The University of Lincoln has strengthened its international profile after Professor Ananda Breed was appointed UNESCO Chair in Arts-based Methods for Peacebuilding with and for Children and Young People.
The appointment recognises Professor Breed’s expertise in arts-based research, peacebuilding and cultural policy, and means Lincoln now hosts two UNESCO Chairs – making it one of only three UK universities with multiple UNESCO Chair positions.
UNESCO Chairs are awarded to universities and research institutions working in partnership with UNESCO to advance knowledge and practice in areas of global priority.
Hosted by the University of Lincoln, the Chair builds on the internationally recognised Mobile Arts for Peace (MAP) network.
Working with partners across Rwanda, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Indonesia and beyond, the programme brings together children and young people, educators, artists, policymakers and community organisations to explore how arts and culture can support peacebuilding and help shape education and policy.
Its work aligns with UNESCO’s priorities around culture and education, including the UNESCO Framework for Culture and Arts Education, and contributes to a number of UN Sustainable Development Goals including quality education, gender equality, wellbeing, and peace and justice.
Professor Ananda Breed said:
“I am delighted and deeply honoured to be appointed as a UNESCO Chair. This Chair recognises the knowledge, creativity, and leadership of children and young people, and the power of culture to open meaningful pathways into policy and decision making.
“Working with UNESCO and our international partners, we aim to create arts based approaches that are both culturally grounded and capable of shaping education, peacebuilding, and policy systems for the long term.”
Professor Neal Juster, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, added:
“This UNESCO Chair positions the University of Lincoln at the forefront of global efforts to harness the power of the arts for peacebuilding. It is a powerful example of how research, creativity, and young voices can come together to influence policy and drive meaningful change.”
The UNESCO Chair will be formally launched on 28 May 2026 as part of UNESCO Culture and Arts Education Week (25–31 May 2026).
The launch event will bring together international partners for panel discussions, workshops and demonstrations exploring how arts-based methods can inform policymaking with and for children and young people.
Partners contributing to the Chair’s work include the British Council, Save the Children, Plan International, UNESCO, and the Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN), alongside universities, cultural organisations and youth-led initiatives around the world.
Cecilia Barbieri, Chief of the Section for Global Citizenship and Peace Education at UNESCO, said:
“The establishment of this UNESCO Chair reflects UNESCO’s vision of culture and the arts as foundations for lasting peace, and its commitment to supporting countries to embed them within education systems.
“By placing young people at the centre, it demonstrates how creativity and cultural approaches can empower them to shape education, policy, and more peaceful and resilient societies.”
Through its international partnerships, the Chair will develop toolkits, policy briefings, publications and arts-based evaluation frameworks, alongside conferences, workshops, youth researcher exchanges and policy roundtables.
Professor Anne Anderson, Chair of the UK National Commission for UNESCO, said:
“The UK National Commission for UNESCO is delighted to congratulate Professor Ananda Breed on becoming UNESCO Chair in Arts-based Methods for Peacebuilding with and for Children and Young People.
“Through her role as a UNESCO Chair, she joins a cohort of leading UK academics working to address global challenges and support delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals.”
For more information about the UNESCO Chair and Mobile Arts for Peace (MAP), visit: https://map.lincoln.ac.uk
