Creative Places
Together, we are unlocking the power of culture and the creative industries to shape vibrant, resilient communities.
Culture on campus
Our Newcastle city-centre campus is home to galleries, museums, and award-winning collections. It also features archives that benefit staff, students, partners, and the public. One of our regional partners, Northern Stage, is also based on our campus.
Here are some examples on campus:
- Great North Museum: Hancock - our museum of natural history, archaeology, geology, and world cultures with university research at its heart.
- Hatton Gallery - hosts modern and contemporary art exhibitions and events. It also supports teaching and research.
- Farrell Centre - this is our newest cultural venue. Its exhibitions, talks, tours, and activities for all ages are inspired by architecture and urban design.
- Our Special Collections and Archives are an accredited archive service and home to our archive and rare book collections.
- The Art on Campus programme enriches our surroundings with works by leading artists. They include members of the University community and alumni.
- Our annual programme of public events includes LIVE in King’s Hall Concerts and INSIGHTS Public Lectures.
Supporting the UK creative industries
We lead the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre with the Royal Society of Arts. We provide research and policy advice that helps the UK’s creative industries grow. Our work strengthens the creative economy, improving the evidence base.
Education for life
Our culture and creative arts programmes provide an excellent education experience. We prepare the next generation of creative practitioners for diverse careers in our cultural and creative economy.
Students contribute to a wide range of professions and society through education.
Students develop skills through:
- placements
- community projects
- residencies
- live build experiences
- exhibitions
Examples include:
- our Fine Art students do Life Work Art, an award-winning professional development scheme
- our Architecture students collaborate with communities and stakeholders to implement Live Build projects. They develop practical skills and experience of different modes of design practice
- our Music and Museum Studies students engage with a range of partners relevant to their interests
View our collection of innovative teaching case studies in:
Everyone should have the opportunity to experience creativity and embark on creative careers. We collaborate with schools and partners through initiatives such as music hubs.
We also support graduates and emerging creative and cultural professionals through initiatives such as the NewBridge Project.
Meet some of our researchers and innovators
- Dr Tina Gharavi, Reader in English: Screenwriting and film
- Professor Hasan Bakhshi, Director of the Creative Industries Policy Evidence Centre
- Professor Richard Clay, Professor of Digital Humanities
- Professor Sinéad Morrissey, Professor of Creative Writing
- Rachel Maclean, Artist and NUAcT Research Fellow
Research infrastructure
Research centres
Our research centres and institutes are key enablers of our culture and creative industries research, including:
We also work with our three National Innovation Centres: Ageing, Data and Rural Enterprise.
Creative practice and public engagement
At our Newcastle city-centre campus we undertake creative practice and public engagement through:
Who we work with
- performance tutors whose expertise spans numerous musical styles and areas of study work within our creative teaching/performance modules
- international academic partners including Chicago Institute for the Arts, Yale School of Arts, University of Victoria, Pittsburgh University, British International Research Institutes (BIRI), and University of Bergen
- international partners include The Lannan Foundation and we have major Fine Art commissions in World Heritage Sites including Pompeii and Herculaneum
- international networks of heritage researchers and partners including CoHere
- specialist agencies including UNESCO.
- national arts and heritage organisations including the National Trust, National Gallery, Arts Council England, and English Heritage
- regional partners including North East Museums, Northern Stage, Opera North, National Trust, NewBridge Project, and The Glasshouse International Centre for Music
- regional strategic bodies including the North East Culture Partnership
- other Russell Group Universities by convening the Russell Group Culture Network