Huddersfield shares £500k AHRC fund for cultural innovation projects
The University of Huddersfield is one of a select number of universities who will share £500,000 to help co-create cultural innovation, enhance belonging, address regional inequality and break down barriers to opportunity.
The Creative Communities programme, funded by the UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and led by Northumbria University, has extended its signature award, the Community Innovation Practitioner (CIP) Awards, for a new 2025-26 cohort. This represents an investment of nearly £500,000 to catalyse place-based innovation across all four nations of the UK research ecosystem.
The university’s project is a research initiative led by Professor Rowan Bailey, Director of the Centre for Cultural Ecologies in Art, Design and Architecture. The project is mobilised through a public realm programme, called Cultures of _, and Dr Claire Tymon, the Community Innovation Practitioner, will be working collaboratively with the research team, external partners and communities on Cultures of Film throughout 2026.
Professor Bailey said: “Cultures of Film is about making sure everyone in Kirklees can help shape the future of arts, culture and heritage through community-driven participatory film-making, especially those who haven’t had a voice before.
“This project changes that by working directly with local people and organisations to co-create new ideas and opportunities. This is a collaboration between Culture Collective, the Creative Piazza, the Creative Health Hub, Support to Recovery, hoot Creative Arts, KLTV, Kirklees Council, Kirklees Museums and Galleries and Kirklees Libraries.”
Previous Cultures of_ programmes since 2022 were Cultures of Place, Cultures of Sound, Cultures of Creative Health and Cultures of Climate. This 2026 programme, Cultures of Film, will connect artists, creative and cultural organisations, researchers, and communities to explore stories of change in places across Kirklees
Six participatory filmmaking workshops with communities will focus on:
- Lifelong Learning on the High Street – turning local high streets into places where people of all ages can learn and be creative.
- Creative Health – using arts and culture to support health and wellbeing.
- Inclusive Heritage – making sure everyone’s stories and histories are represented and celebrated.
Dr Claire Tymon, Community Innovation Practitioner, explains: “This project is about putting power in the hands of the community. It will help more people get involved in shaping local culture, create new learning opportunities, improve wellbeing through creative activities and make sure everyone’s voice is heard in local decision-making and policy.”
The AHRC Creative Communities programme examines the role of culture and devolution in unlocking cross sector co-creation and place-based innovation across all 4 nations of the UK.
The CIPs will generate vital new knowledge about co-creation and the unique role played by their communities and partnerships in growth through new research, development and innovation (RD&I). Together, the CIPs will form a Community of Practice network with the aim of fostering new relationships and sharing innovative practice.
Funding has been awarded to six new CIPs across a spectrum of projects that represent the rich cross-sector community research and inclusive innovation that is catalysing growth in all four nations of the UK.
About Creative Communities
AHRC Creative Communities is a £3.9m major research programme based at Northumbria University in Newcastle. It builds a new evidence base on how cultural devolution can enhance belonging, address regional inequality, deliver devolution and break down barriers to opportunity for communities in devolved settings across all four nations of the UK.
For more information you can also visit the Creative Communities website.