This research is led by Professor Dan Ashton. Dan (he/him) is Professor of Cultural and Creative Industries at the University of Southampton where his research and education activities focus on cultural and creative industries organisations, work and policy.
He has been project leader on two projects which have generated the materials and resources shared on this site:
Cultural strategies, compacts and futures (2022-23) funded by Public Policy Southampton
Connecting and placing cultural strategies (2025-26) funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council Impact Acceleration Account at the University of Southampton.
Dr Makanani Bell was the Research and Innovation Associate on the Cultural strategies, compacts and futures project, collaborating on the knowledge exchange event and co-authoring the Cultural strategies and futures report.
Dr Joey Jones is a Research and Innovation Associate on the Connecting and placing cultural strategies involved in updating the underpinning database.
Michael Kurniwan is a Research and Innovation Associate on the Connecting and placing cultural strategies and part of the design team for the forthcoming Cultural Strategies Think-kit
Ian Leete is Senior Adviser – Culture, Tourism and Sport with the Local Government Association – the project partner for Connecting and placing cultural strategies . Ian is part of the design team for the forthcoming Cultural Strategies Think-kit and will be co-facilitating the Community of Practice sessions during the summer 2025.
Dr Zubair Shafiq is a learning designer on Connecting and placing cultural strategies and part of the design team for the forthcoming Cultural Strategies Think-kit