1. HEAD Trust / CHEAD Subject Associations Links Group

Timeline: 2014 – 2021

Overview

In 2014, HEAD Trust began work to reconnect the UK’s art, design and media subject associations, many of which had been without a shared forum for several years.

Key Milestones

2014–2015: Establishment

• HEAD Trust undertook a major sector‑wide search to identify all art, design and media subject associations.

• A consultation meeting, hosted by GuildHE on 20 April 2015, brought together representatives from more than a dozen national associations, including:
  Graphic Design Educators Association, ANTF (ADM), NAHEMI, Association of Illustrators, National Association for Ceramics in HE, Association of Interior Educators, AAH, Design History Association, CHEAD, NAFHE, jewellery and fashion/textile associations, NSEAD, GLAD, Association of Photography in HE, and HEAD Trust.

• Associations welcomed the initiative, noting a long period of being overlooked and the loss of COSAAD as a shared forum.

2015: Formation of the Links Group

• A meeting with Linda Drew (then Chair of CHEAD and Head of Ravensbourne) resulted in the creation of the HEAD Trust / CHEAD Subject Associations Links Group.

• Meetings were hosted at Ravensbourne and administered by CHEAD, with leadership from Maureen Wayman and David Vaughan

2015–2021: Activities

• Three meetings held each year, including sector‑wide sharing sessions and guest speakers.

• Meetings moved to Microsoft Teams during the Covid‑19 period.

• DV chaired all meetings until 2021.

2021: Change of Governance

• Under new leadership, CHEAD renamed the group the CHEAD Subject Alliance and appointed a trustee as chair, without consultation.

• Maureen Wayman and David Vaughan continued to attend meetings, now primarily online.

2. HEAD Trust Project Group

Timeline: 2015 – 2022

Overview

Created to strengthen cross‑sector intelligence sharing, this group brought together major organisations across creative arts education.

Key Milestones

2015: Group Formation

• Established following approval from HEAD trustees.

• First meeting held 9 October 2015 at GuildHE, with attendees from GuildHE, UKADIA, NSEAD, CHEAD, CLA and GLAD.

• The group met three times per year at GuildHE, administered and minuted by Maureen Wayman and David Vaughan

2016–2022: Expanded Participation

• Arts Council England and Creative PEC joined for selected meetings.

• At its final meeting in November 2022, members were invited to consider becoming HEAD Trust trustees; Michele accepted.

Research Funded Through the Project Group

• 2016: Economic Value of Creative‑Focused Universities and Colleges

• HEAD Trust jointly funded the GuildHE/UKADIA report.

• Published November 2016.

• 2020–2022: Trends in Creative Arts Qualifications

• HEAD Trust co‑funded, with CLA and the Clore Duffield Foundation, the GuildHE/UKADIA research on qualifications held by applicants to creative HE courses.

• Published 2022.

3. Sector Engagement (2008–2022)

Throughout this period, HEAD Trust representatives were regularly invited to contribute to key national conversations, including:

• Speaking at consultations and sector events

• Attendance at APPG (All‑Party Parliamentary Group) meetings

• Participation in National Saturday Club events