UKRI Announces Next Wave of Creative Industries Clusters Funding for January 2026
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is preparing to launch the next phase of its Creative Industries Clusters program. Building on the success of the initial nine clusters, which leveraged £270 million from a £56 million investment, the new initiative aims to expand the portfolio with at least four additional entities. Supported by an extra £50 million allocation from the government’s new Industrial Strategy and Creative Industries Sector Plan, the total committed funding now exceeds £100 million. The upcoming funding opportunity, scheduled to go live on January 5, 2026, will prioritize new geographies and sub-sectors that have not previously received cluster support, aiming to drive regional growth across the UK. The program encourages partnerships between academia and industry, including intersections with health, ICT, and advanced manufacturing. To assist potential applicants, AHRC will host engagement webinars in October 2025 and a panel at the BEYOND conference in Salford in November. This expansion underscores the creative industries' vital role in the UK's cultural and economic landscape, fostering innovation through collaborative research and development partnerships.
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UKRI Announces Next Wave of Creative Industries Clusters Funding for January 2026
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is preparing to launch the next phase of its Creative Industries Clusters program. Building on the success of the initial nine clusters, which leveraged £270 million from a £56 million investment, the new initiative aims to expand the portfolio with at least four additional entities. Supported by an extra £50 million allocation from the government’s new Industrial Strategy and Creative Industries Sector Plan, the total committed funding now exceeds £100 million. The upcoming funding opportunity, scheduled to go live on January 5, 2026, will prioritize new geographies and sub-sectors that have not previously received cluster support, aiming to drive regional growth across the UK. The program encourages partnerships between academia and industry, including intersections with health, ICT, and advanced manufacturing. To assist potential applicants, AHRC will host engagement webinars in October 2025 and a panel at the BEYOND conference in Salford in November. This expansion underscores the creative industries' vital role in the UK's cultural and economic landscape, fostering innovation through collaborative research and development partnerships.
UKRI