Creative clusters in rural, coastal and post-industrial towns

About the project

The project aims to explore the development of creative and cultural clusters in locations beyond large urban centres including rural, coastal and post-industrial towns. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, the project will examine the reasons behind such cluster development and the implications for local economies and policy initiatives.

Despite the strong tendency for creative and cultural industries to concentrate in the largest metropolitan areas, a growing number of studies in many different countries have reported that some of these industries are growing rapidly in small towns and in post-industrial regions.

This expansion has been partly attributed to technological change and digitisation, partly to:

Not surprisingly, policy-makers have seized on these findings to argue that creative clusters can act as a tool for regeneration and inclusive growth in struggling towns.

This project would develop a critical examination of these trends and arguments. These debates are beset by many unanswered questions and uncertainties. How do creative clusters vary between different categories of small, peripheral and left-behind towns and do they share common constraints? How strong are growth dynamics in different industries and what is the balance between growth and decline in different sectors and places?

In recent years in the UK, levelling up funds have been spent on revising ‘place imaginaries’, increasing place attachment and stimulating cultural activities. However, there has been little evaluation of whether these activities are both meeting industry needs and boosting inclusive employment.

We are looking for PhD students to co-design a project around this broad topic. Both quantitative and qualitative methods may be used and students are encouraged to develop an approach which reflects their own interests and connections.

• lifestyle choices
• the re-use and reinvention of older industry and craft traditions
• local policy support.

Potential supervisors

• Potential supervisors: Lead supervisor Dr Brian Hracs Associate Professor Supervisors PS Professor Peter Sunley Professor of Human Geography

Lead supervisor

• Lead supervisor: Dr Brian Hracs Associate Professor

Dr Brian Hracs

• Dr Brian Hracs: Associate Professor

Supervisors

• Supervisors: PS Professor Peter Sunley Professor of Human Geography

Professor Peter Sunley

• Professor Peter Sunley: Professor of Human Geography

Entry requirements

You’ll need either of the following (or their international equivalents ):

• 2.1 honours degree and evidence of high quality writing and analysis
• master’s degree with merit, including 60% for your dissertation

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you'll need an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) minimum level of 6.5 with a 6.0 in writing, reading, speaking and listening. Your awarded certificate needs to be dated within the last 2 years.

Visit our English language proficiency pages to find out about other qualifications we accept.

If you need further English language tuition before starting your degree, you can apply for one of our pre-sessional English language courses .

Fees and funding

This project is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council through the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership.

Your tuition fees will be paid and you'll receive a stipend (living allowance) of £17,668 tax-free per year (22/23 rate) for up to 3.5 years.

You can also claim funding for training and fieldwork.

How to apply

• Apply to the University of Southampton
• Apply to the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership for funding

Apply to the University to do the research

Apply now

You need to:

You'll need to send us:

If you have any questions about the degree application, email the graduate school .

• choose programme type (Research), 2023/24, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences
• choose PhD in Geography and Environmental Science (Full time)
• add name of the supervisor (Dr Brian Hracs) in section 2
• your CV with details of your academic record and research interests
• your academic transcript
• details of 2 current academic referees, with their institutional email addresses
• a short statement of your research interests and reasons for choosing the projects you're applying for
• an IELTS or TOEFL certificate if English is not your first language

Apply for funding to do the research

Then you need to apply to the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership (SCDTP), funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.

You don't need to wait for a decision from the University before making your SCDTP application.

Visit the SCDTP website to apply for funding .

If you have any questions about the funding application, email the SCDTP .

Contact us

Email: fels-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk

Research areas