PraxisAuril is thrilled to announce the launch of a new Community of Practice (CoP) focused on the field of social venture building and self-sustaining commercialisation in Arts, Humanities, and Social Science (AHSS) research. The drive for this initiative builds upon PraxisAuril's existing work, including the contributions of the AHSS Special Interest Group, dedicated conference sessions, and numerous fruitful forum conversations.
In partnership with the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the focus of this newly-formed CoP is to develop a series of practical challenges and focused networking events designed to address directly the cultural and institutional barriers faced by AHSS researchers. The aim is to empower these researchers in carrying out non-profit work, initiating commissioned partnerships with the third and public sectors, and establishing independent spin-out social ventures and commercial vehicles for sustained impact. As one of the key project outputs, PraxisAuril will co-produce professional training and practices that establish the necessary conventions within the workforce to provide effective support in these areas.
Tamsin Mann, Head of Policy & Governance at PraxisAuril said:
This is an exciting collaboration between the ESRC and PrA, which demonstrates a shared commitment to sustained impact arising from the arts, humanities and social sciences. We want to equip our members with new training and KE models that have potential across the disciplinary base. We’re also looking forward to bringing new stakeholders into our KE community. The social value CoP initiative is being funded in partnership with the ESRC.
Huw Vasey, Strategic Lead: Innovation, Business Engagement and Commercialisation at ESRC | UKRI said:
We are excited to collaborate with the PraxisAuril team to develop an Arts, Humanities and Social Science Community of Practice. ESRC are keen to support all of our community, from academics to KEC professionals, to ensure the impact of the arts, humanities and social sciences get to places they otherwise wouldn’t, and commercialising from SHAPE disciplines and areas with high social value is a vital way to do this.
PraxisAuril invites all interested parties, including researchers, professionals, and stakeholders, to get involved and contribute to this vibrant community. The primary platform for updates, discussions, and engagement will be the Members Forum for AHSS, accessible here. This dedicated space will serve as a hub for ongoing conversations, allowing participants to help shape the priorities and direction of this transformative cultural and professional change within the research landscape.
The ESRC partnership has enabled PraxisAuril to recruit a dedicated project manager to take the CoP initiative through its first year, and we are delighted to welcome Arnie King to the team. To kickstart this exciting initiative, PraxisAuril will be hosting a series of practical ‘Challenge Workshops’ in the Autumn. These workshops will tackle specific issues affecting efficient and recognised social-focused innovation and AHSS commercialisation. The topics and details of the workshops will be determined collaboratively with our members, ensuring that their needs and interests are at the forefront of the discussions. Individuals interested in participating or suggesting workshop topics are encouraged to reach out to Arnie King here.
PraxisAuril is grateful for the contributions and support of its members and partners, whose valuable insights and dedication will drive the success of this Community of Practice. Together, we will define a new area of work in research, empowering researchers to create significant social impact and drive innovation in arts, humanities, and social sciences.