The Arts and Humanities Research Council [AHRC] supports world-class research that furthers our understanding of human culture and creativity.
From ancient history and heritage science to modern dance and digital content.
Research into these subjects helps us to interpret our experiences, probe our identities, interrogate our cultural assumptions and understand our historical, social, economic and political context. It adds to the economic success of the UK, through its contributions to the knowledge economy and innovation agenda. The research we fund can lead to improvements in social and intellectual capital, community identity, learning skills, technological evolution and the quality of life of the nation.
News & Events
Latest update following AHRC move to Swindon
AHRC Chief Executive Professor Rick Rylance has this week sent a letter to all University Vice-Chancellors updating them on the latest AHRC developments following its recent move to Swindon.
Dedicated Follower of Fashion
A major new project exploring the changing fashion trends in Europe from the Renaissance to the late 18th century has secured a grant of nearly €1m from HERA, facilitated in the UK by the AHRC.
Voices from the Old Bailey
The AHRC-funded ‘Old Bailey Online’ continues to inspire programme makers, extracts from the gripping court cases of the Old Bailey Court are being dramatised for the general public thanks to a new Radio 4 series.
Bringing the ss Great Britain Home
A new AHRC funded animated film has been released which retells the salvage of Brunel's ss Great Britain. The film has been released as part of the vessel's 40th homecoming anniversary celebrations and was produced by animators from the University of the West of England who worked closely with the ss Great Britain Trust on the project.
Project aims to revitalise the seaside prom
A new research project is reviving popular seaside performances of the pierrot troupe with the aim of revitalising the seaside prom for future generations.
International art exhibition opens in Scotland
After an incredibly successful run at the National Gallery the first exhibition of paintings by Christen Købke ever to be shown outside Denmark has now moved to the National Gallery of Scotland.
Heritage Smells!
A research project is developing new diagnostic tools that will ‘sniff’ objects in order to evaluate collections environment, conservation history, composition, condition or stability – without touching the object.
Hidden History of Cornish Estates
A research project that has focussed on lives of ordinary Cornish people has led to a new oral history exhibition opening today in Truro.
AHRC project celebrates 75 years of Penguin Books
This year Penguin Books will be 75 years old and Puffin Books 70 years. To mark these two anniversaries, the Penguin Archive Project has organised an international conference entitled ‘75 Years of Penguin Books’.
New research shows system fails courtroom witnesses
Cross-examination is leaving courtroom witnesses confused, angry and their evidence potentially unreliable, according to new research from the universities of Leeds and Liverpool.
Seeing Through Walls
A new research project, funded under the AHRC’s Science and Heritage Post Doctoral Fellowships Scheme, is helping art historians uncover fascinating paintings that have been hidden for centuries.
Project unearths the history of militarized landscapes
Tanks, bombs and soldiers may be the immediate occupants of the militarized territories across the world, but do they have other functions and meanings? A new book, based on research funded by the AHRC, takes an unprecedented look at these places and holds some unexpected answers.