In October 2010, A New Direction teamed up with Dr Ben Cranfield of Birkbeck College’s Research Centre for Media, Culture and Creative Practice to develop a Knowledge Transfer Partnership project.
|
|
What is a 'Knowledge Transfer Partnership'?
The Knowledge Transfer Partnership is a government supported programme managed by the
Technology Strategy Board to place academic researchers and graduates associated with an academic Institute, with a host company to undertake a specific project within an agreed period of time.
This partnership between the associate, the Institute and the company is intended to enrich the work of each partner:
- the company benefits from the research of the associate and its connection with the Institute;
- the Institute benefits from the real world application of its academic research,
- and the associate puts research into practice in a real working environment.
Researching into how we work...
We believe that during this time of flux within the arts, education and young people sectors, in-depth research into the wider influences of change and our internal processes and ways of working is key to the success of the organisation, and the Knowledge Transfer Partnership scheme offers the opportunity to develop this research.
Sarah B Davies - artist, arts manager and graduate of Birkbeck’s MA programme in Arts Policy & Management, was employed in October 2010 as Knowledge Transfer Partnership Associate, to work full time at A New Direction as an active member of the team.
Analysing processes
Sarah provided in-depth analysis of A New Direction's
processes across our programmes of work, looking at
best practice methods and models.
She conducted a live evaluation of the needs, priorities and requirements of the arts, education and young people sectors during a changing political landscape, providing A New Direction and Birkbeck with enhanced and new knowledge that can aid current practice.
Exhibition of findings
As an additional strand to the KTP project, Sarah re-worked the traditional model of KTP partnership and is developed the role into something more akin to an artist-residency, which culminated in an exhibition of her research undertaken here at A New Direction, entitled
'The Thinking Room', which took the form of a physical, and online space.
The Thinking room is a space to pause and reflect. Taking the concept of ‘home’ to suggest an interactive environment that fosters shared understanding and equal voice,
The Thinking Room presents research into the working processes, methods and practices within the arts and education sectors. To navigate through the site, hover over the icons below. Make yourself at home.
KTP Partners: 
Sarah B Davies
KTP Associate
Natasha Silsby
KTP Company Supervisor, A New Direction (Senior Programme Manager, Schools)
Dr Ben Cranfield
KTP Academic Supervisor, Birkbeck, University of London (Lecturer in Arts Policy and Management)
Dr Kate McKenzie-Davey
KTP Academic advisor, Birkbeck, University of London (Lecturer in Organisational Psychology)