Engagement
As a core mission of RCS, Engagement works to develop the Conservatoire’s relationship with the wider world.
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What We Do
At the Royal Conservatoire, Engagement stands alongside Education and Research as a cornerstone of our mission. It’s a new expression for an old idea: that the work and expertise of Conservatoire staff is there to be used, to have an impact, but also to be shaped by the needs and priorities of the diverse communities of which the Conservatoire is a part.
Leading engagement activity across the Conservatoire, the Engagement team offers strategic direction and support to all RCS staff, students and graduates. We empower our community of artists and makers pursue, develop and scale impactful projects through targeted funding, awards, mentorship, and training. We support company start-up and commercialisation, inspire new collaborations and innovative thinking, and work closely with colleagues from all areas of the institution to drive public engagement initiatives.
Our engagement work focuses on three main areas of activity: Creative Enterprise, Innovation, and Public Engagement.
Areas of Work
Creative Enterprise
Our Creative Enterprise strand is a catalyst for new artistic ventures and business models, helping the RCS community realise their entrepreneurial ambitions. Through the Creative Enterprise Development Office (CEDO), we provide tailored business support, facilitate introductions to strategic partners, and connect individuals with different funding opportunities.
Innovation
We are deeply committed to driving innovation within the creative sector. Building on the success of our two-year pilot project, we are now focused on growing and embedding Innovation Studio as our flagship programme for supporting creative experimentation, skills development, and collaboration.
Public Engagement
Public Engagement is at the heart of our work at RCS. As one of Scotland’s busiest arts venues, the Conservatoire welcomes thousands of audience members every year. In addition, the Engagement team helps develop new initiatives that share expertise and bring meaningful benefits to communities and the wider public.
To further strengthen the Conservatoire’s economic and social impact, we recognise the importance of building a strong engagement culture and infrastructure that bridges disciplines, practices and expertise to create positive change for our art forms and across society.
Beyond the Conservatoire, our connections and relationships with the world are rooted locally and extend internationally, with artists and arts organisations, creative companies, local and national government, national and international agencies, businesses, institutions and networks.
We are curious and love to explore new ways of working from one-off micro-projects with individuals to large-scale multi-partner initiatives across a number of years.
Programmes & Resources
Meet the Staff
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Deborah Keogh
Head of Engagement
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Professor Celia Duffy
Senior Engagement Fellow
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Gallia Young
Engagement Development Assistant
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Verena Henn
Impact Officer (Enterprise and Innovation)
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Lisa Williams
Impact Officer (Research and Public Engagement)
Latest Engagement News
Contact Us
Engagement at the Conservatoire reflects a basic artistic impetus: to make a difference. For inquiries, please email keadmin@rcs.ac.uk
