News/Blog
CERG’S “mezzolevel” concept presented at i-PLACE 25 (Key Cities Innovation Network, Media City, Salford)
The Mezzo Level: Imagination as Infrastructure for Local Change Dr Tony D. Sampson — University of Essex / Cultural Engine Research GroupThe Imaginarium Project Conference presentation at https://www.i-place.uk/ This talk asks a simple question: What if imagination becomes part of policy infrastructure? It reframes the climate crisis as neither a macro-level problem for national governance…
More details on the next Imaginarium event early next year Following on from the first Wild Essex Imaginarium at UoE’s Essex Business School on Sept 27th, we’re pleased to announce a further event on the evening of Thurs 12th Feb 2026 at Colchester’s Common Ground. We are currently confirming a fascinating programme of talks and performances…
CERG Concepts Referenced in Key Cities Network Parliamentary Dinner Speech
Here’s an excerpt of the speech by Professor Christopher Smith, Executive Chair of the Arts & Humanities Research Council, at the Parliamentary Dinner of the Key Cities Innovation Network. The dinner was hosted by the Key Cities APPG at the House of Commons on Tuesday, 6 May 2025. Prof. Smith was discussing the launch of…
First Wild Essex Imaginarium
Reflections, images and talk slides from the first Wild Essex Imaginarium on 27th Sept 2025, at the Essex Business School (EBS), University of Essex. On Saturday 27th September, 2025, over a 100 attendees, speakers, and performers gathered together in the Essex Business School’s (EBS) Auditorium (University of Essex) for the first Wild Essex Imaginarium. Programme…
Consent form for Wild Essex Imaginarium
Participant Consent Form Thank you for contributing your thoughts and reflections at today’s event. Your feedback is valuable and will help CERG (Cultural Engine Research Group) to understand how the Wild Essex Imaginarium has influenced participants’ thinking, learning, and future actions. Please tick the boxes below to indicate how you consent for your responses (to…
Wild Essex Imaginarium Programme Announcement
Update on 10/09/25: CERG are very excited to announce the final programme for the Wild Essex Imaginarium on Sat 27th September 2025, hosted by the Essex Business School (EBS) at the University of Essex, Colchester. EBS: 2.2 (Auditorium next to main entrance) Final Programme (pdf) We are pleased to confirm that the event is free…
Additions to Wild Essex Imaginarium: Writer Justin Hopper and David Gates from Beth Chattos Meanwhile Garden
Two notable additions to the programme on Sat 27th Sept at Essex Business School Justin Hopper is an American writer based in Britain. His work explores the intersection of landscape, memory and myth. His site-specific audio poetry works have been commissioned by arts organisations and festivals in the US and UK. For Wood Street Galleries…
CERG Research in Parliament
A CERG research paper, authored by Tony Sampson (UoE), was published last week in a compendium of papers exploring the role of culture and place in the development of English cities and towns, based on projects presented at a conference in Bradford at the end of last year. The publication was marked at the fourth annual…