Ed Watts

Ed Watts is the Engagement Manager at the Whitworth, part of the University of Manchester.

As part of managing the gallery’s public programme for both adults and families, Ed sits on the cultural offer steering group for Age Friendly Manchester, looking at a citywide approach on culture and ageing.

Ed is part of the Whitworth’s dynamic Learning and Engagement team who work with audiences across health, social care, volunteering and education sectors, seeking to work in new ways and extend reach.

Over the past five years Ed has led on research, projects and community engagement to explore how the gallery’s collections can open up new ways to connect with Manchester’s diverse older residents, including Art Sense, a sensory play iPad app for adults living with dementia, a handbook for cultural engagement with older men, funded by the Baring Foundation, and commissioning artists in residence in sheltered accommodation schemes.