PhD students

Daniela’s research sets in the context of international cultural exchanges. The subject of study is virtual communities of practice, whose members collaborate internationally to solve a global concern. It particularly examines the interrelation between knowledge sharing, relationships and trust and how these antecedents/outcomes connect in order to produce value in the form of solutions. It also analyses the value that can be identified through the application of the value creation framework as an evaluation tool.  

Research interests: International cultural relations, cultural diplomacy, communities of practice, trust, value, evaluations and nation image. 

Background: Degree in Tourism Management from the Universidad Austral de Chile, MSc in Tourism Development from the University of Surrey with research on the international perception of a tourism destination.  

Prior to academia, worked in international education, public diplomacy and in tourism image. Daniela has an extensive career in the private and public sectors of Chile and Australia. While serving as a representative for the Australian Embassy, the Australian Catholic University, and the Chilean Tourism Board, she acquired a passion for cross-cultural exchange and an interest in the synergies that result from international collaboration. 

Daniela received the Beca Chile, a scholarship program that awards future leaders to study abroad for a postgraduate degree. 

Supervisors: Dr Carla Figueira and Dr Nicholas Hine.

My thesis addressed the lack of research on and understanding of indigenous philanthropic practices emerging in the Global South.

It employs a combination of Resource-Based Theory, through the social bricolage framework, and perspectives on the Social and Solidarity Economy to analyse the emergence, evolution and resourcing strategies of philanthropic activities among individuals and organisations in the Creative and Cultural Industry in Jamaica.

It also sought to challenge the Patrician approach, which advances that the wealthy are best placed to solve social problems in the Global South, which is prevalent in the mainstream philanthropy literature.

Research interests: Social and Solidarity Economy; Entrepreneurship; Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship; Social Entrepreneurship; Critical Theories; Philanthropy; and Corporate Philanthropy.

Research History: Edward is a Commonwealth Scholar. He holds a BSc in International Relations and MSc. in Social Policy from the University of the West Indies. Apart from academics, Edward has experience in youth and community development; social research at the national and regional levels and in non-governmental organisations, addressing crime and violence reduction, youth social participation and alternative livelihoods.

Edward was awarded his PhD May 2020; he was supervised by: Richard Hull and Michael Hitchcock

Evgeniya’s thesis critically investigates the role of recordings in state cultural diplomacy of the Soviet Union during the Cold War and how these grew into a network of production, distribution and listening in the West, with a focus on the UK, beyond Soviet state-envisaged cultural aims.

It demonstrates the multifaceted relations between private and state British and Soviet systems, where individuals, corporations and the actual objects amplified and distorted the cultural diplomacy goals of the Soviet state.

Evgeniya considers the three channels through which the Soviet sound reached the UK: firstly, imports of Soviet records, followed by a large licensing agreement between EMI record company and the USSR, and finally, recordings of Soviet soloists in the West.

Her research analyses the recordings as cultural objects and the impression of Soviet music in British eyes shaped by the mass dissemination of recordings across the country. She considers the perceptual biases around Soviet music which manifested themselves in the choice of repertoire, imagery, sleeve notes and press reviews.

Research interests and history and any other profession information:

Evgeniya is an AHRC CHASE-funded PhD student. She holds an MSc in Management from the London School of Economics and an MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy from ICCE. Evgeniya is currently an Edison Fellowship at the British Library Sound Archive. She is interested in all aspects of the recording industry and the cultural production and consumption of music.

Evgeniya was awarded her PhD September 2020; she was supervised by: Dr Carla Figueira (ICCE) and Dr Tamsin Alexander (Music)

Mobilities is recognized as an emerging area of inquiry. Kevin’s study seeks to expand the discussion of ‘automobilities’ in the context of metropolitan cities, London and Hong Kong. The term ‘automobilities’ is popularized chiefly referring to the private cars. However, with growing environmental and sustainability concerns, it is argued that the private cars are no longer tenable in cities while the intelligent use of various modes of public transport and the proliferation of sharing schemes are the way to go.

The “auto” should, therefore, go beyond necessarily involving private ownership of the means of movement to exert ‘autonomy’ in mobility. On top of the conventional discussion of public transport, usually with functional use and utilitarian perspectives, Kevin analyzes public transport with the focus on the experience and attempts to argue for a position of the aesthetic in the multi-modal movement in the metropolis.

Pushing this further, Kevin seeks to pursue that while paying fares, navigating in the city should be considered a consumer culture that entails tastes, style, knowledge and tactics, connecting ‘rights to the city’ with ‘consumer rights’, in affirming the ‘rights to mobile experiences’ amidst the copious transport modes.

Research Interests and history:

Kevin did a MPhil in Sociology at the University of Cambridge, thesis titled “The London Bus as Icon – Experiencing the City Beyond Mobilities and Modernities”. He studied the cultural dimension of the London buses through the controversial “New Bus for London” project proposed by Boris Johnson, in terms of material culture, spectacle, nostalgia, city branding and tourism.

Prior to that, Kevin graduated from the University of Hong Kong with First Class Honours in Bachelor of Social Sciences (double major in Sociology and Comparative Literature). Kevin is interested in mobilities and cities, particularly in travelling experience, urban navigation, consumer culture and aestheticization processes.

Supervisor: Mike Featherstone and Richard Hull

This research aims to expose the notion of open city where physical and social side of the city work together. Over-determination of forms to heightened the function of the city lead people to not experience complex conditions to take advantage of unforeseen and accidental opportunities. In this regard, my research will help to find out how opening up cities physically can help people become skilled in managing complex conditions of life.

Research Interest: Urban Theory, Urban Systems (open and closed), Architecture History, Social Theory, Urban Sociology, Globalisation and Post-modern Theories

Researcher History: Mahsa is an architect who holds BA in Architecture from Iran and MA in Architecture (Cultural Identity and Globalisation) from University of Westminster, London. Alongside her studies, she also worked for five years as an architect in different architectural firms in Iran.

Supervised by: Mike Featherstone and Tomoko Tamari

My research focuses on proactive and reactive strategies used by UK actors to guide their careers towards sustainability and the relationship of these strategies to resilience. It also looks at portfolio and protean working models amongst mid-career actors.

Research interests: Cultural Economics, Cultural Studies, Creative Entrepreneurship, Resilience, Portfolio Careers, Performing Arts.

Research history: Steven holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Concordia University (Montreal, Canada) and an MA in Creative Entrepreneurship from the University of East Anglia. He was a Senior Lecturer at the London College of Music, University of West London from 2010-2018 and was Co-Course Leader for the BA (Hons) Musical Theatre programme from 2015-2018. Prior to academia, he was a professional actor for 25 years in Canada and the UK. 

Supervisors: Gerald Lidstone and George Musgrave

She investigates how Brazilian cultural policies have been addressing affirmative actions of race and gender during the last ten years to promote diversity and equality in the film industry.She is also a current professor of cultural production at the Federal Institute of Brasilia (Brazil), where she has taught in the audiovisual production course and has coordinated research and cultural projects. 

Academic Qualifications

• PhD Communication and Culture, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (2014-2018) 
• MA Cultural Heritage and Social Projects at the Centre for Research and Documentation on Brazilian Contemporary History, Getulio Vargas Foundation (2007-2009)
• BA Cultural Production, Federal Fluminense University (2001-2004)  

Research Interests 

Juliana's research interests are cultural policy, diversity and inclusion, culture and education, and cultural and audiovisual production. Her P.h.D thesis analysed the political and social context that made possible the recognition of the cultural production from Rio de Janeiro's favelas and peripheries in the Brazilian cultural policies from 2003 to 2016.    

Teaching and Professional Background 

Juliana is a professor of cultural production at the Federal Institute of Brasilia, where she teaches video production courses and coordinated research and cultural projects ("Identifying and strengthening cultural agents and movements in Recanto das Emas'' and "Recanto do Cinema Festival - audio-visual production in the periphery”, respectively). 

Before joining the Institute, Juliana was academic coordinator and professor of the 'Culture and Education' specialisation programme at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO/Brazil) and as coordinator and curator of "Dialogues in Cultural Production", a national training program for cultural managers realised by the National Department of Social Service for Commerce (SESC).

Juliana also has an extensive career as a cultural manager and worked for several years in the public sector. As part of Brazil's Ministry of Culture, Rio de Janeiro's State Secretary of Culture and Nova Iguaçu's Municipal Culture Secretary, she developed public policies aiming to promote cultural diversity.

Moreover, she worked as a consultant for the United Nations Development Programme and the Brazilian Justice Ministry, providing technical assistance for implementing cultural policies for people deprived of liberty, and as coordinator and curator of "Dialogues in Cultural Production", a national training program for cultural managers realised by the National Department of Social Service for Commerce (SESC). 

Highlighted Publications

• Lopes, J and Souza, Edileuza 2022. A emergência do ensino remoto do audiovisual: um relato de experiência no Instituto Federal de Brasília - Campus Recanto das Emas. [The emergency remote teaching of audiovisual: report of an experience at the Federal Institute of Brasilia - Campus Recanto das Emas (DF / Brazil)]. Avanca - Portugal. Edições Cine-Clube de Avanca, pp. 648-656. 
• Lopes, J 2019, ‘Uma nova paisagem urbana: os coletivos de cultura jovens’ [A new urban landscape: the youth culture collectives], in Montechiare, R. and Medina, G. (eds.) Juventude e Educação: Identidades e Direitos. Rio de Janeiro: Flacso Brasil, pp. 56-69.
• Lopes, J 2011. ‘A Ação Griô: uma proposta política nacional’ [The Griô Action: a national political proposal], in Barbosa, F. and Calabre, L. (eds.) Pontos de cultura: olhares sobre o Programa Cultura Viva. Brasília: IPEA, pp. 139-154.
• Belisario, A and Lopes, J 2011, ‘As culturas digitais dos Pontos de Cultura e lan houses’ [The digital cultures of Culture Points and cybercafés]. In: Varon, J.; Ferraz e LEMOS, R. (eds.) Pontos de cultura e lan houses: estruturas para inovação na base da pirâmide social. Rio de Janeiro: Fundação Getúlio Vargas, pp. 17-46.

My research focuses on exploring how musical theatre makers have addressed cross-cultural differences and enabled the productions to face Chinese audiences. The research seeks to fill a gap in the understanding of the way of Chinese audiences consume musical theatre known as a Western genre.

Research interests: Cultural consumption; Arts marketing; Audience development; Intercultural theatre; Theatre space; Urban cultural policy; Creative and cultural industries.

Research history: BA in Theatre Literature from China National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts; Certificate in Cultural Leadership from Tianjin Conservatory of Music; MA in Media and Advertising from the University of Leicester.

Lucia was awarded her PhD January 2021; she was supervised by: Michael Hitchcock and Gerald Lidstone

Debora’s research explores ‘what impact will innovative and creative educational approaches have on renewal of carnival arts within Trinidad and Tobago and the Notting Hill Carnival communities’. The research methods to be employed will be qualitative and quantitative analysis and action research.

Debora has been privy to experience some opportunities, challenges and changes of both Trinidad and Tobago and Notting Hill Carnival. These experiences were attained firstly as a national of Trinidad and Tobago and secondly as the creative director of Notting Hill Carnival.

In consideration of the views of many that a Caribbean style carnival has a range of values and means different things to different people, Debora’s hands-on experiences and interaction with diverse cultures at these two renowned events has enabled her to recognise despite the evolution of these carnivals, they have become a parody, not as an anecdote but a cliché of themselves. This has created an imbalance for a meaningful fusion of business and creativity hence the disappearance of significant carnival values and the degradation of the carnivals’ holistic delivery and creative industry.

Research Interests: Culture Led Regeneration, Entrepreneurship, Education, Arts Integration, Leadership, Creative Industry.

Researcher History:  Diploma in Education from Valsayn Teachers’ College in Trinidad and Tobago; Advisory Education Teacher for Dance and Drama and arts integration in schools both in Trinidad and Tobago as well as in the UK; Diploma in Sociology from the Open University; Post Graduate Diploma in Arts Education from UCL; MA in Arts Administration and Cultural diplomacy from Goldsmith; former Creative Director of the London Notting Hill Carnival;  Creative/ Carnival Consultant.

Supervisors: Gerald Lidstone and Jonathan Meth

Musa’s research explores the role of culture in foreign policy and tries to understand how cultural products, particularly books, were used by the UK in foreign affairs during the Cold War. As a case study, Musa focuses on the role of the British Foreign Office’s secret Information Research Department (IRD), its involvement in cultural production and distribution and its close relationships with intellectuals, publishing houses and the British Council.

Research Interests: Cultural diplomacy, cultural policy, propaganda, cultural Cold War, state-private networks in cultural diplomacy, foreign cultural centres, the British Council, cultural exchange programmes, government-funded cultural products, cultural policy and cultural diplomacy in the Middle East.

Research History: Musa holds an MA in Cultural Policy and Management from Sheffield Hallam University, UK. Apart from academics, Musa has been working as an arts and culture journalist.

Musa was awarded his PhD in August 2020; he was supervisor: Dr Carla Figueira and Dr Sarah Maitland

Karen’s current research is focussed on the effectiveness of creative arts as an intervention treatment for substance misuse. By exploring the use of arts in the UK NHS substance misuse treatment programmes and seeking the methods employed a model of best practice is sought for this group.

General research Interests: Non-pharmacological treatments for embedded long-term substance misuse with untreated trauma and drug-induced psychosis.

Researcher history: A business entrepreneur who holds an MSc in Addiction Studies from Kings College London UK. Publication ‘Do creative arts therapies reduce substance misuse? A systematic review’ DOI: 10.1016/j.aip.2017.10.005.

Cochrane student elective: Publication 'The research output on interventions for the behavioural risk factors alcohol & drug use and dietary risk is not related to their respective burden of ill health in countries at differing World Bank income levels' DOI: 10.7189/jogh.10.020401

Conference Contributions

Poster presentations

Creative arts therapies and arts in health Conference UK September 2017 ‘Do creative arts therapies reduce substance misuse? A systematic review’.

Lisbon Addictions October 2017 ‘Do creative arts therapies reduce substance misuse? A systematic review’. 

Lisbon Addictions October 2019 'The research output on interventions for the behavioural risk factors alcohol & drug use and dietary risk is not related to their respective burden of ill health in countries at differing World Bank income levels'

Health Humanities &Arts in Health International Symposium UK November 2017 ‘Do creative arts therapies reduce substance misuse? A systematic review’.

SSA Conference November 2019 'The research output on interventions for the behavioural risk factors alcohol & drug use and dietary risk is not related to their respective burden of ill health in countries at differing World Bank income levels'.

SSA PhD Symposium November 2020 'Non-pharmacological interventions for substance misuse: A rapid reviews of Cochrane systematic reviews'.

Presentations

'The Art of Hope and Healing Conference of Western NY' June 2021 International keynote panel member.

Current Project

Creative arts in recovery - personal reflections and artwork 2021: Curating artworks and personal artist reflections in collaboration with the University of Derby as part of the NIHR funded European Recovery Pathways project. 

Supervised by Gerald Lidstone

The purpose of the proposed research is to study knowledge transfer within and amongst several creative hubs, internationally. The work will investigate the practices and analyse the formal and informal processes, all aimed at assessing the modeling of knowledge flows as generators, enablers or facilitators of the connections amongst enterprises, cultural and creative stakeholders and communities. The analysis would define the specific rules and principles according to which the source knowledge, in its multiple dimensions, is acquired by the different stakeholders and have an impact on the development of innovative products, services and the creation of alliances within the creative hubs framework.

Research Interests: Creative Economy, Cultural and Creative Industries, Sociology of Organisations, Cultural Hubs, Modelling of Knowledge Flows, Network Society, Arts Management for Social Innovation, Sustainable Development Goals and Cultural Policy.

Research History: Gemma holds a Degree in Business Management and Administration from the University of Barcelona. She also holds a BA in Art History from Birkbeck College, University of London and has recently completed a Master in Cultural Management at The Open University of Catalunya and University of Gerona. She is a qualified Six Sigma Master Black Belt professional and has worked for several years as a Consultant and Business Process Improvement Director in both cultural and non-cultural sectors.

Supervisor: Dr. Victoria D. Alexander

Piyawat’s research aims to provide systematic understanding of arts audience building and development in Thailand to help encouraging further investigation in this area as well as to suggest some practical solutions to the challenges that arts organizations face in the 21st century in engaging audiences.

Research interests: Arts Audience Engagement, Arts Marketing, Arts and Cultural Administration, Performing Arts Management, Theatre Producing, Cross Cultural Collaboration in Performing Arts

Research history: Piyawat has been awarded the Queen Sirikit Scholarship, under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand, for his doctoral degree study at ICCE. He is a full-time Lecturer in Theatre Production and Management at Department of Dramatic Arts, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand since 2012. He had produced many main stage theatre productions at Sodsai Pantoomkomol Centre for Dramatic Arts, Bangkok (2012-2019). Alongside his teaching and theatre producing work, He had also worked as Deputy Director of Chula’s Academic Services Center of Arts, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University from 2016 to 2019. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Drama) from Faculty of Liberal Arts, Thammasat University and MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy (Drama Pathway) from Goldsmiths, University of London.

Supervisor: Gerald Lidstone

My research aims to build a database about cultural habits in Brazil, exploring attendance and participation in cultural activities. It is supported by a quantitative survey with almost 20.000 interviews.

 
I am particularly interested in the differences of access among gender, groups of age and religion. Despite declaring more interest for arts than men, women have less access to cultural activities. Differently, from what happens in some developing countries, attendance decreases among elderly people, a tendency influenced by lower levels of education in the past. The study will also investigate if the different religions shape the cultural habits of their followers.
 
RESEARCH INTEREST: Creative economy, cultural policies, audience development; arts & mathematics, data visualization, graphic design; big data, media, communications
 
RESEARCH HISTORY: I hold a bachelor degree in Economics from the College of Economics, Business Administration and Accounting of the University of São Paulo (FEA-USP, Brazil), an MA in Cinema from the School of Communication and Arts of the University of São Paulo (ECA-USP, Brazil) and an MA in Cultural Management from the University of Catalonia (UOC, Spain). I’m also a cultural entrepreneur. I run a consultancy company that develops studies and surveys about the cultural production and creative economy (JLeiva Culture & Sports.

Below is an article I wrote about the impact of the pandemic in the UK, and what happened in Brazil, Uruguay, and Portugal. It appeared in "Políticas Culturais em Revista", the most important Brazilian academic magazine about cultural policies:

Políticas Culturais em Revista - JanJun - 2021

Supervised by Gerald Lidstone and Cecilia Dinardi

The value of the creative process in the field of cultural management: archiving the development journey of cultural initiatives in Chile. 

Abstract/description of your research:
Dalal’s project aims to explore the value of the creative process that exists behind cultural management practices. It observes the creative process as a space of knowledge generation, identifying the ways in which a number of recent cultural projects have been developed in Chile. Moreover, it analyses the relationship between the country’s context and socio-political system and its dynamic manifestation through cultural management practices and the creative processes involved. The research examines how the mechanisms and processes used to create a new cultural initiative are capable of generating flexible approaches and skills that could be used not only in future projects, but also to understand better the importance of the latter within the manifestation of the political identity of a nation.

Research interests and history and any other 
Cultural Management, Cultural Policies, Creative and Cultural Industries, Creative Processes, Creative Practices, Latin American Studies, Social Movements, Culture and Resistance.

Professional information
Dalal Leiva Egnem has studied a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance at the University of Chile and holds a degree in Performing Arts Theory from the Mayor University of Chile. She has a Postgraduate Diploma in Cultural Management from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and holds an MA in Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship from Goldsmiths, University of London. Dalal has an extensive career as a cultural manager and researcher, working both in the public and private sectors. For several years she was part of the Performing Arts Department of the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage of Chile, working in management and production of the formation, international and editorial area.

Also, she was part of the development team of NAVE, a unique artistic creation and residence centre in South America, performing once implemented as the Programme Manager. She is also part of the Centre for Research and Memory of the Performing Arts CIM / AE. Dalal has been awarded the Beca Chile Scholarship to her MA and doctoral research study at ICCE, Goldsmiths, University of London. Becas Chile is a scholarship program from the Chilean government to send the next generation of Chilean leaders abroad to study postgraduate degrees in energy, biotechnology, IT, environment, health, humanities, education, science, and engineering.

Supervisors: Cecilia Dinardi and Mike Featherstone

As a PhD by Publication, my thesis is a reflection on, and refinement of, my earlier research into the emergence of Macanese cuisine 450 years ago, its status in contemporary Macau, and its reimagining in the diaspora. I have begun to engage with the emergence of colonial cuisines and foodways in general, particularly in Asia, but also other forms of hybrid or creolised foodways in broader geographical and temporal contexts.  

Research interests

I lived in Asia (Hong Kong) for more than two decades so my interest and knowledge tends to reside in the East. However, I’m interested in many contemporary (global) issues around food including security and the Slow Food movement, diets and nutrition, cooking and education, gastronomy and the city, food and the migrant, and identity. I’m also interested in wine studies within the social sciences. 

Research history

I hold an MA in Anthropology of Food from SOAS. I am the author of many books, and cookbooks, including The Making of Macau’s Fusion Cuisine: from family table to world stage (2020) and Taste of Macau: Portuguese Cuisine on the China Coast (2003), both with Hong Kong University Press.

Supervised by Michael Hitchcock

Purpose of research is to explore positive outcomes and relationships between corporate patrons and art institutions where academic literature and reputational issues have frequently resulted in a problematic ethical and economic landscape.  Exploring how campaigning from artists and activists on subjects relating to fossil fuels, including pharmaceutical addiction and tobacco has resulted in academic landscape which is often at odds with practice within museums as well as funding needs.

General research interests:  Cultural capital, status and cultural omnivorism, corporate philanthropy growth and focus in relation to arts and culture, British funding mix (public and private investment mix), ethics and alignment between the arts and corporate sectors.

Research history:  Degree in English Literature and Philosophy from the University of Manchester, MA in History of Art from UCL with a special interest in the Baroque, objectivity in representation, surveillance in twentieth century photography. 

Prior to academia, worked in corporate affairs consultancy and public affairs campaigning. 

Supervised by Victoria Alexander and Oonagh Murphy

My PhD research concentrates on the Chinese film sector from the data perspective and mainly looks at the practices from high-tech companies, such as Alibaba Pictures and Maoyan Entertainment, proposing to link data analytics with various aspects of the industries such as investment, production, promotion and distribution.

It proposes a hypothesis that such a data integration model of connecting film data could benefit every section of the chain so that the sector can reduce the business risks. The purpose of this study is to fill the industry knowledge gap about the lack of industrial data and to explore the integrated data analytics to process film business across international markets.

Research Interest: Risks management in the film industry; Data analysis and application; Film economy; Creative and cultural industries.

Research history：BA in Accounting from Henan University of Economics and Law；MA in Art Administration from Shanghai Conservatory of Music；International film data analyst in the project of Future Talent Programme 2020-2021 from the UK-China Film Collab.

Conferences:

Chinese Cinema Season Panel 5: Film Data and Policy Between the UK & China: UK-China Film Collab:
It is the first panel on this emerging topic which deserves urgent attention and exploration. The speakers ranging from specialised academics to experienced professionals in the film industry shared their ideas about the gaps between the UK and China in terms of film data collection, data evaluation and data policies; the data utilisation strategies and data polices that China and the UK could learn from each other; the opportunities of Sino-UK business/academic collaboration in data evaluation and protection.
5, March 2021

Supervised by: Dr Michael Franklin and Dr Nicola Searle

Seo's research explores the actual conditions that online video platform giants play in a role in providing which labour processess to creators and providing which products and jobs to society. Furthermore, it will investigate online platforms with video hosting and live-streaming capabilities to analyse potential risks. This research aims to contribute to a better creative and consumer enviroment for the video-sharing platforms' media participants and provide a direction for businesses to pursue better ethical and social values.

Research Interest:
Production and Distribution in Video Sharing Platform Service, VSPs' Business models, Blockchain Media, VSPs' Business Ethics, Professional Ethics of Video Creators, Precarity in Creative Labour on Social Media, and Online Risks and Harms.

Background:
Seo holds a dual degree in BA Philosophy and BFA Film and a minor degree in Communication Science from Konkuk University. She interpreted Julio Medem's auteurism through Buddhist philosophy during her MA in Film Studies from University College London and expanded her business mindset in the academic field through the International MBA from BPP University. She has worked as a freelance content creator, including JTBC news and the Digital Public Diplomacy Project of the Korean Embassy in the UK. She also participated in extensive voluntary work in film festivals and new distribution platforms of live music to inspire her entrepreneurship alongside her academic efforts.

Supervised by: Dr Michael Franklin and Professor Victoria Alexander

My journey delves into the heart of how Chinese consumers interact with the rich world of craft-based products, a market pulsating with diversity and rooted in deep cultural significance. I'm fascinated by the dialogue between the craftsmanship embedded in these products and the choices consumers make, aiming to illuminate the subtleties of this relationship.
 
Research Passions: I am deeply invested in exploring the realms of high-skill craftsmanship, the inherent value of artisan products, and consumer psychology. My goal is to unravel how cultural and artisanal values are cherished and maintained in today's market, enhancing our understanding of consumer behaviour within the craft industry.
 
Educational and Professional Path: Holding an MA in Luxury Brand Management from Goldsmiths, University of London, and a BA in International Trade, my education has laid a solid foundation for my research. With a decade's experience in the traditional handicraft industry, initially focusing on exporting Chinese crafts globally, I've since shifted to nurture the domestic appreciation of these arts. This transition underscores my commitment to the preservation and appreciation of traditional craftsmanship amidst China's dynamic consumer environment.

Supervisors: Dr Kelly Meng Parnwell and Dr Carla Figueira 

Hengda’s research focuses on how intellectual property protection has been institutionalised in the traditional Chinese crafts industry. He observes that in the societal trend of commercialising heritage crafts in China, the absence of an effective intellectual property protection regime has led the Chinese craft market into a tragedy of the commons. On the other hand, the existing formal legal system seems unable to adequately address the intricacies of intellectual property issues in this creative industry based on intangible cultural heritage. His research aims to suggest an IP-based mechanism and institutional movements that could contribute to protecting the luxury revival of heritage crafts businesses.

Research Interests: Craft Industry, Intellectual Property, Cultural Property, Brand Management.

Background: MA in Luxury Brand Management; BA in Fashion & Art Design. Hengda has been working in the brand development and marketing sector, helping a niche luxury brand to expand into the China market. He also has experience working in fashion design.

Supervisors: Dr Kelly Meng Parnwell and Dr Nicola Searle

My doctoral research delves into the evolving methodologies of dance curation, critically examining how traditional and contemporary exhibition practices engage with movement and cultural narratives. Building on the “archive” and “experiential” turns within museum practices, my work explores the integration of Qi philosophy to create immersive, participatory dance exhibitions that bridge historical, cultural, and philosophical dimensions. This research highlights the limitations of static, object-centric displays and proposes a dynamic curatorial approach for dance that emphasises relational aesthetics, audience participation, and embodied knowledge.

My research combines extensive fieldwork across global dance museums, archival analysis, and practice-based inquiry to examine dance exhibitions in both museum and contemporary art spaces. This includes analysing interactive displays, live performances, and multimedia installations.

I navigate the challenges of integrating Eastern and Western perspectives by proposing a hybrid conceptualisation of Qi that blends traditional Chinese philosophical views with Western theories of affect and atmosphere. This synthesis aims to show how Qi can shape sensory and emotional engagement in exhibition spaces. Drawing on Brian Massumi’s (1995) and Sara Ahmed’s (2004) models, which emphasize affect as an intersection of individual and collective experience, I further extend this framework with the works of Gernot Böhme (2017), Tim Ingold (2012), and Ben Anderson (2014), who explore atmosphere as an affective and sensory spatial quality. From a curatorial standpoint, Qi functions as an invisible yet powerful force that shapes atmospheric pathways within dance exhibitions. These pathways become perceptible through visual, kinesthetic, and emotional expressions, offering audiences immersive experiences that transcend cultural and linguistic barriers.

This approach is demonstrated through case studies and my curatorial projects, including Breath (2021, London), ChoreoArchive (2022, London), Rave Arcade (2022, Seville), and Tales of Veils (2023, Berlin). These projects exemplify the application of theoretical insights in practice, aiming to challenge and expand existing museological frameworks while exploring Qi’s role in crafting dynamic, resonant exhibition spaces.