Dr Ryan Humphrey is a lecturer in Arts Management and Cultural Policy at the University of Manchester. He has a PhD in community music and cultural policy from York St John University and prior to this completed an MA in Community Music Research (York St John University) and BA (Hons) in Community Music (University of Sunderland). He has worked across several higher education institutes, including: University of Aberdeen, University of Edinburgh and the University of Sunderland. In 2022-2023, he was the Knowledge Exchange Fellow for the SUII funded Scottish Cultural Policy Research Network. 

Alongside his work in academia, Ryan is also a community musician. He has worked for numerous organisations in the North East, including The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, where he was a Training Manager and Programme Leader for the Youth Music funded Loud and Clear programme working with care-experienced children and young people. Ryan currently sits on the MERYC (Music Educators and Researchers of Young Children) England Board as a Trustee. 

Ryan is currently working on his monograph titled ‘Community Music and Cultural Policy: What we say and what we do’ for Intellect Publications, alongside a textbook on creative placemaking and cultural development for Polity.