Cities partnerships Programme: Continued engagement during COVID-19

Dr Florian Mussgnug, Academic Director of UCL’s Cities partnership Programme in Rome, recently gave an online lecture to participants around the world on “Oceanic futures: dystopia after lockdown”.

The event was part of the recently launched series of online talks #BSROnlineLectures, organised by the British School at Rome.

A series of CpP webinars with partners in Rome and Paris are being developed to take place during June, focusing on topics ranging from rethinking teaching and learning during COVID-19 to socio-political responses to the pandemic in Europe.

The programme is also supporting new research into the impact the virus is having on the arts residencies field globally.

Res Artis: Worldwide Network of Arts Residencies recently partnered with UCL to conduct a survey examining the immediate impact on the sector, with additional surveys planned to consider the medium and long-term effects. 

Of the lecture, Florian said: “What struck me most was the very international makeup of the online audience. We had 130 attendees, including colleagues from the UK, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, France, Croatia, Singapore, the USA, Australia and China. I have received quite a few follow-up e-mails since. Clearly, the "new normal" contains opportunities as well as risks.

“Institutional partnerships are more important than ever, because they increase the global visibility and impact of online events. In a world of seemingly infinite access to online content and very limited attention, it is strategically important that institutions combine their efforts and resources in this way. These new forms of collaboration works best where they build on a history of successful partnership activity - like in the case of BSR and UCL.”

More information

Watch Florian’s lecture
See upcoming BSR online lectures
Complete the Res Artis survey (closes 1 June 2020)