What works in developing international influence/soft power through the arts, heritage and tourism sectors?

Background

Research is also needed to help AHT’s understanding of international cultural markets, where the UK sits comparatively and the impact culture has on international diplomacy. Protecting the UK’s cultural assets and understanding ways to consolidate and make better use of crucial data across AHT sectors is also of interest and more research on best practice would be useful.

Next steps

Get in touch with csa@dcms.gov.uk

Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

DCMS areas of research interest GOV UK

Related UKRI funded projects


  • Understanding Networks in Cultural Diplomacy: Problematisation and Conceptualisation

    Cultural diplomacy (CD) has emerged as a key strategy for nations to build bilateral ties and address global issues. The networks at local, national, and international levels in CD form a crucial infrastructure to operat...

    Funded by: AHRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Manchester

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project explores the role of networks in cultural diplomacy, which is a part of developing international influence through arts and heritage, but does not directly address the tourism sector.

  • Art and Soft Power in the UK and South Korea - examining the role and impact of Korean artefacts in museum settings

    This project examines the use of artefacts to strengthen interregional relations and enhance awareness of different cultures. Focusing on Korean objects in UK museum collections, it questions how their collecting and dis...

    Funded by: FIC

    Lead research organisation: School of Oriental and African Studies

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project directly investigates the role of art and cultural heritage in developing international influence and soft power, specifically between the UK and South Korea, which aligns with the question's focus.

  • Developing a New Framework for Understanding the Role of Cultural Products in Cultural Diplomacy

    States often undertake 'cultural diplomacy' to improve their image with foreign populations and further their foreign policy aims. This can involve the promotion of cultural products abroad, such as literature, art, film...

    Funded by: AHRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Bath

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project explores the role of cultural products in cultural diplomacy and soft power, which partially answers the question, but does not specifically address the arts, heritage, and tourism sectors.

  • Scoping Culture and Heritage Capital Research

    This project responds to the ambition set by the DCMS Culture and Heritage Capital (CHC) Programme to develop a systematic approach through which culture and heritage can be valued. Delivered by a multidisciplinary team ...

    Funded by: AHRC

    Lead research organisation: University of the Arts London

  • Strand A; Developing a taxonomy for culture and heritage capital

    The main objective is to develop a taxonomy of culture and heritage capital (CHC) that articulates the multiple benefits and values generated by culture and heritage (C&H)in a way that enables us to give weight to C&...

    Funded by: AHRC

    Lead research organisation: Historic Bldgs & Mnts Commis for England

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project aims to develop a taxonomy for culture and heritage capital, which directly addresses the question of understanding the impact of culture on international diplomacy.

  • Alliance for Research on Cultural Heritage in Europe

    The Cultural Heritage (CH) Research and Innovation (R&I) landscape has changed significantly over the past few years. New political, technological and socio-economic parameters put emphasis on improving protection, c...

    Funded by: Horizon Europe Guarantee

    Lead research organisation: THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES RESEARCH COUNCIL

  • From Cultural Diplomacy to Cultural Transnationalism

    Galleries, libraries, museums and archives (GLAM) are institutions typically associated with the articulation of collective narratives on identity, culture, history and society. A retrospective examination on the global ...

    Funded by: AHRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Manchester

  • Art Diplomacy and Nation Branding: The Visual Politics of Reinventing China

    Our research investigates how Chinese contemporary art has increasingly become a popular method to help rejuvenate China's nation brand. With the country growing in influence, its newly-gained reputation as a superpower ...

    Funded by: AHRC

    Lead research organisation: De Montfort University

    Why might this be relevant?

    While the project focuses on Chinese contemporary art and nation branding, it partially addresses the question by exploring how art can influence a country's international image.

  • Cultural Heritage 360

    'Cultural Heritage 360' is based upon the premise that arts and humanities have the potential to lead, successfully, innovative interdisciplinary research, embracing sciences and social sciences. One of the most promisin...

    Funded by: AHRC

    Lead research organisation: Durham University

  • Tracing the Digital Thread: A Scoping Project of Culture Heritage Practise in India

    The vibrant, polyvocal and potentially contested nature of heritage was a core theme that emerged from both the 2015 and 2018 Delhi AHRC-ICHR workshops. This cultural heritage projects that received funding over the past...

    Funded by: AHRC

    Lead research organisation: Lancaster University