Artificial Intelligence, Sustainability, Creative Industries, and Place each received funding for networking projects in the form of grants by PEC.
The Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) has awarded four new Small Network Grants, each worth £10,000, to foster collaboration and generate evidence for better policy and industry practice within the creative sector. These grants will support small, diverse networks of researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders as they explore key challenges and opportunities in the creative industries.
One of the new networks, "Green Transitions and Sustainability," is convened by Dr Heidi Ashton and Professor Pietari Kaapa from the University of Warwick. This network aims to explore sustainability and the green transition in media, screen, and digital production. The project will commence in September 2025 and be completed by April 2026.
Another network, "Creative Industries and Place: Configurations and Scales," is convened by Dr Graeme Evans and Dr Patrycja Kaszynska from the University of the Arts London. This network will seek to understand how local authorities and wider place-based partnerships support approaches to culture and creative practice as a foundation for sustainable development.
The Research Fellows Network, convened by the University of Warwick, aims to become the global network of choice for researchers working on policy-facing creative industries research. This network will make original contributions to the creative industries' evidence base, producing discussion papers, holding seminars, and presenting at conferences. It intends to complete by March 2026.
The fourth new network, "Building an Infrastructure for Research in AI and the Creative Industries," is convened by Professors Joanna Woronkowicz and Doug Noonan from Indiana University. While the specific research areas and objectives of this network are not explicitly described in the provided text, it aims to strengthen research and policy at the intersection of AI and the creative industries. The project will run through April 2026.
These networks will not only foster collaboration within the Research Fellows Network and beyond but also aim to strengthen connections, encourage knowledge exchange, and deliver tangible benefits within academic, policy, and practitioner communities. Key outcomes include an open-access wiki and actionable recommendations for advancing research on AI and the creative economy.
Future outputs from these Small Networks will be shared on Creative PEC's social channels and website. Creative PEC works to support the growth of the UK's Creative Industries through the production of independent and authoritative evidence and policy advice. The Centre is led by Newcastle University with the Royal Society of Arts and is funded by the UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council. The Centre comprises a consortium of Newcastle University, Work Advance, Sussex University, and the University of Sheffield.
[1]: Unrelated creative sector funding sources (not part of Creative PEC Small Network Grants) [3]: Unrelated creative sector funding sources (not part of Creative PEC Small Network Grants) [5]: Unrelated creative sector funding sources (not part of Creative PEC Small Network Grants)
- The Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) has awarded grants to networks that aim to generate evidence for better policy and industry practice within the creative sector.
- One network, "Green Transitions and Sustainability," is focused on sustainability and the green transition in media, screen, and digital production.
- Another network, "Creative Industries and Place: Configurations and Scales," seeks to understand how local authorities and place-based partnerships support culture and creative practice for sustainable development.
- The Research Fellows Network aims to become the global network of choice for researchers working on policy-facing creative industries research and make original contributions to the creative industries' evidence base.
- The network "Building an Infrastructure for Research in AI and the Creative Industries" aims to strengthen research and policy at the intersection of AI and the creative industries.
- These networks will foster collaboration within the Research Fellows Network and beyond, aiming to strengthen connections, encourage knowledge exchange, and deliver tangible benefits within academic, policy, and practitioner communities.
- The key outcomes include an open-access wiki and actionable recommendations for advancing research on AI and the creative economy.
- Creative PEC will share future outputs from these networks on its social channels and website, supporting the growth of the UK's Creative Industries through independent and authoritative evidence and policy advice.
