University of Manchester colleagues visit Japan to sign MoU with Tokyo University of the Arts and National Center for Art Research, Japan

We’re delighted to announce that we’ve signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tokyo University of the Arts and The National Center for Art Research, Japan.

On Saturday, 23 May 2026 at The National Art Center, Tokyo (NACT), Japan, Prof John McAuliffe, Associate Vice President (Cultural Portfolio), signed a Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of Creative Manchester, at The University of Manchester. 

This landmark agreement commits the University to collaborate in a three-way partnership with the “Arts-Based Communication Platform for Co-creation to Build a Convivial Society” at Tokyo University of the Arts (TUA) — commonly known as the ART-based Platform for Co-creation — and the National Center for Art Research (NCAR), part of the National Museum of Art, Japan.

As part of this MoU, the three partners (UoM, the ART-based Platform for Co-creation, and NCAR), will work collaboratively with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) GM Place Partnership, to strengthen international research collaborations

The formal signing ceremony took place following the NCAR Co-Creation Forum Vol.2: Enhancing Wellbeing with Museums ―Place-Based Co-Creation in the UK and Japan.

Prof John McAuliffe, Associate Vice President (Cultural Portfolio), Prof Sook-Kyung Lee, Director of The Whitworth, Dr Hannah Waterson, Research Associate – Knowledge Mobilisation and Julie McCarthy, Strategic Lead for Creative Health at the GMCA presented as part of the event exploring Creative Health initiatives from Manchester.

The event drew 150 guests to The National Art Center, Tokyo, and  over 700 registered for the online event. The afternoon focused on knowledge exchange around Creative Health and Social Prescribing, along with discussion around future collaboration and shared research opportunities.  

Colleagues were also invited to speak at the Kyoto University International Social Prescribing Conference (ISPC 2026), alongside academics from TUA and NCAR. The conference brought together people from across the world interested in social prescribing and non-medical approaches to health and wellbeing. The University of Manchester and GMCA, joined Tokyo University of the Arts and NCAR for a joint session at the conference, exploring differences and similarities in the UK and Japan. They discussed supporting community-based groups to deliver the work and the role of museums and galleries. 

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