Cultural and Media Policy Studies News and Events

Heidi Ashton and David Wright reflect on the Hodge Review of Arts Council England

Applications are now open for Creative BridgesLink opens in a new window, a major new AHRC-funded doctoral training programme from the University of LeedsLink opens in a new window and the University of WarwickLink opens in a new window designed to expand and diversify the next generation of researchers in the screen industries.

The University of Warwick and the University of Leeds have together secured one of only 10 prestigious Doctoral Focal Awards from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The Award will fund 20 PhD scholarships focused on the creative economy, with a specific emphasis on sustainability and diversity in the screen industries.

Led at Warwick by Dr David Wright, Director of Graduate Studies in the Centre for Cultural and Media Policy Studies with Dr Sanjay Sharma (Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies) and overall by Professor Joanne Garde-Hansen, Head of the School of Media and Communication with Professor Anamik Saha (Professor of Race and Media) at Leeds, the Creative Bridges partnership will run from 2026 until 2033. It will train a new generation of interdisciplinary researcher-practitioners to work alongside – and within – the film, television, games and immersive media sectors.