Meet Professor Roberta Mock, Professor of Creative Industries and Skills at Royal Holloway, and discover how her research at the University impacts our local community.

Can you tell us a little about your role at Royal Holloway?

I'm Professor of Creative Industries and Skills, and my role is about building opportunities for folks to discover, develop, use and value their talents, imagination, and potential.

I work with colleagues across the University and with schools, employers, local government, creative organisations and national sector bodies to connect the University with the people and places it serves, helping to ensure that everyone (though especially our students and future students) has the chance to lead fulfilling lives and shape their communities.

How would you describe your connection with the local community?

I moved to Egham four years ago to join Royal Holloway, and one of the things I enjoy most is getting to know the local community. Because I now call Egham home, I wanted to get involved beyond the University, so I joined the Board of Trustees of the Strode's Foundation as Royal Holloway's representative.

The Foundation is a charity that offers grants to local schools, colleges and youth organisations, providing opportunities for young people across the area to thrive. Through that role I've met inspiring educational leaders, teachers, volunteers and families, and have enjoyed everything from school theatre productions and dance performances to a local brass band rehearsal.

What is one project you're particularly proud to have been involved in recently?

Last year I co-led the development of Royal Holloway's Arts and Culture Framework, which focuses on making creativity a bigger part of University and community life. We piloted a month-long programme of events that welcomed local residents – both adults and children - alongside students and staff, and it was wonderful to meet people from the area, hear their stories, and enjoy the gorgeous University campus as a shared cultural space.

What do you enjoy doing when you're not at work?

It's hard to separate my work from my hobbies because they're both rooted in the performing arts. I've co-founded a theatre company, created performances that have toured the UK and abroad, and more recently worked with the theatre industry on making productions more environmentally sustainable.

Even though I’ve now spent decades writing about, teaching, researching, and making theatre and performance, my happy place is still in an audience. I love sharing the experience of live performance alongside other people.

What are you working on at the moment, and how can local people get involved?

I'm currently leading a research project on behalf of Surrey County Council to understand how young people across Surrey develop their creative interests and careers, and what support they need along the way.

We're inviting young people, parents, educators, employers, and creative and cultural organisations to share their experiences through four different surveys, and every response will help us make practical recommendations for Surrey's future (especially in light of local government reorganisation).

I'm really looking forward to hearing people's experiences and ideas, because the more voices we hear, the stronger the recommendations we can make to improve creative opportunities for local people.