The UK Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) today announced the four successful universities that will lead its prestigious ‘Knowledge Exchange Hubs for the Creative Economy’ for the next four years. Representing an investment by the AHRC of some £16m over that time (over £20m including the contribution from the universities themselves under FEC), the Hubs will be charged with the task of building new partnerships and entrepreneurial capacity in the Creative Economy and increasing the number of arts and humanities researchers actively engaged in research-based knowledge exchange.

This investment reflects the significant benefits that arts and humanities researchers bring to the creative businesses of the UK.

The four lead institutions are:
University of Lancaster
University of Dundee
Queen Mary, University of London
University of the West of England

Each will lead consortia that will include other universities, creative businesses, including SMEs, arts and culture organisations and other agencies. Partners will include BBC, Microsoft, TATE Liverpool, SAGE Gateshead, all of the Scottish art colleges, the V&A and other industry partners including IBM and Bellemedia.

The UK’s Creative Economy – which includes the creative industries as well as museums, galleries, libraries, orchestras, theatres, etc. – is, relative to GDP, probably the largest creative sector in the world. As the major focus of AHRC’s new knowledge exchange and impact strategy for 2011-2015, the Hubs will encourage significant interactions between research and the Creative Economy which will generate wider social, economic and cultural benefits.

David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science said: “Interaction between businesses and universities is crucial for driving growth. It enables businesses and organisations to benefit from our world-class research base, gaining new knowledge and ideas. This major investment will not only enrich the creative industries but is also a vote of confidence in the excellent arts and humanities research at our higher education institutions."

CEO of the AHRC and Chair of the assessment panel which made the awards Professor Rick Rylance, said: “The UK is outstanding at many things and leads the world in some. Of these the quality and innovation of our research and the dynamism of our creative economy are two that stand out. These AHRC Creative Economy Hubs offer the opportunity to unite these sectors to the benefit of both sides and the country as a whole.
The successful consortia emerged from an exceptionally strong field. We congratulate them; look forward to working closely with them over the next four years; and to welcoming the results of their work.”

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For further information, please contact: Jake Gilmore on 07970 99 4586 or j.gilmore@ahrc.ac.uk  

Notes for editors

University of Lancaster Hub: This Lancaster led hub called 'The Creative Exchange'  is in partnership with Newcastle University and the Royal college of Art. It will include collaboration with the BBC, Microsoft, TATE Liverpool, SAGE Gateshead, Opera North, NESTA, Lancaster City Council, the Storey Creative Industries Centre, FutureEverything and over 30 small and medium sized companies working in the sector, such as Stardotstar.

• Lead contact: Professor Rachel Cooper, Professor of Design Management at the Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts, r.cooper@lancaster.ac.uk
  Tel: (0) 1524 510871

University of Dundee Hub: Dundee is leading a consortium, ‘Design in Action’, that includes all of the Scottish art colleges – Edinburgh College of Art, Glasgow School of Art and Gray’s School of Art –the University of Abertay Dundee and the University of St Andrews. In addition the Dundee-led project is supported by creative businesses, including SMEs, arts and culture organisations and other agencies.

• Lead contact: Professor Georgina Follett OBE, Deputy Principal of the University of Dundee, g.l.p.follett@dundee.ac.uk
  Tel: +44 (1382) 385202

Queen Mary, University of London Hub: The consortium ‘Creativeworks London’ is being led by QMUL and the other higher education institutions involved in the Hub are Birkbeck College; Central School of Speech and Drama; City University; the Courtauld Institute; Goldsmiths College; Kingston University; Guildhall School of Music and Drama; King's College London; Roehampton University; Royal Holloway; School of Oriental and African Studies; Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance; University of the Arts and the University of London's Centre for Creative Collaboration. Other partners include the British Library, the British Museum, the National Archives, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the BBC.

• Lead contact: Professor Evelyn Welch, Professor of Renaissance Studies and Vice-Principal for Research and International Affairs at QMUL, e.welch@qmul.ac.uk
  Tel: 020 7882 5006

University of the West of England Hub: UWE is leading a consortium that includes the Universities of Bristol, Exeter, Bath and Cardiff and the Watershed Arts Trust. ‘The Research and Enterprise in the Arts and Creative Technologies (REACT)’ KE Hub will involve the consortium working closely with creative businesses, including SMEs, arts and culture organisations and other agencies. 

• Lead contact: Professor Jonathan Dovey, Director of the Digital Cultures Research Centre at UWE Jonathan.Dovey@uwe.ac.uk
  Tel: +44 (0)117 32 84458

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). Each year the AHRC provides approximately £100 million from the UK Government to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities, from languages and law, archaeology and English literature to design and creative and performing arts. In any one year, the AHRC makes hundreds of research awards ranging from individual fellowships to major collaborative projects as well as over 1,100 studentship awards. Awards are made after a rigorous peer review process, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded. The quality and range of research supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK.

AHRC Knowledge Exchange (KE) Hubs in the Creative Economy: AHRC KE Hubs present a unique opportunity for Research Organisations already working in strategic partnerships with creative businesses and cultural organisations to strengthen and diversify their collaborative research activities, build new partnerships in the creative economy and increase the number of arts and humanities researchers actively engaged in research-based knowledge exchange.