AHRC Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre

Prof Tether and Dr Gilmore were involved in the first phase of AHRC Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC), a national research project and centre of excellence exploring evidence for the creative industries across the UK, as Research Director and Co-Investigator respectively. The Creative Industries includes Advertising and Marketing; Architecture; Crafts; Design; Film, TV and Radio; IT and related services; Publishing; Museums and Galleries; Music and the Arts. The PEC, which is funded by the national Industrial Strategy research consortium (involving 10 partner institutions across Scotland, England, Wales and N. Ireland), has been undertaking research, knowledge exchange and policy engagement with creative industry development agencies, policy makers, practitioners and trade bodies in the UK and overseas since its inception in 2018. The PEC project provides evidence for the creative industries to both government and industry, helping to shape policy surrounding the changing nature of creative careers (including digital media, VR/AR, gaming, and design, music and performing arts, screen industries).

At The University of Manchester, the ICP is a hub for creative industries research, and part of Creative Manchester. Dr Zoe Bulaitis joined the project as Research Associate in April 2019, followed by Dr Victoria Barker. From April 2022 - July 2023, the Research Associate was Dr Claire Burnill-Maier. . The PEC helped built connections between The University of Manchester and the city-region and further afield, supporting local industrial partners and engaging with national policymaking agendas.

Prof Tether undertook research on regional inequalities in creative economies and Co-I Gilmore led research into understanding the development of local strategies to creative places (cities, clusters, towns), the contemporary challenges facing creative arts and humanities education institutions and the role of universities in creating cultural opportunities and careers, and the importance of valuing arts and humanities approaches to valuing the creative industries. A major national project funded by UKRI Urgent Call in partnership with the Centre for Cultural Value from 2020-2022 investigated the impacts of Covid-19 on cultural industries and implications for policy (Co-I Gilmore). Published outputs include working papers and articles on the PEC website www.pec.ac.uk single and co-authored journal articles and book chapters .