient past populations were to perceived changes. By using the combined historical and environmental research to inform us about the future, the programme took a long-term view of resilience to environmental and societal change which will both give evidence to support decision making, and offered solutions based on historically relevant practices to build a secure future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Clore Leadership/AHRC Online Research Library talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This event was attended by approximately 100 people at the event itself ( The recording of the event has 78 views on YouTube (as of 14/03/24)), including former participants in the Clore Leadership Programme. Each year, the Clore Leadership Fellowship Programme brings together around 25 cultural leaders for extensive experiential learning. This includes mentoring, coaching, workshops, organisational secondments, and individually tailored training. Throughout the Programme, Fellows are exposed to deep, personalised engagement, with an eclectic range of diverse and international industry leaders. These leaders inspire and stimulate as exemplars of contemporary leadership practice. Fellows are encouraged and challenged to think both creatively and strategically during their time on the Programme. At the end of the Programme, the Fellows are invited to make proposals for research which further develops that thinking. Through a long-standing partnership with the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Fellows can apply for funding to research a chosen topic with the support of an academic supervisor from a UK university. Soyinka's talk helped to increase awareness of the Online Library and promoted further discussion about potential future collaborations around the themes of diversity, leadership strengths and storytelling networks. Her talk also focused attention on the impact that the library might have beyond the arts and humanities and UK borders; and ways in which the library could be a step towards addressing issues such as diversity and the climate crisis. Furthermore, the library's collection of research stories fits well with StoryArcs and our research focus. Soyinka was invited to write an article for NCACE on the relationship between storytelling and leadership, which will further strengthen our bond with NCACE and help disperse the value of both Story Skills and leadership. Professor Soyinka appeared at the express invitation of an online symposium in collaboration with NCACE. The symposium's purpose was to share learning from the recently launched Online Research Library, presented by Clore Leadership and AHRC. After closing remarks, Soyinka gave a closing speech on the theme: "Connecting Stories through Libraries". Her speech explored the Library as a Storytelling Network with the potential to empower and represent diverse forms of Leadership. Professor Soyinka's closing speech explored the library as a repository, collection, and emergent network of stories about leadership. She suggested that these stories are living entities that emerge through mycorrhizal networks, interconnecting knowledge and vital support systems. Having introduced the concept of a 'living' library, Soyinka reflected on archetypical forms and qualities of leadership that may emerge through the library and its associated networks. For example, StoryArcs is developing the notion of the 'Catalyst Protagonist' as an approach to leadership that foregrounds and facilitates emergent needs within a community. A Catalyst Protagonist is not always a person; it can be a resource, such as a library. Soyinka argued for more individualised and strength-based approaches to leadership. Here, she suggested that Clore Library could pave the way to a more nuanced approach to inclusivity by foregrounding the unique and diverse qualities of leaders. To summarise, Soyinka argued that the library's output and legacy doesn't have to end here. Living and breathing change requires constant revision, and the library could serve as a catalyst for that change. The legacy of the Clore Leadership scheme, as represented within the library, should therefore be seen as the start, rather than the end of a story. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://ncace.ac.uk/2024/02/05/20-years-of-rich-and-reflective-practice-based-research-the-clore-lea... |
| Description | Cultural Rights and Democracy Workshop: Workshop on 'Story and Public Engagement in Museum Work' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This event took was convened by the National Museum of Wales as an opportunity to share and address some of the most urgent and relevant issues our societies face. It looked at how museums can help address these issues through working with the communities they serve. Professor Soyinka led a discussion alongside Catrin Taylor from the National Museum of Wales. Their value explored the value of understanding Story, Needs, Events and Perspectives when engaging with Museum audiences. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://museum.wales/CRCD2022/ |
| Description | English Shared Futures Conference: Paper on 'The role of Story in the Public Humanities', followed by panel discussion. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was hosted by Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Manchester, and the University of Salford. Professor Soyinka presented a short paper, and took part in the Public Humanities panel. Professor Soyinka's paper posed three challenges to help audience members think about the role of Story and storytelling expertise in today's world. Firstly, she proposed that storytellers within research settings could rethink the notion of 'expertise' in the face of an increasing culture of citizen research. For example, where research is concerned with improving people's lives: Who is the expert: the academic or the citizen? Who is the storyteller? And, who is the reader, or consumer? Secondly, Soyinka spoke about the importance of articulating the values of Story within research. Here she asked: Might these values arise from the potential of Story as a general competence (or Skill Set) that aides the exploration and opening up new ways of seeing within times of crisis? Finally, Soyinka noted that we live in a world where AI has become an adept storyteller. Within this context, Soyinka proposed that the role of Arts and Humanities scholars might be to deconstruct and make visible the underlying and increasingly pervasive codes of AI stories. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | http://englishsharedfutures.co.uk |
| Description | KTP Conference 'Telling Your Story' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The 2023 KTP Associates Conference, titled 'Telling Your Story' was held at Bath Spa University on 7th and 8th September, concentrating on the concept of narrative within a range of business settings. The conference and Professor Soyinka's keynote speech focused explored the application of 'story thinking' to the process of writing 'narrative CV's' and how to become the 'author' of your own career. Bath Spa University is recognised for IP and Commercialisation in the latest Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) assessment. The conference featured a keynote presentation by Professor Soyinka and then a series of workshops led by Bath Spa University tutors and supported by Story Associates. The workshops introduced skills of visual story telling through film, theatre and website design. One of the activities from Soyinka's keynote centred on the use of a series of Story Skill Set cards, which connects roles and responsibilities within a storified setting. The UKRI Knowledge Transfer team has asked us to work with them over a series of sessions in 2024 to embed our Story Skill Set cards into future activities and workshops. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ktp-uk.org/case-study/ktp-associates-conference-2023-telling-your-story |
| Description | NCACE (National Centre for Cultural and Academic Exchange). Online event based on Narrative, Storytelling and Impact |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The StoryArcs team ran a one-hour session based on concepts of storytelling and how they related to different people in a range of organisations. This was an online activity as part of NCACE's regular series of collaborative workshops. There was also the opportunity for a session of speed dating where the StoryArcs team was able to meet a range of people interested in concepts of Story. The first hour was spent running a workshop on storytelling, which involved some imaginary scenarios and working with breakout groups on how these might play out within certain areas such as climate, economic, health and social care. This was an early opportunity to engage with a range of potential new stakeholders, people who might be interested in the programmes of The Story Society in general. A padlet was created which outlined the main needs of attendees that is useful for future engagement activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ncace-meetup-narrative-storytelling-and-impact-tickets-594671306887 |
| Description | National Centre for Academic and Cultural Exchange (NCACE) Ideas Pool: Workshop on 'Story and Climate Change'. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | "This event was an opportunity for arts and culture sector organisations and artists to meet potential collaborators from the higher education sector. It involved workshops around the four NCACE key themes: Place-Making and Levelling Up, Environment and Climate Emergency, Health and Wellbeing, and Technology for Social Good. Professor Bambo Soyinka, Dr Ana-Maria Cretu, Dr Ella Harris and Dr. Simon Strange led a workshop on Story and Climate Change. The workshop used Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to explore climate change scenarios from different perspectives. Using Professor Soyinka's theory of Story as a means of expressing and translating needs, the session explored how Story might help us meet some of the challenges with which the climate crisis presents us. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://ncace.ac.uk/activities |
| Description | Presentation and interactive session with level 5 Business and Management students |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of information on the StoryArcs programme and about one of the pilot projects, Suki Tea with Davina Quinlivan. The audience were second year Business and Management students who asked questions of Project Manager Simon Strange and Story Fellow Davina. Business and Management students watched the presentations and asked questions about connection between Story and organisations. They then utilised the information to support the development of their assignments on creativity and business. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | South West and Wales Africa Research Network (SWWARN) Event: Welcome Speech: "Many Africa's." |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Bambo was invited to give a welcome speech at an initial meeting to launch SWWARN, held in Bath at Bath Spa University, Newton Park Campus. Soyinka's talk explored different perspectives and stories of Africa from personal narratives to research narratives. Following this, Soyinka participated in discussions exploring the establishment of the purpose of the SWWARN, their proposed aims, and a general, open discussion on the network and its plans. This activity took place on a national scale and involved several academic and other external organisations. Some of the universities involved included Bath Spa, Exeter, Southampton, Bristol, UWE, Bath, Reading, and Swansea. Other external organisations that had representatives in attendance were the Black Southwest Network - a Black-led racial justice organisation that supports the development of BAME communities, businesses, and organisations - and the Southwest International Development Network, a non-profit organisation that supports international development in the Southwest. The event was a launch for the SWWARN network. It was attended by 60 people from Universities and Cultural institutions primarily based in the Southwest of England and Wales. Professor Soyinka's attendance involved the delivery of a 3-minute welcome talk to the cohort of key attendees including members from Cardiff, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton, UWE, Reading, Swansea and Bath University. The talk explored different perspectives and stories of Africa from personal narratives to research narratives. Soyinka was also involved in the development and planning of the event. The talk was followed by a series of networking sessions. These sparked discussions about the importance of equitable partnerships. Another key theme in the conversations related to the importance of recognising the expertise of African scholars, including the positive stories and action that arise from this. The event led to an increased interest in developing partnerships with StoryArcs, both from University Partners and from non-academic hosts. Further discussions have already been held with Fairfield House, a diverse community hub, historical landmark and visitor attraction in Newbridge, Bath. Fairfield House is interested in becoming a host for an expanded StoryArcs Programme. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Story and Place |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Professor Soyinka contributed to a workshop on 'Story and Place', led by Professor Rebecca Madgin (AHRC Programme Director for Place-Based Research Programme). Soyinka opened the workshop with a presentation exploring the question 'What do you mean by 'Story Skills'?' Soyinka answered this by drawing attention to deep structures of Story. At structural level she observed that every Story has an 'Arc' - i.e. it responds to a need (to survive, to be safe, to belong, to be respected, or to grow) and produces an event (a significant change). Complex stories contain extended patterns of changes occurring in response to needs. Soyinka proposed that people with 'Story Skills' are adept at translating needs and the process of meeting them into engaging patterns of events that hold meaning for their participants and audiences. She argued that whilst Story Skills can entertain they also have a more serious social value. For example, they might help individuals, organisations and societies to understand conflicts and make changes in the world. In bringing together multiple characters, a story might inspire or illuminate different viewpoints. Soyinka's underlying premise for StoryArcs is, thus, that a Story Skill Set can be defined and used to benefit organisations, communities and wider society in envisaging and co-creating futures. Within this context, Soyinka explored the relationship between story skills and research skills, which also involve dissecting narratives, doing justice to multiple perspectives, and communicating findings through reflective, conscious authorship. Following this brief introduction to the concept of Story Skills, the session explored the role of 'place stories' as a methodology for revealing the ways in which arts and humanities approaches can surface the intimate and intricate dimensions of place that can sometimes be neglected. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.ukri.org/blog/place-matters-the-arts-and-humanities-and-the-place-agenda/ |
| Description | The Future of Story Talk. This was part of a one-day symposium called "The Future for Research and Knowledge Exchange in Design, Arts and Creative Practice?" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Soyinka's presentation outlined the main elements of StoryArcs and its emerging concept of Story. Soyinka discussed the key gaps in knowledge the Programme addresses, i.e: systematic knowledge about Story; The range of life and work-based contexts in which Story Skills can be applied; A lack of multi-perspectival theories of Story; A need to consider how stories can address the structural and systemic dimensions of challenges faced; A lack of precise academic accounts of what is meant by 'skill', especially in relation to Story; and a need for a more sophisticated concept of character. Having introduced the context for the research, Soyinka went on to explore parallels between Story Skills, Jungian Archetypes, and Schemas of Play. Soyinka noted that schemas of play and archetypes do not represent psychological types or fixed personality profiles. Rather, they should be seen as patterns of behaviour (emotion, thought and action). Following the introduction of these concepts, Soyinka argued that within the workplace these archetypes and schema correspond to common high-level soft skills. One of her research goals is to combine soft skills, schema and archetypes within one, unified Story Skill Set, comprising unique interconnecting elements. However, further questions still need addressing with respect to the elements within this Skill Set. For example, how do you combine them effectively to create a high-performing team? How do you move from individual genius to scenius? (A concept being developed by Soyinka's colleague Dr Simon Strange.) How can groups and collectives function as a whole to tackle pressing world challenges? As StoryArcs progresses it will investigate these questions and explore these gaps. The event was attended by approximately 110 people. The intended purpose of the event was to facilitate conversations with Kingston University around the themes of Stories, Future Research and Skills. Connections between Logic Models, Theory of Change and Story were also considered. The event sparked interest in further collaborations linking the theme of Story Skills to Kingston's work on Future Skills. The concepts of Story were highlighted to a wide range of potential stakeholders, including current PhD Students, some of whom have been connected to The Story Society and the StoryArcs Programme. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Town Hall events for prospective Story Fellows |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The StoryArcs team presented an overview of the StoryArcs programme and Story Fellows roles at a series of Town Hall meetings. The StoryArcs team were then available to answer any queries that the online participants had about the Programme. The Town Halls were generally 30 minutes long, being dynamic and information packed. During the first half of November 2024, in the runup to the application deadline, the Story Society held six Town Hall meetings, inviting potential applicants to learn more about the Programme and offering the opportunity to ask questions. The purpose was to generate interest in StoryArcs and also to provide information for people considering applying for the post-doctoral positions we were advertising. The Town Halls had the combined benefit of engaging academics, creatives and other interested parties in the mission behind StoryArcs. The questions asked also assisted the team in developing a series of FAQs which are present on the website. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/storyarcs-2024-25-town-halls-tickets-1077290237099?msockid=25f7737136... |
| Description | UK-German Arts and Humanities Research Conference: Paper and Panel 'On Narrating' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Professor Bambo Soyinka presented a paper and participated in a focus group at a conference hosted by AHRC and the German Research Foundation (DFG). The event both fostered existing partnerships and laid the ground for future collaborations. Professor Soyinka's presentation focused on the research landscape around 'Narrating', and on opportunities for further development of this. Her talk was followed by a roundtable discussion about how Narrative Approaches to research can offer the potential for the humanities to engage with processes, past and future, complexity and contingency. Some panellists expressed concern that Story is often seen merely as a communication tool rather than valuable in its own right. Others stressed that Story's elemental nature and ability to underlie other research should be seen as a strength. Panellists also explored Story's ability to provide opportunities for Early Career Researchers to work across disciplines. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | UKRI Connect - Transforming Tomorrow Together |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Hosted at Sandy Park Conference Centre, Sandy Park Way, EX2 7NN, Exeter Hosted by UKRI Chief Executive, Prof Dame Ottoline Leyser The engagement activity included a set of presentations by researchers and innovators from the southwest region of the UK, audience-led panel discussion with Ottoline, UKRI Senior Executives and regional Research and Innovation Stakeholders. There was also a networking lunch. The event is part of a wider, two-day programme which sees the UKRI visiting the region to understand the research and innovation strengths, challenges and priorities within Southwest England. From researchers to innovative businesses, laboratories to libraries, and manufacturers to museums, the aim of the event was to discover and understand the local connections across the research and innovation system. This event will celebrate the value and impact of these connections, and the contribution they make to the local and national economy, and to wider society. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.ukri.org/publications/ukri-strategy-2022-to-2027/ |
| Description | UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship and StoryArcs connection meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The StoryArcs Director Bambo Soyinka, and team members Ella Harris and Simon Strange met with the Story Leaders Fellowship team to discuss interconnection of ideas and sessions, creative future opportunities. The meeting was designed to connect the Deep Story Leadership Platform developed by the Story Society and the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship. The idea was to discuss common elements and the integration of Story Skills in leadership training. Some of the priority areas included: Online training How to have difficult conversations Mentoring Events Engaging with policy makers Public engagement Media training |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Website Engagement Campaign (17 May 2023 - 1July 2023) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We launched the StoryArcs website and provided information about our programme and the different pilot host projects to a wide audience. The main reach was the UK and more specifically England, respectively 67.7% of users were English, and 8.4% Scottish, 7% Welsh and 1.3% Northern Irish. Between 17 May and 1 July 2023, 16000 views were recorded with an average engagement time of just under 3 minutes. During this period, visitors were looking at specific host projects, downloading the respective application packs, and signing up for our mailing list. We were able to successfully publicise and advertise our programme and the Host projects. Following the website engagement campaign we had almost 150 applications for the 11 Host projects. The campaign led to the recruitment of 11 highly skilled Early Careers Researchers who are now working on their proposed projects with the Hosts; seeking to respond to the challenges that each Host organisation set, exploring an understanding and development of Story Skills and their use in workplace environments. The website engagement campaign also kick-started the development of long-lasting relationships with like-minded organisations and individuals that will contribute to the StoryArcs Full Programme. It will have a lasting impact on our collective aim to build a community of storytellers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://storyarcs.com/ |
| Description | Westminster AHRC briefing - Arts and Humanities for a fair and prosperous future |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | An event to mark the 25th anniversary of the AHRC. Examples of how arts and humanities research has benefitted the UK and the planet for the last quarter of a century have been compiled in an online brochure: www.discover.ukri.org/AHRC-impact. A hard copy version of this brochure was in circulation at the event. StoryArcs was featured in the Arts and Humanities brochure "25 Years of Excellence and Impact". The outcomes and benefits of the Programme were presented within the context of both the wider success of the AHRC, and the impact on the UK economy. This association and mutual relationship with the AHRC adds a value of legacy to the work that we are doing and the broader lasting effects that our development of the Story Skill Set and underlying support for Early Careers Researchers will have. The event itself was incredibly high-profile, which enhances the credibility of the StoryArcs Programme. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.discover.ukri.org/AHRC-impact/index.html |