Midlands3Cities Creative Economy Engagement Fellowship Programme
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Research and Innovation
Abstract
The project will support fellowships that aim to support:
- some of the UK's most talented researchers and nurture future leaders
- the broader skills development of high-calibre recent doctoral graduates in the art and humanities, particularly in relation to working with partners to support the wider impact of research.
- projects broadly aligned with the core themes, challenges and opportunities that are highlighted in the Industrial Strategy Green paper
- research which is cross-disciplinary and innovation-orientated"
- the best international talent
- some of the UK's most talented researchers and nurture future leaders
- the broader skills development of high-calibre recent doctoral graduates in the art and humanities, particularly in relation to working with partners to support the wider impact of research.
- projects broadly aligned with the core themes, challenges and opportunities that are highlighted in the Industrial Strategy Green paper
- research which is cross-disciplinary and innovation-orientated"
- the best international talent
Planned Impact
See Case for Support
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Paul Grainge (Principal Investigator) |
| Title | The MOMENT, A Brain Controlled Film |
| Description | The unique technical platform that "The MOMENT" runs on has been developed over the past 4 years. The technology has been proven in the field and has the technical support from experienced researchers from the Mixed Reality Lab at the University of Nottingham. Viewers interact with the film via bluetooth EEG headsets. Each viewing produces a unique experiential narrative. The film has been designed to be engaged with again and again. The MOMENT's themes mirror moves from current technology leaders such as Facebook, Google and Elon Musk to develop brain-computer interfaces for mass markets, which could have a dramatic influence on our futures. By incorporating the very technology that this film discusses, audiences are provoked to actively engaging in this conversation. I am credited as Interaction Advisor for the film. The studies I helped design and conduct at the film's preview screenings, informed refinements ahead of its premiere and tour. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Impact | Something that has become clear during the project is the extent of public and industry interest across the world in the idea of a brain-controlled interactive film as a live, performative experience. Research collaboration on The MOMENT has provided access to a great deal of publicity impact, with support from the University's Media Relations team. In the UK the film and its technology received press coverage from BBC News , Sky News , Daily Mail and a feature on BBC Click , while the screenings in Hong Kong headlined reporting of the Spark festival in the South China Morning Post . Influential online technology forums have also picked up on the interactive system developed, which was the subject of articles for Futurism , Tech Explore and MIT Technology Review , with the latter appearing in Urdu and Spanish as well as English. |
| URL | https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7853742/ |
| Description | The Creative Economy Engagement Fellowship scheme required that full reporting of individual and institutional research findings and impacts were reported directly to the AHRC. In summary, however, the scope and variety of projects - on diversity in the craft economy, networked live performance, the role of front-line museum professionals, digital strategies of public arts venues, maximising the value of collections and curation for national and regional cultural organisations - has catalysed different kinds of HEI-industry collaboration. Some projects, such as Patel's interview-based work with BAME craft practitioners, Frost's digital scoping and impact work with the public arts venue Phoenix (Leicester) and McCann's research on organisational work practice with the Museums Association, has embedded arts and humanities research to help meet immediate organisational needs. Frost writes, 'The Fellowship has directly informed the research, development and consultation work undertaken by Phoenix, especially with reference to how digital arts, culture and service provision will sit within the transformational Phoenix 2020 initiative.' Meanwhile, Julia Bennett from Crafts Council UK noted of Patel's project: 'The fellowship has deepened our engagement with Equality and Diversity issues in craft practice, a high priority for the Crafts Council.' Other projects, such as Martindale's work on live performance with BBC Research and Development (including case study work of a brain-controlled interactive film called The MOMENT) has enabled arts and humanities research approaches to be applied tech-driven R&D, 'establishing a rich stock of industry knowledge, from a network of different stakeholders in the sector, which can be leveraged as the basis for an ongoing programme of research projects and creative development investment.' |
| Exploitation Route | As detailed in individual research reporting to the AHRC, as per the scheme requirements, findings have been taken forward by all the collaborating partners. This has included internal and external reports for the arts sector ('A Digital Roadmap for the Arts') informing digital transformation in the arts sector, professional and network development thinking among museum and craft professionals (Museums Association, The Crafts Council)), the development of live performance content (BBC R&D), and research informing the cultural and creative impact of key exhibits (Nottingham Contemporary) and collections (Natural History Museum). |
| Sectors | Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Description | As detailed in individual and institutional research reporting to the AHRC, as per the scheme requirements, the Creative Economy Engagement Fellowship has had numerous non-academic impacts. For example, McCann's work with the Museums Association (MA) has enabled greater understanding of the impact of the MA's training programme on individual participants and has built networks within the organisation. Other projects, such as Martindale's R&D focused project with the BBC, contributed to the evaluation for an Arts Council England (ACE) grant that supported the production and release of the brain-controlled film that formed the key case study. Frost's project led to a major public event, 'A Digital Roadmap for the Arts' held at Phoenix, Leicester, informing regional thinking about digital transformation in the arts sector. Patel's project, 'supporting diversity in craft practice through digital technology skills development,' has had tangible impacts for the Craft Council, Julia Bennett from Crafts Council UK noting that 'Karen's work with BAME women makers has highlighted some of the challenges facing this group of professionals in using social media to promote their work, as well as creating an opportunity for women creatives to connect and collaborate with others.' Meanwhile, Meneses and Hughes have maximised the cultural and curatorial value of exhibitions and collections hosted by Nottingham Contemporary and the Natural History Museum. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2018 |
| Sector | Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Economic |
| Description | Grants for the Arts |
| Amount | £14,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Arts Council England |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2017 |
| End | 06/2018 |
| Description | Midlands4Cities Collaborative Doctoral Award |
| Amount | £79,344 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | AH/R012725/1 |
| Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2020 |
| End | 03/2024 |
| Description | Nottingham Research Fellowship |
| Amount | £280,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2019 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | Telling Tales of Engagement Award |
| Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2019 |
| End | 09/2020 |
| Description | AHRC/M3C CEEF 2018 |
| Organisation | British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) |
| Department | BBC Research & Development |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Prior to CEEF, the Mixed Reality Lab already had a longstanding partnership with BBC R&D, including collaborations on EPSRC PhD projects, one of which has recently contributed to the Living Room of the Future prototype . CEEF provided me with the chance to get to know, and aligned my own work with, the R&D group. During 2018 I began supervising a PhD project sponsored by BBC R&D, which focuses on techniques for delivering augmented reality narratives in domestic settings. I also started to help a second student, who is developing a PhD proposal according to the partner's interest in incorporating game engines into broadcasting. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Meetings in Nottingham and MediaCity Letter of support Mentoring and advice, in person and via emails Knowledge exchange |
| Impact | PhD co-supervision Research funding application support |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | AlbinoMosquito |
| Organisation | AlbinoMosquito |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | I collected audience responses once the film was released, helping to develop an interview protocol and survey, which were then implemented by multiple people across screenings and sites. Data I collected after preview screening at Lakeside Arts in Nottingham informed final adjustments to the film's length and soundtrack. The film premiered at Sheffield Doc/Fest, a prestigious international film event for industry and the public, in June 2018. Interviews with audience members after the 66 screening during the festival produced over 1000 minutes of audio, which were converted into 78 transcript, which I analysed. My research efforts for the project contributed to the evaluation for the Arts Council England (ACE) grant that supported the production and release of the brain-controlled film. This was offered as an in-kind contribution to that grant; and the successful outcome of the project, which I helped to evidence, then formed the basis for another ACE application to support subsequent touring (also successful). |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner allowed me to collect a range of data relevant to the production and release of a brain-controlled film. I interviewed professionals from different creative specialisms involved in the film production: the director, cinematographer, CGI artist and composers. They were also willing to share working materials with me, which include chat logs and storyboards. These materials are particularly interesting in terms of adjustments to practices, even at the pre-production stage, which have to be made in order to accommodate interactive playback at a screening. The techniques developed by the director in the course of this project, and the lessons learned during the process, could help practitioners and researchers develop general frameworks for making and studying interactive narrative media. |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary research publications Technical demonstrations and creative products Press coverage Public engagement at arts venues and festivals |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Creative and Digital Research Priority Area |
| Organisation | City Arts (Nottingham) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Working with co-lead, Professor Paul Hegarty, and Project Manager, Maria Richards, my role is to oversee strategic networking in these areas across the University of Nottingham Research community. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our partners have joined a management group to oversee and steer the emerging priorities in these areas, inputting their professional expertise to guide our research efforts. |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary meetings and workshops |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Creative and Digital Research Priority Area |
| Organisation | New Art Exchange, Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Working with co-lead, Professor Paul Hegarty, and Project Manager, Maria Richards, my role is to oversee strategic networking in these areas across the University of Nottingham Research community. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our partners have joined a management group to oversee and steer the emerging priorities in these areas, inputting their professional expertise to guide our research efforts. |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary meetings and workshops |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Creative and Digital Research Priority Area |
| Organisation | Primary Studios |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Working with co-lead, Professor Paul Hegarty, and Project Manager, Maria Richards, my role is to oversee strategic networking in these areas across the University of Nottingham Research community. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our partners have joined a management group to oversee and steer the emerging priorities in these areas, inputting their professional expertise to guide our research efforts. |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary meetings and workshops |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Creative and Digital Research Priority Area |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Department | Lakeside Arts |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Working with co-lead, Professor Paul Hegarty, and Project Manager, Maria Richards, my role is to oversee strategic networking in these areas across the University of Nottingham Research community. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our partners have joined a management group to oversee and steer the emerging priorities in these areas, inputting their professional expertise to guide our research efforts. |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary meetings and workshops |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Inspiring person profile |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | As co-lead of a new University-wide Creative and Digital Research Priority Area, I was asked to contribute an 'inspiring person profile' for the research section of the public facing website, which showcases our work as an institution. The purpose of this is to help attract students and research partners, and also to build interdisciplinary networks among the research community. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/inspiring-people/cc/sarah-martindale.aspx |
| Description | Interview for alumni magazine |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I gave an interview about the impact of the 'fourth industrial revolution' on our media consumption, which was written up by the Communications team in the University's Campaign and Alumni Relations Office and digitally distributed to the extensive alumni network. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/connectonline/research/2018/keep-calm-and-carry-on-playing.aspx |
| Description | Live Cinema Conference III: The ReOpening |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a free online event to reflect on the impact of the lockdown on the live and immersive sectors. It took place in the afternoon on Monday 14 September and all day on Tuesday 15 September 2020, offering online workshops, discussion panels and screenings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://livecinema.org.uk/live-cinema-conference-iii-the-reopening/ |