Host Andy Spinoza invites Professor John McAuliffe, Director of Creative Manchester, Co-Director of the Centre for New Writing, and Professor of Poetry at The University of Manchester; Professor Caroline Bithell, Professor of Ethnomusicology at Manchester; and Keisha Thompson FRSA, Innovation Fellow with Creative Manchester; to explore Manchester’s rich creative and cultural environment – and the University’s important contribution to it.

They consider how the city’s industrial past has helped to shape its cultural and creative landscape, highlighting key figures such as novelist Anthony Burgess and the formation of the University’s cultural institutions, including the John Rylands Research Institute and Library, Manchester Museum and more.

The group delves into the importance of investment in culture and how we can strive to make it more accessible to all, and eye our future goals in this ever-changing sector.

This podcast episode was recorded on 18 June 2024.

Find the full transcript of this episode on the Talk 200 webpage.

Further information

Find our more on:

• Creative Manchester
• Manchester Museum
• Jodrell Bank
• The Whitworth
• John Rylands Research Institute and Library
• British Pop Archive
• In Place of War: Supporting, developing and promoting artists from conflict zones
• The natural voice movement: Giving a voice to singers and cultures across the world
• Manchester Camerata x The University of Manchester
• Klezmer – The Michael Kahan Kapelye
• Universally Manchester Festival
• UNESCO Manchester City of Literature
• On Creativity: Practices and Perspectives (University College for Interdisciplinary Learning course)