ID138 The Keele Music Exchange: A Campus-Community Cultural Hub

The Idea

This proposal outlines 'Music on Campus', an initiative to transform Keele into a dynamic cultural hub by integrating its creative assets with the wider Stoke-on-Trent community. Responding to Carol Shanahan's call to ‘come down off the hill’ (Keele Debates, 17 February), the plan leverages existing resources—ArtsKeele, the Students' Union (SU), and the Music Production programme, to start with—to create a vibrant 'cultural ecosystem'. 

The idea has two core strands. First, it aims to embed Keele in the local community through public-facing events. This includes partnering with local organisations like ‘Junction 15’ for public music and sound workshops in film scoring and podcasting, and launching a low-cost public concert series featuring student groups like the Keele Symphonia. It also proposes building talent pipelines by inviting local college students to campus for masterclasses in the Clockhouse studios. Extending the ICAN model (KBS), the SU could host a 'Battle of the Bands' or songwriting competition open to local sixth forms, with the prize being a professional recording session. 

Second, the initiative would strengthen on-campus music-making by creating a student-led 'Keele Music Network' under the SU, supporting existing groups like the Symphonia, Brass Band, Clarinet Choir, Concert Band, Flute Choir, Folk & Acoustic, and fostering new ones (songwriters, bands). Crucially, this would be connected to the curriculum, with Music Production students, for instance, recording these groups for their portfolios —and these portfolios are used by students for showcasing to potential employers/at interviews—creating a self-sustaining cycle of creativity that is both visible and academically integrated.  

Why This Idea Should Be Considered

This idea offers a strategic, low-cost, high-impact way for Keele to tangibly demonstrate its commitment to the local community, directly answering the call to 'come down off the hill'. By activating its existing cultural assets, Keele can reposition itself not as an isolated institution, but as a central pillar of the region's creative identity. This initiative would build goodwill, raise the university's public profile, and create clear, low-barrier pathways for local students to see Keele as a welcoming and relevant part of their world. Furthermore, it enriches the student experience by creating a more vibrant campus life and offers valuable real-world, portfolio-building opportunities for students within the Cultural Industries programmes such as Music Production, to begin with, expanding it to Media/Digital Media, Creative Writing, Game Design, Animation, Graphic Design and potentially some other areas.  

How We Would Implement This Idea

Implementation can be phased, starting with a pilot. First, the SU and ArtsKeele could formalise a partnership to co-host a single public event, such as a ‘Keele Community Music Day’ featuring student bands and a free workshop led by Music Production staff. Simultaneously, we could launch an annual 'Keele Songwriting Competition' for local colleges, with the prize being a studio recordings sessions of the awarded works fully facilitated by Music colleagues This low-risk pilot tests logistics and public interest. Success would then lead to establishing the formal 'Keele Music Network' to support student groups. Finally, the Music Production programme can integrate the recording of these groups into its curriculum, and formalise workshop partnerships with local colleges like Stoke-on-Trent College, creating a sustainable cycle of engagement. We can leverage the new 'Keele in Town' facility—a dedicated community hub in Newcastle-under-Lyme—to go beyond surface-level collaboration. By aligning with Stafford Colleges Group and other local partners, we can pinpoint an unmet niche for our Music Production programme, such as specialist digital production, genre-specific mentoring, or commercial studio experience. This targeted approach ensures the initiative is a strategic asset, not just another partnership, adding lasting value to the region's educational and cultural ecosystem.

What Success Would Look Like

Success would be a campus buzzing with musical activity that naturally attracts the local community. We would see families attending affordable concerts in the SU or Chapel, and local college students confidently using the Clockhouse studios for workshops. The annual 'Keele Songwriting Competition' could become a highlight on local college calendars, with the winner's demo recorded at Keele. But the relationship wouldn’t be one-way. There is also potential for ‘going the other way’—taking Keele’s music-making ‘beyond the hill’ and into the city itself. This can include hosting regular pop-up performances, open mic nights, or student-led showcases at venues in Hanley, Newcastle-under-Lyme, or Stoke town centre. A recurring ‘Keele in Town’ series could see bands, choirs, and solo performers taking over public spaces, pubs, or cultural hubs, making university music visible and accessible to wider audiences. This could also include collaborative events with local arts organisations, schools, or community centres, strengthening Keele’s presence as an active cultural partner rather than a distant campus. For students, success means a thriving music scene with multiple active bands and ensembles, and Music Production students graduating with professional portfolios featuring live recordings of their peers. Ultimately, Keele would be perceived not as an institution 'on a hill', but as an integral and valued part of Stoke-on-Trent's cultural landscape.