Designing the Future of UK-China RD&I Collaboration in the Museums and Galleries Sector
Lead Research Organisation:
Brunel University London
Department Name: Brunel Design School
Abstract
The museums and galleries sector is central to the creative industries in the UK and China. The sector has been experiencing significant growth in recent years, making substantial contributions to the culture, society and economy of the two countries. This growth is arguably attributable to the rapid emergence of immersive and interactive technologies, enabling the creation of innovative entertaining and educational experiences that drive the museum and gallery audience numbers onsite and online.
The UK and China are seeking to generate opportunities for bilateral collaboration in the museums and galleries sector and the use of immersive and interactive technologies within the sector in particular. However, despite the strong interest, there is still no concerted effort to drive this potentially highly valuable form of exchange between the UK and China forward strategically and continually at the sector-wide level. This project will address that gap by delivering a strategic framework to facilitate the long-term RD&I collaboration between museums and galleries in the UK and China, focusing on the immersive and interactive museum and gallery experiences.
The project consortium includes a well-balanced mix of academic and industry organisations from the UK and China. The core project consortium members are the Brunel Design School at Brunel University London (Project Lead) and the Natural History Museum, London in the UK and the Institute of Cultural and Creative Industry (ICCI) at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the Modern Art Museum Shanghai, SoART Gallery, Link-Star and Jo-Z Design in China, all based in Shanghai, the centre of the Chinese creative industries.
The project will benefit: (i) the museums and galleries in the UK and China looking to understand their counterpart's market and establish or grow their UK-China partnerships; (ii) the sector-based creative businesses from both countries looking to start up or enhance their UK-China operations by applying new business models and widening business networks; (iii) the researchers investigating the creative industries in the UK and China; (iv) the government bodies and policymakers developing the methods to stimulate and monitor international collaboration activities and (v) the UK-China museum and gallery audience with the interest in the transnational cultural exchange.
The UK and China are seeking to generate opportunities for bilateral collaboration in the museums and galleries sector and the use of immersive and interactive technologies within the sector in particular. However, despite the strong interest, there is still no concerted effort to drive this potentially highly valuable form of exchange between the UK and China forward strategically and continually at the sector-wide level. This project will address that gap by delivering a strategic framework to facilitate the long-term RD&I collaboration between museums and galleries in the UK and China, focusing on the immersive and interactive museum and gallery experiences.
The project consortium includes a well-balanced mix of academic and industry organisations from the UK and China. The core project consortium members are the Brunel Design School at Brunel University London (Project Lead) and the Natural History Museum, London in the UK and the Institute of Cultural and Creative Industry (ICCI) at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the Modern Art Museum Shanghai, SoART Gallery, Link-Star and Jo-Z Design in China, all based in Shanghai, the centre of the Chinese creative industries.
The project will benefit: (i) the museums and galleries in the UK and China looking to understand their counterpart's market and establish or grow their UK-China partnerships; (ii) the sector-based creative businesses from both countries looking to start up or enhance their UK-China operations by applying new business models and widening business networks; (iii) the researchers investigating the creative industries in the UK and China; (iv) the government bodies and policymakers developing the methods to stimulate and monitor international collaboration activities and (v) the UK-China museum and gallery audience with the interest in the transnational cultural exchange.
Organisations
- Brunel University London (Lead Research Organisation)
- Natural History Museum (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Link-Stars (Project Partner)
- The Modern Art Museum Shanghai (Project Partner)
- Jo-Z Design (Project Partner)
- SoART Gallery (Project Partner)
| Description | With the key research question: "How can a proactive and sustained UK-China collaboration be achieved in the museums and galleries sector?", this project aims to develop a strategic framework facilitating the long-term RD&I collaboration between museums and galleries in the UK and China, focusing on immersive and interactive museum and gallery experiences. The key activities undertaken in earlier phases are a literature review, interviews and a questionnaire survey, and the results reveal that both the UK and China believe that the use of immersive technologies to enhance user experience in the museums and galleries sector is crucial considering the tech, social and user trends, and seek opportunities for transnational cultural exchanges through strategic collaborations. Most stakeholders stated that they have communication difficulties due to different cultural backgrounds and challenges in finding necessary information for international market entry and collaboration. Additionally, limited opportunities for funding and networking also prevent potential collaborations. Audiences from most age groups expressed their expectations of immersive technologies in the museums and galleries experience, especially in multicultural contexts. However, older participants had a minimal understanding of the immersive technologies but were still very much interested in cultural exchange. |
| Exploitation Route | Although there is a significant interest in enhancing the UK-China collaboration in the museums and galleries sector, as well as in immersive technologies, there has yet to be a focused effort to drive this potentially valuable exchange strategically and consistently between the two countries at the sector-wide level. Therefore, this project aimed at creating a strategic framework to support the long-term RD&I collaboration development in a coordinated manner. The framework is crucial as it will provide both the strategic and practical directions for the UK- China museums and galleries collaboration and thus facilitate the long-term collaboration development. In developing the framework, efforts will be made to clearly define (i) the collaboration purposes, including the collaboration value and its benefits for the creative industries, research institutions and other stakeholders, and (ii) the key strategy points and actions for the sustained collaboration growth, including a set of innovative collaboration-facilitating business models. The supporting bodies (e.g. AHRC) are expected to use the framework in collaboration with key stakeholders in the sector, including policymakers and implementors, to create a practical and mutually beneficial strategy for effective UK-China collaboration in the museums and galleries sector. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Description | Project Partners in the UK & China |
| Organisation | Natural History Museum |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The project partners have been informed of the insights gained on user experience with immersive technologies, cultural exchange, and international collaborations resulting from the project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The project partners shared their perspectives and experiences through regular meetings and engaging interactive activities, including interviews. |
| Impact | In progress |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Project Partners in the UK & China |
| Organisation | Shanghai Jiao Tong University |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The project partners have been informed of the insights gained on user experience with immersive technologies, cultural exchange, and international collaborations resulting from the project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The project partners shared their perspectives and experiences through regular meetings and engaging interactive activities, including interviews. |
| Impact | In progress |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Engaging researchers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Three design master students, with a particular interest in social innovation and immersive user experience, were invited to monthly project meetings to discuss the project's key findings and receive support in improving their research skills. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Knowledge sharing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presented the project to audiences mainly from academia in the 2022 International Conference on Global Cultural and Creative Industries: Art, Technology and Cultural Values, Shanghai, China, 05 - 07 Dec 2022. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://conference.icci.sjtu.edu.cn/en |