Research

Undertaking research, developing relationships with academic institutions, think tanks and other social, cultural and economic research organisations, and applying new ideas and thinking to projects and activities on the ground. We undertake consultation and research to underpin strategies and to build strong funding applications. We also collaborate with Universities on outreach programmes and on specific funded projects. We run the Cultural Engine Research Group (CERG) in partnership with University of Essex and Unversity of East London. Through CERG we have gained a deep knowledge of the needs of Universities regarding outreach, impact and research.

The Cultural Engine Reserach Group (CERG) is a partnership between the Cultural Engine CIC, the University of East London and the University of Essex. The key aims are to bring academic discourse and reserach into the public arena throug events, workshops and projects. Through this academics can engage directly with communities and affect change and have impact through their reserach.

The ‘sectors’ that the CERG engages in through an interdisciplinary approach include – Place, Pride and Identity (particularly in relation to Levelling-Up narratives and policy), Tourism and Heritage, Public Realm, Digital Cultures and Smart Cities, Creative Industries, Education, Public Health and Food Cultures. CERG engages directly with academics across-disciplines, local authorities, charities and not-for-profit organisations, government and directly with communities.

In summary, our aim is for CERG to act as a conduit whereby academic expertise is identified and applied to solve ‘real-world’ problems. CERG welcomes approaches from all academic institutions across the UK for collaborations and projects, and we are effective at sourcing funding.

Get in Touch


Coastal Community Funding

Working for Southend on Sea Borough Council, developing and writing a Coastal Community Fund bid to secure £1.3m to develop a range of measures which improve the coastal tourism offer in the area, including building a new lagoon between the famous Southend Pier and Three Shells Beach.

Read More...

Southend and the Great War Exhibition

The Cultural Engine worked with the Southend Museum Service to develop a programme of activity, exhibition and commemorative book for the Central Museum, and we produced the HLF bid which secured £90,000 in 2014.

Read More...

Southend-on-Sea Film Festival

The Cultural Engine provides support for this important event on Southend’s cultural calendar, working with the White Bus to secure funding from the British Film Institute each year, writing activity/summary reports and developing the festival’s strategy in promoting British independent film and filmmakers.

Read More...