Press Office

May

Exchanging creative ideas at Newcastle University

An ambitious project has been launched which aims to create new ways of taking part in  cultural experiences

Newcastle University is one of three universities involved in the £4m Arts and Humanities Research Council funded Creative Exchange, which will unite innovative thinkers with the digital and creative industries.

It will bring together creative sector businesses and connect them with digital designers, major corporations and leading researchers in the arts and humanities.

The aim is to create new products, experiences and business opportunities which will allow people to explore the wealth of information online which is ‘the digital public space’.

The Creative Exchange is led by Lancaster University, in collaboration with Newcastle University and the Royal College of Art (RCA).  It was launched with a recent symposium in Manchester.

Leading the Newcastle University research are Professors Peter Wright and Patrick Olivier.

Professor Wright said: “This is a very innovative project and we are proud to be part of it. Already, digital technology plays an enormous role in creative industries, from designing video games to journalism and digital art. What we will do is bring arts and humanities researchers together with our creative sector partners and help them exploit the latest developments in social media and pervasive technologies.”

The Creative Exchange is one of four Knowledge Exchange Hubs for the Creative Economy being launched across the UK.

As well as Newcastle, Lancaster and RCA, The Creative Exchange includes collaborators such as the BBC, Microsoft, MediaCityUK, FutureEverything, Tate Liverpool, Opera North, Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums, The Sage Gateshead, The Sharp Project, NESTA, Manchester Digital and the Arts Council England. More than 30 small and medium sized companies working in the sector are also involved.

published on: 24 May 2012