Research Interest Clusters

On 19 March 2021, ENCATC presented its Research Interest Clusters (RICs).

The main goal of ENCATC’s Research Interest Clusters (RICs) is to enable members with an interest in a specific research topic or problematic within the arts and cultural management and policy field to work together to further research or to deepen understanding of that topic.  ENCATC’s ambition is, ultimately, to stimulate and support research and knowledge transfer in the field so that it gradually becomes established and recognised as an area of research in its own right. 

In 2023 the Research Interest Clusters are: 

Management of cultural organizations and (heritage-based) economic development in Latin America | APPLY HERE

  • Convenors: Jaime Alberto Ruiz-Gutiérrez, University of Los Andes, Colombia and Ana Lucía Recaman- Mejía, Universidad La Salle Cuernavaca, México

Decolonisation of Cultural Management and Policy Curricula and Institutions APPLY HERE

  • Convenors: Ana Gaio, City, University of London, United Kingdom and Richard Beasley Maloney, New York University, United States

Cultural Leadership in Transition Tourism APPLY HERE

  • Convenors: Elena Borin, Link Campus Univesrity, Italy, Mara Cerquetti, University of Macerata, Italy

On 19 March 2021, ENCATC presented its Research Interest Clusters (RICs).

What is a Research Interest Cluster?

A Research Interest Cluster (hereinafter RIC) provides an online space for professional and social networking in which individuals with a shared and specialised research, education or professional interest can cluster, connect and move their knowledge interest forward and share it with the relevant and wider communities.  A RIC can also be an ‘incubator’ for collaborative research activity, for example, leading to a bid for a project, or a book proposal.  The lifespan of a RIC is one year, but it is renewable depending on work in-progress. 

What is a Research Interest Cluster?

Who can join a RIC?

ENCATC members were invited in 2021 to propose a new research cluster and can also join a research cluster.  Members of ENCATC’s ‘sister’ networks AAAE and TACPS and non-affiliated individuals will also be considered.

Who can join a RIC?

How does a RIC operate?

RICs operate fully online. Each RIC will have a dedicated webpage with an introduction to the RIC and topic, convenors, contact point and participants; and where information e.g. announcements, papers, links, zoom recordings can also be posted.  Whilst ENCATC is not able to provide admin or funding for any events or, for example, for speakers, ENCATC’s communications channels will support RICs in publicising their events to a relevant global audience.

The convenors of a research interest group are responsible for the topic, for leading and coordinating the work and outcomes of the research interest group; and have final authority on decisions about the academic activity of their group.  Convenors are expected to report on their group’s activities by the end of their group’s annual cycle (January or May).

How does a RIC operate?

What does a RIC do?

RICs organise regular meetings among their participants (e.g. on zoom) and are expected to share their work or outcomes with their wider interest or issue community at an appropriate time within their yearly life-cycle. This could take the form of, for example:

  • organising a topic specific discussion forum (online);
  • developing a paper for publication, or to submit to the ENCATC Congress on Cultural Management and Policy;
  • developing/submitting a panel for the ENCATC Congress;
  • developing/proposing a themed special issue of ENCATC’s European Journal of Cultural Management and Policy;
  • or a combination thereof (the above are just examples)!
What does a RIC do?