Arts and Creative Industries Groups

The University's School of Arts and Creative Industries has 6 Research Groups:

Digital Performance

Head: Dan Barnard

Theatre is undergoing a deep and sustained transformation on all fronts. We respond to the current transformation of theatre and performance through the use of digital and networking technologies: from performance in virtual environments (VR), to game-performance hybrids, the live streaming of theatre productions, productions featuring robotic and artificial intelligence actors and transmedia practices that develop across different media platforms.

Games Research Group

Head: Andy Lemon

We seek to foster excellence in games research. Research areas include: Virtual and Augmented Reality, Sensory Design, body-oriented design, biomechanics, biometrics, War Games, Video game industry studies (policy and management), Games and health, Accessibility, Gender and games, Game curriculum development design and teaching and Esports.

Researching the Screen

Head: Matthew Hawkins

The Researching the Screen group engage in research praxis in the areas of Documentary, Fiction Film, Television, and Artist Moving Image. The group members publish on issues that include the portrait film, gender and filmmaking, affect, documentary interiority, community filmmaking, cinematography and race, Weimar cinema and culture. Group members have screened work internationally at film festivals such as London Film Festival, Locarno Film Festival, Aesthetical, Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival, London Short Film Festival, and more.

Journalism Futures

Head: Prof. Lizzie Jackson

We address solutions to the contemporary crisis of journalism in a digital and converged age, exploring and encouraging new developments in the technologies, forms, content, audiences, policies and business models shaping the future of journalism in the digital age. Our members’ expertise provides a focus for collaborations on cross-cutting themes within games, big data and web science areas.

Sonic Research Group

Head: Dr Adam Parkinson

The Sonic Research Group brings together academic staff and postgraduate research students from across the University who are engaged in the concepts, cultures, creative practices and technologies of sound and music. Members of the SRG engage in research including the following areas: immersive audio; dancefloor sound; computer music; sound art; modular synthesis. Public events include concerts, listening sessions and film screenings, as well as panel discussions with guests, such as Atau Tanaka, Kaffe Matthews and Maria Chavez.