Professor Steve Millington contributes to RSA roundtable on civic alchemy and social transformation

Professor Steve Millington from Manchester Metropolitan University’s Institute of Place Management recently participated in a roundtable hosted at RSA House in London exploring how creative civic practice can support social transformation and economic mobility. The Royal Society of Arts (RSA) is a UK-based charity and think tank focused on social progress, innovation, and civic improvement. The RSA works on social change and public policy, often bringing together people from different sectors to tackle complex issues.

Following on from the IPM/CHEAD webinar last year, this roundtable continued the ongoing collaboration between partners working at the intersection of civic practice, creativity, and place-based transformation.

The event, titled “The Human Alchemists: Designing Dialogue as a Catalyst for Social Transformation and Economic Mobility”, brought together leaders from policy, higher education, creative industries, civic organisations, and innovation bodies. The session was co-chaired by Tom Kenyon (RSA) and Professor Rhiannon Jones (University of Derby / Designing Dialogue CIC).

The discussion explored the concept of “civic alchemy” – the creative fusion of people, place, and participation that can generate outcomes greater than the sum of their parts. Participants highlighted the importance of trust, collaboration, co-production, and creative civic methodologies in supporting meaningful social and economic change.

Examples shared during the roundtable demonstrated how participatory approaches in markets, estates, civic spaces, and community initiatives can help build social capital, expand opportunity, and support local economic development. The discussion also highlighted a number of systemic challenges, including fragmented funding, rising numbers of young people disengaged from education and employment, and institutional structures that often undervalue civic work.

The roundtable will contribute to a forthcoming white paper led by Designing Dialogue CIC, the University of Derby, CivicLAB, RSA, CHEAD, and ARC. The publication will set out principles of civic alchemy, case studies, and policy recommendations aimed at strengthening civic collaboration and supporting economic mobility.

Steve’s participation reflects IPM’s continued involvement in national conversations about the role of place-based collaboration, civic engagement, and research in shaping more inclusive local economies.

Thank you to the RSA and partners for inviting Steve to contribute to such an important conversation.