➡ Where: Online (Zoom)
➡ Date: Wednesday 4th March 2026
➡ Time: 12.30pm – 1.30pm (UK time)
We invite you to a #LunchtimeSession entitled ‘Leading for Aesthetic-Embodied Learning for Democracy’, hosted by Suzanne Culshaw.
This free, online event is open to all BELMAS members and non-members with an interest in educational leadership and policy. As our host, Suzanne, and her colleagues, Philip Woods and Karen Mpamhanga, come to the end of their 3-year AECED project (funded by Horizon Europe and UKRI), they look forward to sharing what aesthetic-embodied learning for democracy might mean for you.
Democracy isn’t simply a technical process that involves you learning about its history, principles, rules and institutions. Democracy is a way of governing and a way of relating to each other that is a here-and-now experience.
This online event offers an introduction to the AECED research findings, an overview of the resources available for you to use, as well as an experiential taster of aesthetic-embodied learning for democratic leadership.
We hope you can join us for this discussion.
Please note, this event is free to BELMAS members and non-members.
In preparation for the experiential activity (collaging), please have to hand a few ‘bits and bobs’ such as materials of different colours and textures that you might like to work with; for example, arts and crafts materials (buttons, string or ribbon, scissors, etc.) and/or stationery items (paper clips, paper, pens and pencils, sticky notes, etc.) You might also like to have a piece of paper – or use a flat surface such as a desk – to place them on.
Registration will close at midnight (UK) on Monday 2nd March 2026.
Dr Suzanne Culshaw
University of Hertfordshire
A longstanding member of BELMAS, former BELMAS council member and BELMAS blog editor, Dr Suzanne Culshaw is currently Research Fellow in the School of Law and Education at the University of Hertfordshire. Her work focusses principally on the use of arts-based and embodied methods in educational research, teaching and learning, and reflective practice. Suzanne played a key role in securing funding for the Horizon Europe/UKRI funded AECED Project (2023-2026) on aesthetic and embodied learning for democracy. Recent publications include a chapter entitled ‘Using arts-based and embodied methods to research leadership in education’ in the Elgar Handbook on Leadership in Education (Eds: P. A. Woods, A. Roberts, M. Tian & H. Youngs; 2023).
Professor Philip Woods
University of Hertfordshire
A former Chair of the British Educational Leadership, Management and Administration Society (BELMAS), Philip Woods is Professor of Educational Policy, Democracy and Leadership at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, as well as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. His work focuses principally on education for democracy and educational leadership and policy, including distributed, collaborative and democratic leadership and change towards more democratic environments fostering collaborative and holistic learning. Philip has played leading roles in several European research projects, including the Horizon Europe/UKRI funded AECED Project (2023-2026) on aesthetic and embodied learning for democracy. Recent publications include the Elgar Handbook on Leadership in Education (Eds: P. A. Woods, A. Roberts, M. Tian & H. Youngs; 2023).
Professor Karen Mpamhanga
University of Hertfordshire
Professor Karen Mpamhanga is Professor of Higher Education and Professional Learning at the University of Hertfordshire. Karen is a creative and critical education researcher and has published widely in the field of higher education. She is currently engaged in a large Horizon Europe / UKRI funded project, AECED, which is focussed on education for democracy, where she led the UK’s research trial focussing on the development of democratic doctoral supervision. Karen’s recent publications include an article on translation in doctoral research, and contributions to the new edition of Reflective Teaching in Higher Education (Ashwin et al, 2025). Karen is executive editor of the journal Teaching in Higher Education, co-editor of the Routledge book series Critical Practice in Higher Education, and co-convenor of the SRHE’s Higher Education Policy Network.
Joining instructions will be sent out the day before the event, so please keep an eye on your inbox for these. We look forward to seeing you at the event!
We record our online events for sharing purposes on the BELMAS website and YouTube page. Please tick this box in your registration to acknowledge you are happy for us to record.
The latest #LunchtimeSession, entitled ‘Leading for Aesthetic-Embodied Learning for Democracy’, took place on Wednesday 4th March 2026, with hosts, Suzanne Culshaw, Philip Woods and Karen Mpamhanga.
As they have reached the end of their 3-year AECED project (funded by Horizon Europe and UKRI), hosts, Suzanne, Philip and Karen, shared what aesthetic-embodied learning for democracy might mean for you.
Democracy isn’t simply a technical process that involves you learning about its history, principles, rules and institutions. Democracy is a way of governing and a way of relating to each other that is a here-and-now experience.
This online event offered attendees an introduction to the AECED research findings, an overview of the resources available for you to use, as well as an experiential taster of aesthetic-embodied learning for democratic leadership.
In case you missed this event or would like a recap, you can now watch it in full below.
See the slides from the session here.
You can read more about the AECED project here and follow along with it on LinkedIn here.
Our sincere thanks to Suzanne, Philip and Karen for hosting and offering their important insights, to Deb Outhwaite for Chairing, and to everyone who joined us for the session.
