Arts and Humanities Research Council Impact Acceleration Account
2022-2026
UWE Bristol was successful in receiving £597,451.49 in the first round of Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) awards from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). There were only 32 universities awarded AHRC IAAs nationally and the scheme received the most applications of any IAA competition.
This IAA allows UWE Bristol to support its arts and humanities and interdisciplinary researchers to respond to impact opportunities in a flexible, responsive and creative way.
The AHRC IAA aims to enhance the non-academic impact of arts and humanities research or from interdisciplinary research with an arts and humanities component.
UWE Bristol’s aims for Arts and Humanities impact
- Support, strengthen and deepen engagement with non-academic partners (such as businesses, policy makers, third sector organisations).
- Provide early-stage support for academics to translate their research into impact activities, including proof of concept, commercialisation, social enterprise and policy development.
- Support innovative and imaginative approaches to impact, enabling 'fast failure' and capturing learning.
- Develop the skills, capacity, capability and culture of knowledge exchange and impact within the University.
- Support a diverse group of researchers to ensure a plurality of approaches and backgrounds are reflected, with inclusive and responsible practices embedded in all activities.
- Enrich UWE Bristol’s interdisciplinary research culture, within and beyond the university.
Funded projects 2022-2026
Between August 2022 and January 2025, UWE Bristol's AHRC IAA funded 69 projects across all Colleges, covering a huge range of arts and humanities disciplines from Fine Art, Creative Technology to English, History and Law.
The range of projects reflect the diversity of UWE Bristol research and how we are utilising our engaged arts and humanities research to have commercial, social and cultural impact.
Some examples of the projects the AHRC IAA has supported include:
Supporting well-being through assistive technology
AHRC IAA funding supported Jac Fennell in hosting a Welsh Government-sponsored Senedd event, ‘The Power of a HUG’. This event aimed to capture and extend the impact of a new NHS research trial involving HUG - an innovative assistive technology designed to enhance well-being.
Strengthening the UK documentary film sector
Building on Steve Presence's AHRC-funded research on UK Documentary Film, IAA funding enable the successful launch and promotion of the Documentary Film Council (DFC). This new organisation serves as a representative body for professionals working in the UK feature documentary sector.
The first strategic workshop on ecocide in UK Politics
IAA support allowed Suwita Hani Randhawa to convene ‘A New Crime of Ecocide’, a strategic workshop bringing together high-profile UK stakeholders. The session explored the legal, political, and ethical implications of recognising ecocide as a new crime in UK domestic and foreign policy contexts.
Innovating low-carbon construction
With IAA funding, Tavs Jorgensen advanced the design and production processes of innovative cob bricks systems. These developments contribute to low-carbon, sustainable approaches in contemporary architecture.
Inclusive design at 'Undershed'
Verity McIntosh collaborated with Watershed to ensure access and inclusion were central to the design of its new immersive gallery space ‘Undershed’. IAA support was instrumental in embedding inclusive design principles ahead of the venue's launch.
Launching an online map-based game
IAA commercialisation support enabled Jack Lowe to launch ‘Pin the Tale’, an innovative, map-based online game, which uses what3words to encourage storytelling about specific locations.
Contact us
If you are interested in hearing more about the AHRC Impact Acceleration Scheme, please email Juliet Lennox at juliet.lennox@uwe.ac.uk or book onto an Impact Acceleration Account Open Office.
If you are external to UWE Bristol and interested in working with a UWE Bristol researcher, please get in touch.
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