Research & Innovation
Researchers across the University have embraced opportunities to connect local and regional communities, cross-faculty creative ventures, policy initiatives, global cultures and communities. Research collaborations have strengthened the University’s connections with place and its reputation as a centre of excellence for place-based research.
Deep research with Belgrade Theatre's co-creation model
The University and the Belgrade Theatre have secured a fully-funded PhD studentship to explore co-creation within the context of a regional civic theatre. The research looks at how collaborative theatre-making empowers communities and promotes inclusion, participation, and social equity. Focusing on the forthcoming major production Nanny of the Maroons (2027) and other activity, the research will generate practical insights into community-led models of artistic creation that improve cultural democracy.
Culture shaping evidence-based collaboration in Coventry
Coventry CollaborACTION & Knowledge ExCHANGE unites Warwick researchers, civic leaders, cultural practitioners and community groups to explore how collaboration drives urban change. By mapping networks, co-producing workshops and sharing lived experience, it demonstrates how culture and research can inform local decision-making and strengthen long-term, place-based collaboration.
Creative Futures
The Creative Futures portfolio acts as a bridge between the University innovation, regional cluster strengths, and the tech industry. It enables staff and students to co-develop creative technologies, immersive experiences, and new business ventures. Working alongside the Productivity Institute, Creative Futures carried out industry research into the future of the creative economy. 17 collaborative R&D projects were funded, engaging over 170 academics and creating an innovation model designed to enhance industry–academia collaboration.
Measuring what Matters
Dr Mark Scott (Warwick Business School) has been awarded a Warwick ESRC Impact Acceleration Account Postdoctoral Impact Fellowship. The project will create a new way to assess the economic, social, and cultural value of the arts. Working with the Belgrade Theatre and Coventry City Council, the project is developing a data-driven, place-based framework to help policymakers make smarter funding decisions. By linking cultural investment to wider place-based outcomes such as wellbeing, equality, and local growth, the project aims to show how culture strengthens communities and the local economy.