Scottish Arts and Humanities Alliance (SAHA)

Description

The Scottish Arts and Humanities Alliance (SAHA) is a joint initiative of Scottish higher education institutions, the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities, established in 2019 to give a public and collective voice to the arts and humanities in the context of higher education. Its remit is to speak as a united public voice on arts and humanities matters in Scotland; to advocate for the intellectual, creative, social and economic contribution of the disciplines to Scottish society; to influence UK and Scottish Government policy on higher education issues affecting the arts and humanities; to build links between scholars and communities; and to disseminate its work in the media, government and education. A Steering Committee of representatives from the member institutions sets its strategic direction, and all Scottish higher education institutions are invited to join; fourteen members are currently listed. The Alliance has no legal form of its own: the Royal Society of Edinburgh acts as its host institution, manages its administration and provides its Policy and Communications Officer, who runs the secretariat.

SAHA runs three standing working groups, on Languages in Scotland, Environmental Humanities, and the Digital and Cultural Economy, which publish articles, reports and recommendations for policymakers; the Languages group published Languages in a Global Scotland in July 2026. It has submitted written responses to Scottish Government consultations, holds joint symposia with the Arts and Humanities Research Council, co-organises events such as the Humanities Summit on policy, advocacy and place with the School of Advanced Study, University of London, and produces the SAHA Conversations podcast series on the value of the arts and humanities to individuals and to society. It works in the context of SHAPE and STEAM and with sister alliances in Ireland, Europe and North America, and is a member of the European Alliance for Social Sciences and Humanities. Follow the Alliance on Bluesky and LinkedIn.

Currently active

Yes

Offers funding

No, this infrastructure does not provide funding.

Founding year

2019

Contact details

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Categorisation

Type

Tags

Partner Universities

Edinburgh Napier University

Heriot-Watt University

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

The Glasgow School of Art

University of Dundee

University of Edinburgh

University of Glasgow

University of St Andrews

University of Stirling

University of Strathclyde

University of the Highlands and Islands

University of the West of Scotland

Additional Partnerships

Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities (SGSAH); Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC); European Alliance for Social Sciences and Humanities (EASSH)