The Creative Industries Clusters Programme has reached its latest milestone with the launch of the call to host the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre.

The Centre will be a national and international asset providing an independent voice about the creative industries through analysis, evidence and research.

Led by a higher education institution or a recognised Independent Research Organisation, it will facilitate collaborations, connections and research in order to form a detailed understanding of the creative industries to inform future policy and strategy.

Alexandra Vincent, leading the programme for AHRC, said: “This is a significant opportunity for the creative industries.  The Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre will enable greater collaboration between the creative industries and HEIs and provide an evidence-driven contribution to one of the fastest growing sectors within the UK economy.

“As an independent resource, the Centre will be important for policy makers, creative businesses and sector organisations.”

A minimum of £8m (including a minimum 25 per cent matched funding) will go toward the Policy and Evidence Centre with an AHRC contribution of £6m from July 2018 to March 2023.

The Policy and Evidence Centre is part of the Creative Industries Clusters Programme, funded through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, which is investing £80m-plus to help catalyse growth in the creative economy and provide the skills needed for the jobs of the future. The Programme, which starts in 2018, is designed to create a step-change in collaboration between the country’s internationally-renowned creative industries and universities across the UK.

The deadline for applications is 8 February 2018 and the centre will launch in July 2018. The first stage is for a statement of intent to be submitted by 11 December 2017.

For further information, please view the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre call documents.