The Art of Inclusion
The art of inclusion
Tuesday 24 June, 12-1pm (UK time)
At a time when even the term inclusion can spark debate, universities have a chance to lead the way. Positioned to create meaningful societal impact, the arts offer a powerful tool for connection, empathy, and change.
Yet, despite this potential, many institutions are scaling back their commitment in this space.
Warwick and its community are bucking that trend. We’re deepening our investment — not just in the arts as performance or practice, but as a means to raise awareness, amplify underrepresented voices, and drive lasting change.
In this conversation, we explore how the arts can help shape a more inclusive and representative landscape, and why that matters.
Whether you're passionate about the arts or simply curious about their role in building a more inclusive future, this is a conversation for you. Hear from Warwick academics working at the intersection of arts and education, alongside alumni whose professional journeys now influence cultural policy and practice.
A Q&A will make up part of the webinar, so please don’t forget to submit your questions when you register. A recording of the event will be made available shortly afterwards, and all those who register will receive a link to the recording by email.
Host
Professor Helen Wheatley
Academic Director of Warwick Institute of Engagement
An experienced leader in public engagement and delivering research impact, Helen is Academic Director of Warwick Institute of Engagement. Helen is Professor of Film and Television Studies and co-founder of the Centre for Television Histories.
She works collaboratively with archives and curators to engage the public with the history of British broadcasting and has twice been awarded the university’s prizes for impact/community engagement for this work.
Her book, Spectacular Television: Exploring Televisual Pleasure (IB Tauris, 2016) won the BAFTSS Award for Monograph of the Year in 2017 and her latest book Television/Death (Edinburgh University Press, 2024) was released last year.
Speakers
Dr Heidi Ashton
Centre for Cultural and Media Policy Studies
Heidi is a culture and creative ecology scholar at the Centre for Culture and Media Policy Studies at Warwick. Her research interests span a range of issues from macro perspectives focusing on the ideologies driving policy and the impact that these have on culture and creative practice and participation to specific issues facing the freelance workforce as key workers in the sector.
She is a Global Research Fellow at the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre, where she supports government research and has written a policy discussion paper comparing pay and conditions for freelance workers in the UK and USA.
Melanie Hoyes
Director of Inclusion at the British Film Institute
(BA Film and Literature, 2001)
In her role as Director of Inclusion at the BFI, Melanie advocates for increased access and equity in the UK film sector, leading through strategic intervention and implementation as well as consulting and collaborating with global partners to embed diversity and inclusion into policy and practice. She believes in working with and providing equitable opportunities for persistently marginalised communities and celebrating and highlighting talent.
Melanie is a BAFTA and EFA member and also sits on various Boards and committees (EWA and The Film and Television Charity's Inclusivity Committee), is the Europe Council Lead for the Geena Davis Institute and co-editor of the Black Film Bulletin section in Sight and Sound magazine.
Ali Pidsley
Founder and Co-Director of Barrel Organ Theatre
(BA English and Theatre Studies, 2014; MA English Literature, 2017)
Biography to follow