Welcome to the Digital Creativity and Cultures Hub!

The DCCH is a new Hub dedicated to supporting research that uses digital methods, cultural heritage collections and archives, explores digital creativity, and fosters critical approaches to emergent themes in digital research. We are able to help with the development of research ideas, provide training support in a range of methods and data use, showcase projects, promote funding opportunities and encourage the use of Library collections and growing digital resources. We have a global perspective and are actively seeking partnerships to help promote open training resources and provide mentorship.

Our approach is based on supporting conversations between different sectors of the University and linking people to resources and expertise that can enrich their research and teaching. This is essential to support our work with external partners and communities and in delivering on the civic mission of the University. We know that there is a great deal of excellent research, capacity and expertise within the University: the DCCH will provide a focus and help orchestrate activities that will allow us to realise our collective potential. Whilst our initial focus will be on Arts and Humanities researchers and postgraduates, we are also here to promote interdisciplinary approaches and support staff working across Arts and Humanities and STEM boundaries.

As we approach our launch we would like to highlight some of the services and opportunities we are developing  for the next academic year:

• Digital methods and approaches to data. We will be developing training opportunities, online materials and regular demonstrations of new research resources.
• Research Development Surgery. Come and discuss ideas for research, potential methods and data requirement, IP and commercialisation opportunities. We can advise on potential approaches, training needs and ongoing support in an informal and supportive environment.
• Project Affiliation. We will offer a series of services for projects including mentorship, showcase opportunities, training packages, use of facilities and letters of support.
• Experimental and Showcase events. We will be inviting people to come and talk through and workshop new ideas, showcase current research and initiate new conversations around emergent themes.
• Undergraduate Student Internship Programme. In conjunction with the Library and the Alumni Footsteps Fund we are inaugurating a year-long paid internship programme for 10 students who will be paired across Arts and Humanities and Computing to work on a rolling programme of 5 themes.

We are also launching a series of ongoing event strands and will be publishing our full programme in the Autumn:

• Critical Themes. Our first year-long Critical series will focus on AI and topics including inclusivity and bias in AI,  generative AI and creative practices, pedagogical implications for the Arts and Humanities, and media hysteria.
• Cultural Explorations. This strand will be a series of showcase events and methods workshops in dialogue with University exhibitions and focussing on the use of Library collections.
• Resources and new technologies. This strand will feature events that introduce new University resources such as makerspaces, and emergent digital technologies.

The DCCH team consists of Simon Popple (Academic Lead), Helen Keighley (Hub Manager), and Cassie Ulph (Digital Development Officer). We look forward to welcoming you to the Hub!