Community Media

We are one of the leading research centres and have a proven track record in producing internationally excellent research in a number of diverse areas. Our current projects include 'Voices on War and Peace', which is an AHRC funded project which supports a wide range of community engagement activities, connecting academic and public histories of the First World War as part of the commemoration of the War’s centenary. We have long-standing research relationships with several community radio stations, including Unity FM, and use our expertise is also helping research and development for a number of community arts organisations.

  • Dr Nick Gebhardt, an authority on the entertainment industry, has a proven track record in community radio and is currently developing research work around cultural workers in the music industries
  • Professor Tim Wall, who leads the research centre, takes a similar approach and uses insights from his historical studies to understand contemporary technological and cultural change. His recent projects have involved working with the BBC, arts organisations and community media activists
  • Dr Kirsten Forkert researches the politics of cultural work and education is currently engaged in research that will explore the cultural politics of austerity
  • Dr Paul Long is part of the AHRC-funded project 'Cultural Intermediation and the Cultural Economy' where he researches the relationship of 'hard to reach' communities within the cultural sector
  • Professor of Music Industries Innovation, Andrew Dubber, author of several key texts on the changing nature of the music industries, is currently researching the music-making communities in Brazil.