About

Developing a responsible environment for creative, inclusive and sustainable innovation.

Between 2018 and 2024, Bristol+Bath Creative R+D provided a suite of support to businesses, creatives, artists, and thinkers in our region to experiment with new and emerging technologies.

We offered funding for them to develop and use with new and emerging technologies in their day-to-day work, connect with one another, and develop prototype products and experiences. We offered business advice, time to carry out research, and supported all participants in showcasing their works to new audiences. We also carried out research into how to support the creative sector, and ourselves, to be more inclusive and sustainable.

We did not want to be led exclusively by an imperative for economic growth and instead made sure there was scope for our funded projects to generate new cultural, social, and environmental benefits. This people-first approach enabled our creative community to experiment with new technologies in ways that were considered, careful, and responsible.

The programme was led by UWE Bristol, in partnership with world-leading centre for developing creative applications of new technology, Watershed in Bristol, and the universities of Bath, Bath Spa and Bristol.

Our work was funded by a £6.8M grant from a much bigger £80M programme called the Creative Industries Clusters Programme (CICP), which was run by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC ), to drive innovation and growth in the UK’s creative industries by getting universities and creatives to work together.

Explore more about the work we supported here on our website, and read more about our work in our final report, Hopeful Futures for Creative Innovation.