British Academy SHAPE Involve and Engage Program 2026 (up to £8,000)

Deadline: October 15, 2026 Applications are open for the British Academy SHAPE Involve and Engage Program 2026. This programme offers the opportunity to think outside the box, test a new approach and be ambitious in your approach to engaging a public audience with your research. As part of the programme, a ‘community of practice’ workshop will be hosted for successful applicants in mid to late January. Alongside sessions on evaluation and working with your audiences, award holders will have the opportunity to share their plans with other workshop attendees. You will act as critical friends and sounding boards, sharing ideas, giving feedback and troubleshooting possible challenges, and forming a network of support through the duration of the project development and delivery. The programme will:

• Act as a catalyst to get a project or idea up and running.
• Be an opportunity to try a new approach or work with a new audience to gain new perspectives on your research.
• Offer the chance to build a new partnership with the cultural sector or try a new idea with an existing collaborator. The chance to work with a partner who truly adds value and makes a meaningful contribution to your project through their expertise, connections, skills or collections.
• Allow you to make contacts and find networking opportunities with others in the research community who are interested in exploring new and innovative approaches to public engagement. Award
• The award is up to £8,000. Eligibility
• They are searching for creative academics who want to experiment with their engagement work and find new ways to share their research with a public audience.
• The call is open to any researcher based in the UK who meets the conditions of the call. You do not have to have received funding from the British Academy previously.
• Successful award recipients are expected to have some prior public engagement experience, but we welcome applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences, expertise and career stages. Application The application deadline is October 15, 2025. The duration of the program is between April 1, 2026 and December 31, 2027. Click here to apply For more information, visit SHAPE Involve and Engage.