Research Clusters
Our researchers produce high-quality outputs, industry commentary and practical art which are designed to enrich our understanding of identity and culture. Find out more about our specialisms below.
Creative Industries
We take a critical perspective to investigate the challenges of working in the creative sector and explore the impact of cultural policy on areas such as the economy, heritage, urban regeneration, education and enterprise.
Creative IndustriesCultural Theory
Exploring Cultural Theory in relation to contemporary politics in order to understand its application to everyday realities and practices.
Cultural TheoryGame Cultures
The Game Cultures cluster brings together scholars whose research addresses questions around the cultural aspects of games of all kinds.
Game CulturesGender and Sexuality
Investigating the ways in which gender and sexuality are socially and culturally constructed.
Gender and SexualityHistory, Heritage and Archives
The cluster explores all aspects of archiving and cultural heritage practice, and the opportunities and tensions that present themselves for scholars, institutions and practitioners in these fields.
History and ArchivesJazz Studies
Since 2013, the Jazz Studies cluster at BCU has gained global recognition for research leadership in jazz. It boasts a large community of interdisciplinary researchers and practitioners, and is engaged in numerous partnerships organisations across the world.
Jazz StudiesMedia and Place
The Media and Place cluster brings together researchers at different career stages to explore the relations between media, culture and the geopolitics of place.
Media and PlacePopular Music Research
The Popular Music Studies research group focuses on contemporary issues of significance to musicians, audiences, the industries involved directly and indirectly in the production of popular music, and public organisations.
Popular Music ResearchScreen Cultures
Exploring cultural representations of gender and sexuality in screen-based media, ranging from film and television to computer games, animation and the Internet.
Screen Cultures