Welcome to AHEAD
AHEAD (Arts and Humanities Engagement And Dialogue) is the public engagement programme of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Manchester Metropolitan University.
AHEAD – Arts and Humanities Engagement and Dialogue, aims to elevate the Faculty in national discussions, advocating for the significance of arts, humanities, and social sciences in addressing contemporary challenges and making a positive difference.
Our world-leading research and education changes lives. Our expertise spans, art, design, fashion, English, politics, history, sociology, criminology, architecture, journalism, languages and more.
AHEAD presents a rolling programme of events and collaborations on a range of topics, disciplines and research areas from across the faculty and throughout the year.
Please join us in making a positive impact through research.
We hope you enjoy the programme!
Download the Public Engagement Calendar for upcoming activity involving Manchester Met’s Arts and Humanities Researchers
Events Programme
Our Researchers are sharing their creativity and wisdom across the university all year round. Here are a selection of ways you can hear about their impact and conversations
Highlights from the Faculty
Ahead of the AI’s misinformation curve: let’s talk visual AI literacy
This exciting and timely initiative addresses the recent advancements in visual generative AI which allow anyone to create highly realistic deepfakes, leading to misinformation and personal and social harms, and cementing stereotypes and representational biases. Led by Adi Kuntsman and Jessica Elias from DISC (Digital Society Research Group), in collaboration with the AI Artist and researcher, Dr Sam Martin, the project explores these issues in dialogue with national and international experts in digital literacy, misinformation and technological challenges, and shares AI literacy tools with local communities across Manchester and beyond.
The Manchester International Crime and Justice Film Festival 2025
Welcome to the 2025 Manchester International Crime and Justice Film Festival sponsored by the Department of Sociology at Manchester Metropolitan University and curated by the university’s Policy Evaluation and Research Unit.
Since 2019 we’ve had a consistent mission – screening great films which provoke debate and provide an alternative take on crime, justice and punishment in the 21st century.
Bunker Talks 2025
Curated by the Performance Research Group at Manchester School of Art, Bunker Talks create space for critical encounters, presentations, and dialogue, interviewing industry guests about practice & research.
Ahead of the curve: approaching inclusive growth in collaboration with arts, humanities and social sciences
Researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University's Faculty of Arts and Humanities are at the forefront of embracing inclusive growth is not just an economic necessity but a social imperative. Their multidisciplinary projects demonstrate how integrating diverse perspectives leads to more effective and equitable growth strategies.