Centre for the Study of Media and Culture in Small Nations

The Centre galvanises our research and industry expertise in creative industries in Wales and other ‘small’ nations globally. We bring our expertise to bear on the creative industries and the wider economic, social and political contexts in which these industries operate.

• 75% of our research is world leading or internationally excellent (4* / 3*)  
• 67% of our research impact is world leading (4*)  
• Joint first in the UK for impact out of 84 universities - based on 4* / 3* 

The Centre has established connections with creative and cultural industries practitioners across Wales and the UK, as well as academic links with colleagues in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Catalonia, Belgium, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Poland, Greece, New Zealand, India and the USA. 

Centre members, from across USW are experts on performance and screen innovation, the use of creative industries for culture, heritage and community, including endangered languages.

Contact the Centre co-directors

Professor Lisa Lewis

OUR PARTNERS

• Aberystwyth University 
• Amgueddfa Cymru 
• The Association of Csángó Hungarians in Moldova 
• Bangor University 
• Cardiff University 
• Cardiff Metropolitan University 
• Ceangal | Cwlwm 
• Falmouth University 
• Glasgow School of Art 
• The Khasi-Cymru Collective 
• Media Cymru  
• Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama 
• University of Aberdeen 
• University of the Peloponnese 
• University of Santiago de Compostela

OUR MEMBERS

Our members are recognised points of expertise in the creative and cultural industries and are consulted by government, agencies, the creative industries sector and artistic and cultural companies, as well as a multitude other collaborators and partners with whom we collaborate regularly. Our members are specialist researchers, experts in performance and media innovation, and pioneers of Practice-Research methods.

STUDY WITH US

Postgraduate study

We welcome applications for PhD or Masters by Research study in one of our areas of expertise. You can study full or part time, on campus or remotely. If you're a professional with an existing body of research, a PhD by Portfolio could be the route for you.  
 
Postgraduate researchers are assigned a supervisory team who have the expertise and experience to support them in their studies. Supervisors will help you to shape your doctoral research project, advise you on creating networks and establishing your career. 

World-class expertise

Our research is world leading. In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework – the government’s official measure of research capability – 75% of our research was rated in the top two categories: 'world-leading’ and 'internationally excellent’ with 67% of our research impact being classed as ‘world-leading’.

We engage in research in all aspect of the creative and cultural industries in small nations. We conduct studies on specific cultural or regional contexts in addition to explorations from intercultural, transnational or other comparative angles. Research and innovation expertise spans a range of areas and methods, including archival and interpretive research, practice research, policy work, industry reports, service evaluations and numerous forms of public engagement. We champion applied research as well as co-creation with both communities and industry.

Recent work has focused on:

• Screen Innovation (as part of UKRI creative clusters funding, Audience of the Future and Media Cymru)
• The Creative Economy
• Performance & Immersive and Interactive Technology
• Cultural heritage
• Intercultural Performance
• Endangered, minoritised and lesser spoken languages and creative strategies in language revitalisation
• Adaptation and translation in intercultural and intermedial communication

We welcome proposals for postgraduate research projects in any of the above areas and beyond. Feel free to write to us in English or Welsh.