2. Digital Transformations Theme
• How can we use the digital resources and tools now at
our command to change the way in which we
undertake research in the arts and humanities?
• What happens to our scholarly alignments,
assumptions and roles when we start to use new
digital resources and methods?
• How can we encourage new alliances in the arts and
humanities: more cross-disciplinary working, new
conversations, greater risk-taking, more imagination
• What is rolling down the hill towards us? What next,
and how can we help drive that forward?
3. Digital Transformations Theme:
Characteristics
• Pluralistic: no one approach or solution; encouraging
experimentation
• The aim is to produce exciting research which is inspiring
and transformative – not primarily concerned with
infrastructure, standards, integrated tools, etc.
• Projects creating strong links between the arts and
humanities, and also seeking out new cross-disciplinary
alliances and forms of collaboration
• Wow factor: but how do we link that to high-quality
research?
• Developing links with other themes (Translating Cultures;
Science in Culture; Care for the Future)
4. Activities to Date
• Initial research networks e.g.
– Data – Asset – Method: Harnessing the Infinite Archive at University of
Nottingham http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/humanities/digital/dam.aspx
– Transforming Artists’ Books at The Tate:
http://www.tate.org.uk/about/projects/transforming-artist-books
• Exploratory grants, e.g.
– Ian Gwilt (Sheffield Hallam University) Enhancing the understanding of statistical
data through the creation of physical objects:
http://www.shu.ac.uk/research/c3ri/projects/data-objects
– David Gauntlett (University of Westminster) Community-Powered
Transformations: a research network exploring digital transformations in the
creative relationships between cultural and media organisations and their users:
http://www.digitaltransformations.org.uk/
– Tom Cheesman (Swansea University) Version, Variation, Visualisation: Multi-
lingual crowd-sourcing of Shakespeare’s Othello:
http://www.delightedbeauty.org/
– Bronwen Thomas and Julia Round (Bournemouth University) Researching
Readers Online: http://www.researchingreadersonline.com/
5. Further possibilities of mash-ups and visualisations
Other inspirations: http://www.data-art.net/
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/interactive/index.html
http://spatialanalysis.co.uk/category/london/
7. Possible Future Activities
• Another round of exploratory grants
• Calls relating to big data in the arts and
humanities
• Possible round of larger grants (but maybe not as
big as the first call)
• Further events showcasing the research being
undertaken as part of the theme
• Other events and activities organised with theme
fellow
8. Role of Theme Fellow
• Not programme director: providing scholarly input to enhance
transformative quality of work funded under theme
• Building links between projects and encouraging synergy
between them
• Ensuring wider academic and public awareness of work
undertaken in theme
• Building links with other themes and theme fellows
• Organising seminars, workshops and other events which will help
achieve aspirations of theme
• Developing online presence of theme
• http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/News-and-Events/Watch-and-
Listen/Pages/AHRC-Digital-Transformations-Podcast.aspx
9. Not a Programme or a Project but a Partnership
• A number of partners in developing theme
• Theme Advisory Group
• Theme Fellow
• AHRC team
• Previous and existing grant holders
• One of the outcomes of the theme should be an active
and well-integrated community whose continuing work
will reflect the vision of the theme
10. Not a Programme or a Project but a Partnership
• A number of partners in developing theme
• Theme Advisory Group
• Theme Fellow
• AHRC team
• Previous and existing grant holders
• One of the outcomes of the theme should be an active
and well-integrated community whose continuing work
will reflect the vision of the theme
