Research Culture and the role of creativity

Sarah Campbell, Associate Director for Arts and Culture

Research Culture theme: Inclusively working together

1) Please can you explain the role of Arts & Culture and how this relates to research culture?

Our role is to create the time, space and opportunities needed for creative and interdisciplinary collaborations to flourish at the university. We lead Creative Fellowships and Arts Commissions that bring creative practitioners into research contexts, we promote the creative life of the university to a global audience via our dedicate digital communications channels, and we provide guidance, resources and training to academics wanting to work more creatively but aren’t sure where to start.

2) Which elements of Arts & Culture most relate to research culture and how?

We are often approached by academics wanting to bring more creativity into their research, but are unsure how to go about it. Three strands of work are relevant:

In 2025 we launched a new online resource, specifically for University of Exeter staff who want to work with creative practitioners and bring creative processes into their research.

We run an annual Fellowship programme, that funds creative practitioners to spend 4-5 weeks (often over the course of months) with a research group, in open-ended and mutually beneficial dialogue and exchange. Often, this seed funding leads to further collaborations through successful grant applications, and can have a transformative impact on how academics think about their research.

In 2024, we piloted a ‘Creative Skills Development for ECRs’ workshop with the Doctoral College, and intend to expand it into a longer programme.

3) What benefits does Arts & Culture bring to creating a more positive research culture?

Inspiration – new ways of thinking about one’s own discipline are energising and exciting.

Motivation – researchers are eager to continue working with creative practitioners, often seeking funding to continue initial partnerships.

Impact – creative practitioners bring their audiences and connections to the process, broadening the reach of the research learning to new communities.

Sector Need – with UKRI calling for greater interdisciplinarity in research, and academics calling for greater creativity in research (see Wellcome Report, 2020, Figure 1 and Figure 21), our programmes are helping researchers achieve this.

Wellcome. (2020). What Researchers Think About the Culture They Work In.

4) Can you provide any examples, evidence or feedback from those who have positively benefitted from Arts & Culture?

Here are a couple of comments from those who have benefited from our annual Fellowship programme:

This fellowship represents one of the most exciting ventures in my academic career. The work supports the development of environmental justice as a key interdisciplinary research theme for the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Cornwall and will therefore shape cutting-edge research over the coming years.

Professor Clare Saunders, Head of Department for Humanities and Social Sciences, Cornwall

I’m thrilled at the opportunity to collaborate with Siân this year. Her work inspires me to think differently about my academic work and to bring it to new audiences. I’m excited to collaboratively explore the political power of comedy and to question the limits of individual authorship.

Dr Ina Linge, University of Exeter, Creative Fellowship on The Politics of Sexual Nature

5) How can colleagues play their part or where can I find out more?

Check out our website

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Get in touch! Always up for a chat. We have staff based in Streatham and Penryn.