Simon Poole | University of Chester

As a creative producer and entrepreneur, my enterprise and professional activity advances the use and understanding of creativity, creative learning, pedagogy and creative practice as part of our lives, and intrinsic to our wellbeing. I instigate such enterprise through the connection of the education, health and social care sectors with the arts and culture sector, to collaboratively place creativity, creative practice, pedagogy and learning as a key part of working for these sectors. For me, this creativity occurs within the sphere of cultural education, through formal, informal and non-formal approaches; this notion is why I feel so fortunate to be working within a secondment role and overseeing the university's dynamic exchange with Storyhouse, Chester's award-winning cultural organisation.

Although an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education and Children's Services, I lecture across the university about the arts and am deeply concerned with cultural education. More specifically I have lectured at several institutions on Music Practice, and also Music Technology as a discrete subject, but also within the context of education; due in the main to my experiences within the music industry as a singer, songwriter, producer and record label owner (soil records), and of course my time as a Primary and Early Years teacher. In all, I have been songwriting, singing, recording and releasing music for 30 years; I’ve now written a total of 8 albums and as ‘a loose kite’ I’m still writing today.

Having been jointly appointed by Storyhouse and the University of Chester, in a new role as Senior Leader for Cultural Education and Research, I liaise between the institution and the organisation and share and develop the best of learning and research. Alongside this role, I am an active Researcher at the Centre for Research into Education, Creativity and Arts through Practice (RECAP); Researcher with the International Thriving at Work Research Group.

My current work focuses on Cultural Democracy; creative pedagogy; intercultural use of music in the professions; psychogeography and informal songwriting; songwriting for wellbeing. I am particularly interested in Arts and Craft Based Initiatives. I have worked in 14 countries, am developing a long-term capacity-building project, have run intensive short programmes, developed research initiatives and presented interactive vocal performances in collaboration with colleagues locally, nationally and internationally.

I have held a number of external roles too, such as Director of Research for the words for well-being organisation ‘Lapidus International’, I've been the lead curator of TEDx UoC, and am currently the co-vice chair for Chester and Cheshire’s Local Cultural Education Partnership and a Trustee for Mythstories.

I currently have 5 doctoral supervision roles and programme lead and teach on the MA Creative Practices in Education on the following modules:

CD7301
CD7305
CD7307
CD7308
CD7313
CD7310
CD7312

I also teach regularly on the MRES Storytelling, other prorgammes and have several doctoral students.

My arts-based practice-as-research publications and outputs have gathered international interest over the years, demonstrated by research rankings, the reach of my work through sales, and critical acclaim. My practice as research:

is ranked on ResearchGate at 10.74 (rated above 50% of others on RG), and has been consistently ranked as the ‘most read’ within my faculty.
has led to 20 keynotes or leading addresses internationally, e.g. at the world-famous Braga institute in Helsinki, also in Vaasa, Jyvaskyla and Turku in Finland; in Kotle Jarvi, Tallinn, and Viljandi in Estonia; and at Fabri Coats in Barcelona, and in Vic, in Catalonia.
has close to 10,000 followers on social media platforms;
has been performed across the globe, with 4,000+ performances over 20 years, e.g. singing acapella in the world-famous Sibelius Hall in Finland to conducting the Orchestra Inclusiva in Catalonia;
consists of eight albums, this includes 85 songs, distributed internationally through all major platforms;
has received international critical acclaim from leaders of industry like the BBC, Farida, e.g. “looks [sic] like being a rapid ascension to one of the most exciting folk acts this country has produced in recent years” and producer Tony Visconti (producer of david bowie, t rex, the stranglers, morrisey) said of my songwriting and my band’s performance “its delightful, they write good songs and have excellent voices”;
led to a ‘Live at the BBC’ album; and continues to garner live on-air performances for the likes of BBC Liverpool, BBC Shropshire, BBC Stoke, BBC Wales, BBC Radio 6, & XFM Scotland;
is broadcast internationally, for example: “Same Time Elsewhere” (Samaan aikaan toisaalla); a series on a Finnish radio station called Limu-radio, and on YLE-radio (which is equivalent to the BBC in Finland).

My back catalogue documents a sustained practice as research. These ethnographic songs, are published alongside other refereed academic outputs, articulating the theory, philosophy and pedagogy of my research:

2 monographs; 3 edited books; 5 chapters; 11 articles; edited 7 journals; 5 editorials; 2 conference proceedings; and I wrote a column for a local periodical for 3 years;
I am fortunate to often be invited to contribute work for publications by: Springer; Routledge; Sage and Palgrave MacMillan amongst others, e.g. a chapter for publication with the latter publisher, occurred through invitation by colleagues at Warwick University and Kings College London because my research is world-leading, in how it considers creativity through a folkloristic lens;
three encyclopaedia articles which are also significant, published by Springer, are good examples of high-impact concrete records of scientific achievement, since they form part of the world´s most comprehensive list of publications on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

This research base also evidences the context of my contribution in terms of academic citizenship and underpins the value I place on community work and social impact as part of the civic university agenda. It has led in the last 3 years to even wider impact evidenced by engagements such as:

presenting at 20 conferences and symposiums, and organising a further 10;
Contributing to two student and staff conferences for Faculty of Education of Children’s Services, collaborating with Federation University in Australia; and two staff development conferences;
3 exhibitions of curated photography/poetry.
the organisation of the trilingual conference, called ‘Educating Creatively’ that I directed at Storyhouse; was curated by 5 different institutions from Catalonia, Finland, Palestine, the USA and Australia, it also engages multiple other organisations operating at nationally strategic levels regarding the arts, culture and wellbeing, e.g. Lapidus International; Curious Minds; RECAP; 17 countries were represented through presentations;
the publication of a book for teachers: ‘Bumblebees like jazz’ has sold 400+ copies internationally, led to international public engagements and had a significant impact on teaching practices internationally within primary classrooms, e.g. inclusive music pedagogies being propagated in Catalonia.

		Poole, S. E. (2019). Living and learning through song (Doctoral dissertation). University of Chester, United Kingdom.
		Poole, S. (2018). Opening Words. Chester, UK: Chester Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-908258-33-5
		Poole, S. (2019). Ekphrastic Poetry Writing. In Benmergui, R., Owens, A. Passila, A. (Eds.), (2019) Beyond Text: Arts Based Methods for Research, Assessment and Evaluation, Erasmus Plus EU: Beyond Text Partnership. eBook.
		Poole, S. (2005). Celia. In Life Lines. In A. Chantler (Ed.). Chester, UK: Chester Academic Press. ISBN 1-902275-51-9
		Poole, S. (2017). Playing with Ekphrasis. Chester, UK: Soil Records
		Poole, S. (2017). Bumblebees like jazz. Chester, UK: Soil Records
		Poole, S.E. & Scott, C. (2021). National arts and wellbeing policies and implications for wellbeing in organisational life. In The SAGE Handbook of Organisational Wellbeing. Tony Wall, Paula Brough, and Sir Cary Cooper (Eds.). London, UK: Sage
		Poole, S., Shrire, D., Österlund-Pötzsch, S., Chakrabarti, G., Cheeseman, M., Tainii, M. & Seltzer, D. (2020). Ramblings: A walk in progress (or the minutes of the International Society of the Imaginary Perambulator). In Ethnography with a Twist. (Ed. Tuuli Lähdesmäki, Eerika Koskinen-Koivisto, Viktorija L.A. Čeginskas, Aino-Kaisa Koistinen) London, UK: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429355608)
		Poole, S., & Solé, L. (2020). How Music Accessibility can be used in Art Based Research experiences. In A. Owens & J. Adams (Eds.), Beyond Text. Bristol, UK: Intellect.
		Poole, S. (awaiting publication, 2021). The Routledge Research Companion to Autoethnography and Self-Reflexivity in Music Studies. London, UK: Routledge.
		Poole, S. (2018). An exploration of the tension between tradition and innovation. In L. Martin & N. Wilson (Eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of Creativity at Work. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave MacMillan. ISBN 978-3-319-77349-0 ISBN 978-3-319-77350-6 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77350-6
		Poole, S., Scott, C. & Marichalar-Freixa, E. (2019). Psychogeography and Well-Being. In W. Leal, P. G. Özuyar, P. Pace, U. Azeiteiro, & L. Brandli (Eds.), Encyclopaedia of the Sustainable Development Goals: Transforming the World We Want. New York, US: Springer. ISSN: 2199-7373 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-95681-7_58
		Poole, S., & Sole, L. (2019). Informal Music-Making and Well-Being. In W. Leal, P. G. Özuyar, P. Pace, U. Azeiteiro, & L. Brandli (Eds.), Encyclopaedia of the Sustainable Development Goals: Transforming the World We Want. New York, US: Springer. ISSN: 2199-7373 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-95681-7_57
		Mackenzie, A., Wall, T., Poole, S (2019). Applied fantasy and Wellbeing. In W. Leal, P. G. Özuyar, P. Pace, U. Azeiteiro, & L. Brandli (Eds.), Encyclopaedia of the Sustainable Development Goals: Transforming the World We Want. New York, US: Springer. ISSN: 2199-7373 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-95681-7_80
		Poole, S. (2018). Rancière and the demise of the book. Advancing Education - Summer 2018. UK: NAACE. & submitted in satisfaction of fellowship of Mirandanet/ITTE. ISSN 2050-1331
		Poole, S. (2017). Re/searching for 'Impact'. Journal of Work Applied Management, 9(2), 147 - 158. ISSN: 2399-6439 DOI: 10.1108/JWAM-07-2017-0022
		Poole, S. (2016). Kindly Apparitions: Reflections upon Reflections. Lapidus Journal - 20th Anniversary Special Triple Edition, Capturing the Collective and Connected Spirit of Writing for Wellbeing (Part 3 - Individuals Connecting to a Collective Spirit). 1-3. ISSN: 23995564
		Poole, S. (2016). The Lore of the Landscape. Primary Geography, Spring (89), 10-11. ISSN: 0956-277X.
		Poole, S. & Summers, A. (awaiting publication) Teacher as ignorant technology master: Rancièrian musings on VR pedagogy.
		Poole, S. (Sep, 2020). Cornucopia: Creativity. (6). Chester, UK; Ballarat, Aus; Millersville, US; Vic, Catalonia; Bethlehem, Palestine: FECS & Storyhouse. ISSN 2516-2667
		Poole, S. (Sep, 2019). Cornucopia: Transformation. (5). Chester, UK; Ballarat, Aus; Millersville, US; Vic, Catalonia; Bethlehem, Palestine: FECS & Storyhouse. ISSN 2516-2667
		Poole, S. (2018). Cornucopia: Tradition. (4). Chester, UK: FECS. ISSN 2516-2667
		Poole, S. (2017). Cornucopia: Innovation. (3). Chester, UK: FECS. ISSN 2516-2667
		Poole, S. (2016). Cornucopia: Reflection. (2). Chester, UK: FECS. ISSN 2516-2667
		Poole, S. (2015). Cornucopia: Creativity. (1). Chester, UK: FECS. ISSN 2516-2667
		Reviews of article entitled „Digital technology and education“ for a Special issue of the Journal “Pedagogika” (Jul 25, 2018) Edited by Andreas Hoffmann-Ocon, Tomáš Kasper and Karel Rýdl.
		Review of article entitled "Coordinating Character and Curriculum for a Future Wales" submitted to the “Journal of Work Applied Management”, special issue (2019) "Sustainability in Work-Applied Management" Edited by Dr. Scott Foster
		Review of article entitled "Room 2084 - Knocking on the Door of Room 101" for “Organizational Aesthetics” (2019), Edited by Monica Biagioli et al.
		Review of article entitled "Conversations About Everything" for “Organizational Aesthetics” (2019), Edited by Monica Biagioli et al.
		Review of article entitled "Muhammadiyah teachings in Malaysian FE" for “Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning Journal” (2019), Edited by Prof. Tony Wall et al.
		Adams, J., Arya-Manesh, E., Owens, A. & Poole, S. (2018). Storyhouse Young Leaders: Evaluation Report, Commissioned by Oglesby Charitable Trust & Bank of America Merrill Lynch. RECAP: Chester.
		Poole, S. E. (2020). Wellbeing within the workforce: Chester Sexual Abuse Support Service (CSASS) Evaluation Report, Commissionined by Big Lottery. Storyhouse: Chester.
		Poole, S. E. (2020). Complimentary ecotherapy, wellbeing and returning to work. A research report for Gwent Police Commissioned by the Welsh Government. Storyhouse: Chester.
		Poole, S. (2019). ‘Workers’ Tales: Socialist Fairy Tales, Fables, and Allegories from Great Britain. Journal of Folklore Research. ISSN 0737-7037.
		Poole, S. (2018). Selling Folk Music: An Illustrated History. Western Folklore Journal. (77)3/4; Summer/Fall. ISSN 0043-373X
		Poole, S. (2015). Folk Culture in the Digital Age: The Emergent Dynamics of Human Interaction. Folklore, 126(3), 362-363. doi:10.1080/0015587X.2015.1083707. ISSN 0015-587x
		Poole, S. (2020). Owd man. On Miracle Molecule: A method for maladies. Believe International, Luxembourg, LX: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2020). Postcard. On Miracle Molecule: A method for maladies. Believe International, Luxembourg, LX: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2020). Time and Tide. On Miracle Molecule: A method for maladies. Believe International, Luxembourg, LX: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2020). Roll up, roll up. On Miracle Molecule: A method for maladies. Believe International, Luxembourg, LX: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2020). Paper. On Miracle Molecule: A method for maladies. Believe International, Luxembourg, LX: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2020). A Parliament of Owls. On Miracle Molecule: A method for maladies. Believe International, Luxembourg, LX: Soil Records.
		Poole, S., & Sole, L. (2019). Dialogic Conscience. Believe International, Luxembourg, LX: Soil Records.
		Poole, S., & Solé, L. (2019). Hysterical Hysteresis. feat. Martinez, D. & Ballardin, E. Believe International, Luxembourg, LX: Soil Records.
		Poole, S., & Solé, L. (2018). Phantom Islands feat. Eva Marichalar-Freixa. Believe International, Luxembourg, LX: Soil Records.
		Poole, S., & Solé, L. (2018). Oneiric Dimensions. Believe International, Luxembourg, LX: Soil Records.
		Poole, S., & Solé, L. (2018). Infinite Delights feat. Eva Marichalar-Freixa & Allan Owens. Believe International, Luxembourg, LX: Soil Records.
		Poole, S., & Solé, L. (2018). Conversation in sonic hyper-reality. Believe International, Luxembourg, LX: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2018). The Walk to Kitty’s Stone. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2017). Iron John. On Prosthetic Soul. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2017). Fool. On Spaghetti NorthWestern. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2017). Flying Saucers. On Prosthetic Soul. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2017). Fishermon's Song. On Spaghetti NorthWestern. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2017). Billio. On Spaghetti NorthWestern. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2017). Atmospheres. On Spaghetti NorthWestern. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2016). The Ballad of Bianca Owen (Live). On The Loose Kites Live @ Telford's Warehouse. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2016). Spinning Jenny (Live). On The Loose Kites Live @ Telford's Warehouse. Believe, Paris: Soil Record
		Poole, S. (2016). Sparrows on the Roof. Chester, UK: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2016). Shoot Me (Live). On The Loose Kites Live @ Telford's Warehouse. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2016). Revelation (Live). On The Loose Kites Live @ Telford's Warehouse. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2016). Radiation Vibe (Live). On The Loose Kites Live @ Telford's Warehouse. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2016). oh, Telford's we love you (Live). On The Loose Kites Live @ Telford's Warehouse. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2016). Nice to be Nice (Live). On The Loose Kites Live @ Telford's Warehouse. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2016). Latch Key Kid (Live). On The Loose Kites Live @ Telford's Warehouse. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2016). In the Blood (Live). On The Loose Kites Live @ Telford's Warehouse. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2016). Hold Your Horses (Live). On The Loose Kites Live @ Telford's Warehouse. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2016). Devil's in the Detail (Live). On The Loose Kites Live @ Telford's Warehouse. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2016). Andrew (Live). On The Loose Kites Live @ Telford's Warehouse. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2013). Sword of Damocles. On Of Bricks and Brambles. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2013). Spinning Jenny. On Of Bricks and Brambles. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2013). Premeditated Charity. On Of Bricks and Brambles. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2013). Nice to be Nice. On Of Bricks and Brambles. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2013). Lothario. On Of Bricks and Brambles. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2013). Latch Key Kid. On Of Bricks and Brambles. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2013). Informative Sign. On Of Bricks and Brambles. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2013). Hold your Horses. On Of Bricks and Brambles. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2013). Hold Your Horses. On Of Bricks and Brambles. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2013). Come Walk with Me. On Of Bricks and Brambles. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2013). Cold Comfort Home. On Of Bricks and Brambles. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2013). Andrew. On Of Bricks and Brambles. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2013). An Incident of Extraordinary Consequences. On Of Bricks and Brambles. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2011). Twilight Rouse. On The Twilight Sessions. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2011). Twilight Rouse [Acoustic Remix]. On The Twilight Sessions. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2011). The Third Person. On The Twilight Sessions. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2011). The Third Person [Acoustic Remix]. On The Twilight Sessions. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2011). Silver. On The Twilight Sessions. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2011). Please Me (That Shame of Year). On The Twilight Sessions. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2011). Please Me (That Shame of Year) [Acoustic Remix]. On The Twilight Sessions. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2011). On the Way. On The Twilight Sessions. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2011). On the Way [Acoustic Remix]. On The Twilight Sessions. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2011). Bonafide Superficial Creed. On Revelation. Believe, Paris; Youtube: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2011). Backburner. On The Twilight Sessions. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2010). Silver. On Morning Thieves. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2010). Roo Ba Bah. On the loose kites. Believe, Paris; Youtube: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2010). Red, White and Blue. On Morning Thieves. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2010). Quite Some Time. On Morning Thieves. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2010). I Won't Lose. On Morning Thieves. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2010). High Price. On Morning Thieves. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2010). Black Pearls. On Morning Thieves. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2009). The Devil's in the Detail. On the loose kites. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2009). The Ballad of Bianca Owen. On the loose kites. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2009). Shoot Me. On the loose kites. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2009). Roo Ba Bah. On the loose kites. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2009). Revelation. On the loose kites. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2009). Radiation Vibe. On the loose kites. Believe, Paris; Youtube: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2009). Last Orders. On the loose kites. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2009). In the Blood. On the loose kites. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2009). High Maintenance. On the loose kites. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2009). Dirty Rascal. On the loose kites. Believe, Paris: Soil Records.
		Hirst, P., & Poole, S. (Writers) & E. O'Neal (Director). (2011). Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. In P. Hirst (Producer), Lost Treasures. Chester, UK: ITV Granada/Planet X
		Poole, S. (Writer) & C. Wilson (Director). (2014). Andrew, On Of Bricks and Brambles. Believe, Paris; Youtube: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (Writer) & MUTV (Director). (2013). Lothario, On Of Bricks and Brambles. Believe, Paris; Youtube: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2012). Jericho. On The Jericho Project. Believe, Paris; YouTube: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (Writer) & J. Stark (Director). (2010). Shoot Me, the loose kites. Believe, Paris; Youtube: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (Writer) & S. Smith (Director). (2009). Roo Ba Bah, On the loose kites. Believe, Paris; Youtube: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (Writer) & Reelvision (Director). (2008). Revelation, On the loose kites. Believe, Paris; YouTube: Soil Records.
		Poole, S. (2017). Playing with Ekphrasis (Photographic/Poetry Exhibition). At Telford’s Warehouse, Chester, UK.
		Performance of the composition ‘Sparrows on the Roof’ for a cultural symposium at Bethlehem University in the summer of 2016.
		Performance of ‘xenotext notation’ research with Dr Lluis Sole
		Mural in St Michael's Church, Chester. On Cheshire Folklore, with Russel Kirk
		Poole, S. (2020). A wordbook of rare mithers: Unbethinkrawm. Chester, UK: Tortoise
		Poole, S. (2020). A wordbook of rare mithers: Womclemd. Chester, UK: Tortoise
		Poole, S. (2019). A wordbook of rare mithers: Fendfallatic. Chester, UK: Tortoise
		Poole, S. (2018). A wordbook of rare mithers: Gowd forging. Chester, UK: Tortoise
		Poole, S. (2018). A wordbook of rare mithers: Swaddledidaff. Chester, UK: Tortoise
		Poole, S. (2017). A wordbook of rare mithers: Anan-flaskered. Chester, UK: Tortoise

EdDoc, MA, PGCSiC, PGCE, BA(Hons), SFHEA, FCCT, FCollT, FRSA, FMir, MISM

Associate Professor Simon Poole