All stitches speak the same language…
11 Nov 2025
University research platform Creative Manchester receives funding as part of a major research programme to drive cultural innovation – and community cohesion.
Creative Manchester has been awarded Creative Communities funding, part of a major UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) research programme to drive cultural innovation and community cohesion.
Artist Ruth Flanagan has been working with Creative Manchester partner organisation, Cartwheel Arts and diverse communities in Rochdale to deliver craft and heritage projects.
During 2025-2026, she will work as Community Innovation Practitioner (CIP) – along with University researchers at Creative Manchester and the School of Arts Languages and Cultures – to introduce a research framework to her work in finding connections through diverse communities through craft traditions.
Unity and Strength: Banner-Making as a Craft Tool to Support Belonging and Community Cohesion is one of six new UK CIPs across a spectrum of projects that represent the rich cross-sector community research and inclusive innovation that is catalysing growth.
In partnership with Cartwheel Arts and national organisation Heritage Crafts UK, and working closely with Greater Manchester Combined Authority, this project draws on the history and legacy of Manchester’s Co-Operative movement by using crafting methods to promote resilience, belonging and cultural engagement in diverse communities in Rochdale, Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture 2025.
Ruth said: “I’m honoured to receive the CIP Award. This allows me to continue working with Rochdale’s diverse communities in collaboration with Cartwheel Arts, while also introducing a research dimension through Creative Manchester and the University of Manchester.”
Director of Creative Manchester, Professor John McAuliffe said: “Artist Ruth Flanagan's work in Rochdale has uncovered common ground and shared interests across an unusual range of communities – ‘all stitches speak the same language,’ as one participant said to Ruth.
“How do we make connections with one another? This interdisciplinary project is about the tangible positive impacts of craft traditions – and how we can model good practices by weaving together our different research, artistic and community resources.
Vice-President for Research, Professor Colette Fagan added: “The University of Manchester is committed to research that impacts positively on our region, and to a model of inclusive innovation which serves our communities. In this field, our Creative Manchester platform engages strongly with Greater Manchester’s pioneering Creative Health strategy, and we are delighted now to be working with Cartwheel Arts, artist Ruth Flanagan and the AHRC in delivering work whose collaborative methods and benefits we are optimistic about.”
Culture – crucial to prosperity, wellbeing and community
The Creative Communities programme examines the role of culture and devolution in unlocking cross sector co-creation and place-based innovation across all four nations of the UK. Funded by the UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and led by Northumbria University, it has extended its signature award, the Community Innovation Practitioner (CIP) Awards, for a new 2025-26 cohort. This represents an investment of nearly £500,000 to catalyse place-based innovation across all four nations of the UK research ecosystem.
AHRC Executive Chair Professor Christopher Smith said: “Culture is crucial to the prosperity and wellbeing of communities, from ensuring children can develop creativity to driving growth across the UK. That’s why Governments and local actors prize the role of arts and humanities research in community-based projects – and why we launched the Creative Communities programme, to capitalise on the enormous opportunity to harness this potential to benefit places and people across the breadth of the UK.
“So far, the programme has worked with more than 100 partners, generated a wealth of new knowledge and policy proposals, and created a successful podcast. I’m excited to see where this latest round of Community Innovation Practitioner Awards will take us.”