Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) set out policy issues, evidence needs and research questions identified by UK government departments, agencies, and devolved governments, and with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport\u2019s (DCMS) first ARIs document issued in 2018, it is now refreshed for 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Government UK writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) supports the UK\u2019s economic growth, civic life and national identity through the sectors it champions and the policies it develops and delivers. These sectors form a vital part of the UK\u2019s social, cultural and economic infrastructure. From arts, culture and heritage to media, creative industries, sport, civil society, youth, tourism and the visitor economy, DCMS works across policy areas that shape how people participate in society, experience place and connect with one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These sectors are powerful drivers of growth, innovation and international influence. They are also foundational to citizens\u2019 quality of life, community cohesion and the UK\u2019s cultural confidence at home and abroad. Taken together, these sectors are not only contributors to growth, but are fundamental to how the UK functions as a modern society, shaping the conditions for participation, trust, resilience and national identity in an increasingly complex and digital world. In this way, DCMS sits at the centre of a set of interconnected economic, cultural, technological and civic systems that are critical to the UK\u2019s long-term growth, resilience and international position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The breadth of DCMS\u2019s portfolio means that high-quality research and evidence are essential to effective policymaking. In recent years DCMS has developed a strong reputation as a mature and sophisticated commissioner and user of research and evidence. This refreshed set of Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) reflects that commitment. They highlight the questions where new knowledge, data and analysis can most usefully inform policy development, strengthen the evidence base for decision-making, and ultimately improve outcomes for citizens and communities across the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ARIs are designed to support engagement between DCMS and the wider research and evidence community. Each policy portfolio identifies specific research questions and evidence needs relevant to its policy responsibilities. Alongside these portfolio-specific priorities, the document also highlights cross-cutting themes such as growth, place, participation, prevention, value, trust and resilience that reflect shared challenges across DCMS sectors. Together these themes show how research can help illuminate the relationships between growth, participation, place, trust and quality of life across the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A distinctive feature of DCMS\u2019s work is the importance of place. Cultural institutions, community organisations, heritage assets, sports facilities, visitor destinations and media ecosystems all form part of the social and cultural infrastructure that supports thriving communities. Understanding how these assets contribute to local identity, belonging, opportunity, participation and wellbeing; how these benefits are distributed across places and communities; and how local partners can help shape and sustain them is a central priority for the department. Programmes such as the UK City of Culture and UK Town of Culture competitions illustrate the transformative role that culture and creativity can play in shaping place-based growth, civic pride and community engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DCMS has also led internationally in developing new approaches to understanding the value of culture and heritage. Through its Culture and Heritage Capital programme, the department has pioneered methods that capture the full range of benefits generated by cultural and heritage assets. This work recognises that these sectors create multiple forms of value, including economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits, and generate wider spillovers across communities, places and the wider economy. By strengthening the evidence base for understanding these multi-capital benefits, the programme is helping to embed more holistic approaches to decision-making across government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Technological change is a defining context for DCMS policy. Artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies are transforming how cultural and creative content is produced, distributed and experienced, and are opening new frontiers for research and innovation across DCMS sectors. These developments create significant opportunities for innovation and growth. They also raise important questions about trust, governance and responsibility in the digital age. DCMS therefore has a strong interest in research that explores the broader socio-technical and socio-cultural implications of these technologies, including how responsible AI adoption can support citizens and creators, strengthen the integrity of the information ecosystem, and build public trust and media literacy, while contributing to the development of a good digital society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Across all of these areas, understanding \u2018what works\u2019 in policy and practice remains a central objective. Addressing this question requires robust evidence, rigorous evaluation and methodological innovation. Many of the challenges facing DCMS sectors cut across disciplinary boundaries, and the department therefore welcomes insights from across the social sciences, arts and humanities, engineering, data science and other relevant fields. Interdisciplinary research, international comparisons and new approaches to data and evaluation all have an important role to play in strengthening the evidence base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ARIs also recognise the importance of diverse perspectives in the development of evidence and policy. DCMS is keen to engage with researchers, practitioners, industry, the voluntary and community sector and citizens themselves. Co-creation, participatory and deliberative research approaches and collaboration with communities can help ensure that policy is informed by lived experience as well as academic expertise, particularly in areas where the department\u2019s work directly shapes cultural participation, civic engagement and community life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These ARIs form part of a wider evidence ecosystem that brings together government, academia, industry, civil society and citizens to generate and apply knowledge for public benefit. Through these partnerships, research can help ensure that policy is informed by the best available evidence and that the benefits of DCMS sectors, economic, social and cultural, are understood, strengthened and shared as widely as possible. They also position DCMS as an active partner across government in shaping and applying evidence to support shared priorities, including growth, resilience and social cohesion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Chief Scientific Adviser to DCMS, I look forward to working with researchers and partners across the UK and internationally to strengthen this shared evidence base and to ensure that research, data and analysis are fully embedded in how DCMS designs, develops and delivers policy. The ARIs set out here highlight areas where new insights and collaboration can support growth, strengthen communities and improve outcomes for citizens across the UK, and I encourage researchers and partners to work with us in addressing these questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To read the full report go to the following link:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read more here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n See more on the IHBC\u2019s Competences<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) set out policy issues, evidence needs and research questions identified by UK government departments, agencies, and devolved governments, and with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport\u2019s (DCMS) first ARIs document issued in 2018, it … Continue reading