Arts and Humanities researchers take AHRC Post Office Cultures project to India

Academic researchers from the University of Huddersfield’s School of Arts and Humanities have travelled to India to present their work at an international conference and to undertake new field research as part of the AHRC-funded Post Office Cultures project.

The team participated in the Zeitgeist Conference 2026, hosted by the World University of Design at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

The conference featured a keynote talk by Professor Nic Clear, alongside research papers delivered by Rowan Bailey, Xiaolu Wang and Matthew Taylor. 

Notably, the wider ZEITGEIST 2026 conference programme generated significant national attention across India, with over 140 Indian media outlets covering the event and its themes.

These included major platforms such as ANI News, The Tribune, Lokmat Times, India Today Post, Hindustan Metro and numerous regional and sector specific publications, showcasing the visibility and growing reach of UK–India research collaborations. 

Professor Clear’s keynote also contributed to heightened international interest in speculative design and adaptive futures, prompting follow-up requests from multiple news and cultural organisations seeking further interviews and amplified public interest in the architectural and cultural questions raised by the project.

Post Office Cultures: Dewsbury and Shimla

Following the conference, the researchers travelled to Shimla to conduct fieldwork focused on the historic Shimla GPO and its surrounding urban context.

The visit forms part of the ongoing Post Office Cultures project — an AHRC-funded Knowledge and Cultural Exchange initiative exploring the architectural, social and cultural significance of post office buildings in the UK and India.

Post Office Cultures brings together academics and partners in both countries to examine how former and existing post office buildings can be adapted and reused in ways that support local communities. 

The project combines creative scanning technologies with community engagement tools and storytelling practices to document buildings, capture lived experiences and reimagine the future adaptation of civic post office sites.

By working across Dewsbury and Shimla, the team is developing comparative insights into the role of civic buildings as cultural anchors within distinct historical, social and geographical settings.

The full project team includes Rowan Bailey (Principal Investigator), Nic Clear, Xiaolu Wang, Hemen Galal, Shaleen Sharma, Rajat Verma, Arzoo Kadian and Sanjay Gupta.

International Collaboration and Cultural Exchange

While in India, the team also visited the World University of Design campus for a tour of its facilities and academic programmes. Professor Nic Clear also delivered a talk to students, sharing research insights and fostering dialogue around adaptive reuse, heritage and speculative design methods.

The visit concluded in Delhi with meetings at INTACH (the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage), strengthening connections with heritage professionals and exploring future collaboration opportunities.

Exhibitions and Public Engagement

Outcomes from the India research visit will contribute to an exhibition at the University of Huddersfield campus in June and July 2026. Further exhibitions are planned for Shimla, Delhi, Dewsbury and Bradford in 2027, ensuring that the project’s findings are shared widely across all partner communities.

Through its combination of creative practice, heritage research and public engagement, Post Office Cultures aims to open up new conversations about the future of civic buildings and the stories they hold.

For further details about the project, visit the Post Office Cultures webpage.

Email: postofficecultures@hud.ac.uk