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.

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Cultural Engine Research Group

Cultural Engine Research Group (CERG) is a partnership between the University of Essex, the University of East London and the Cultural Engine, established in 2014 to explore academic ideas and bring them out into public debate. CERG holds events in community settings, with academics from a range of HE institutions offering insight and thought on…

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Southend City of Culture

The Cultural Engine led the bidding process for Southend to become the UK City of Culture in 2017. We worked with a wide range of partners to put together a clear offer to the Government that recognises Southend’s strengths and a visitor destination (and its emerging strengths) while presenting a clear case for cultural-led regeneration…

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Essex Cultural Diversity Project

Cultural Engine have worked collaboratively with ECDP since 2015, supporting them to become an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation and developing funding and arts commissioning strategies. 

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