BA Creative and Cultural Industries

This course provides an in-depth exploration of the methodologies used to map, scope, and understand the Creative and Cultural Industries (CCIs). Through data analysis, students will gain insights into the sector's dynamics, including music, audio-visual, performing arts, and more. The course will also emphasise critical analysis of relevant issues and debates within the field, focusing on producing evidence to inform decision-making for policies and businesses. Finally, the course will introduce students to best practice for researching CCIs, introducing key ideas and techniques as well as ethical issues.

• To provide students with a deep and multi-faceted knowledge of the shape of the Cultural and Creative Industries, including their occupations and economic activities.
• Foster critical thinking and analytical skills through developing abilities to critically analyse and evaluate critical issues and debates within the CCIs.  
• Empower students with the skills to collect, analyse, and interpret relevant data about the CCIs. 

This course introduces students to data, research, and policy for a range of sub-sectors in the creative economy. By the end of the course students will be able to critically evaluate key issues associated with researching and developing effective interventions to respond to problems in creative subsectors.

1.  Research traditions in Creative Industries: Introducing cultural studies, sociology of culture, and cultural economics approaches to CCI research.  

2. Understanding the shape of the creative economy 1: what are industries, and how do we find out about them?

3. Understanding the shape of the creative economy 2: what are occupations, and how do we find out about them?

4. Thinking about data 1: data ethics, privacy, and good research practice  

5. Thinking about data 3: cultural studies and critiques of the creative economy  

6. Thinking about data 2: Methods for mapping CCIs and their sub-sectors, and case studies of successful mapping projects

7. Understanding Sectoral Dynamics 1: Mapping specific industries within CCIs (e.g., music, audio-visual, performing arts)  

8. Understanding Sectoral Dynamics 2: The impact of technological change on specific industries within CCIs

9. Communicating Creative Industries research: Visualising and presenting data in the context of CCIs, effective use of charts, graphs, and infographics, communicating data-driven insights to diverse audiences

10. Research into practice 1: Case Studies and Guest Speakers, examining real-world examples and success stories in CCIs

11. Research into Practice 2: Understanding policy, the role of evidence-based policymaking in CCIs, and proposing evidence-driven policy recommendations

The course will be delivered over 11 weeks through weekly 1-hour lectures and 2-hour seminars (potentially involving field trips and workshop elements).

During the 2-hour seminar sessions, exercises and group work will be proposed and stimulated to support peer learning and proactive critical engagement with the contents.  

Seminars will offer opportunities for individual feedback and monitoring student progress to support inclusion, alongside weekly office hours for academic advisement.  

E-learning: Students will prepare for lectures and seminars through asynchronous content on Blackboard and through e-learning mechanisms such as collaboration tools, online exercises, and self-directed reading guided by spark pages. The use of lecture capture and other recorded materials will support inclusion.

• Understand and apply data analysis techniques.
• Critically evaluation (via data literacy) of the current economic context of CCIs.
• Address complex challenges, formulate effective policies, and make informed data-driven strategic decisions for businesses and organisations within the creative and cultural industries.  

• Analyse and interpret data related to CCI to gain insights into industry practices and trends.
• Critically evaluate and assess theories, models, and frameworks of data analysis relevant to CCIs.
• Apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios within the CCIs.  

• Conduct theoretical and evidence-based research.
• Present reflections on issues relating to data in the creative sector, in seminars and group presentations (using digital supports).
• Exercise self-progression plans and peer review.  

• Think critically and analyse core topics in the study of cultural industries.
• Develop the ability to suggest solutions to problems facing specific cultural and creative industries.
• Present complex information clearly in verbal, visual and written formats.

Bakhshi, H., Freeman, A. and Higgs, P. (2013) A dynamic mapping of the UK’s creative industries London: NESTA

Collins, H. (2018) Creative Research: The Theory and Practice of Research for the Creative Industries London: Bloomsbury  

Flew, T. and Cunningham, S (2019) A Research Agenda for Creative Industries London: Edward Elgar  

Sapsed, J., Jones, C. and Lorenzen, M. (2015) The Oxford Handbook of Creative Industries Oxford: OUP

Stokes, J. (2021) (3rd ed.) How to Do Media and Cultural Studies. London: Sage.