Digital Transformations in the Cultural and Creative Industries: Navigating the Creative Digital Spaces

About the Project

Please note that the application process may close early before the stated deadline if an unprecedented number of applications are received.

The cultural and creative industries (CCIs) sit at the intersection of creativity and commerce, offering a unique context to study how individuals or organizations navigate competing value systems. Firms and practitioners in this sector face the ongoing challenge of balancing artistic integrity with financial sustainability, a tension that not only defines the industry but also provides valuable insights for broader management studies. Digital technologies are rapidly transforming this landscape, reshaping the way creative work is produced, shared, and consumed. From generative AI and blockchain to platform-driven business models, digital spaces offer new opportunities for creative collaboration, experimentation, and audience engagement, but they also pose challenges around ownership, sustainability, and authenticity.

This PhD project will explore how digital technologies shape the dynamics of CCIs, investigating the opportunities and risks they present for managing the delicate balance between cultural and commercial imperatives.

The project will employ a qualitative or mixed-method research design to capture the experiences, practices, and narratives of actors operating within CCIs and their intersections with other sectors. The successful candidate will develop in-depth insights into how organizations and individuals navigate evolving value tensions in digitally mediated environments. This PhD also offers the opportunity to contribute to interdisciplinary scholarship at the crossroads of management, cultural studies, and digital innovation.

Applicants are invited to outline how you would approach this topic. The supervisors are open to your creative and original ideas.

The Successful Candidate should:

Fulfil the entrance requirements for a PhD in the School of Management.

Before submitting an online application, prospective candidates are required to contact the supervisor, Dr Anlan Chen, to discuss their research interests and suitability for the project. Please send an email including the following documents:

1. A research proposal outlining how you would approach the topic;
2. Academic transcripts from your most recent degree (minimum requirement: a 2:1 Master’s degree);
3. A funding plan detailing how you intend to finance your study.

Start date:

All PhD students must commence registration and PhD training in 28 September 2026(The applicants without MRes degree will study on Integrated Management programme).

Enquiries and Applications:

Please send any enquiries direct to Dr Anlan Chen ac754@bath.ac.uk who will then advise about making a formal application.

More information about applying for a PhD at Bath may be found on our website.

Funding Notes

Please note that this project is also accepting self-funded/externally funded applicants. The application deadline 30 June 2026 is for self-funded/externally funded applications. If you would like to apply for funded studentships (i.e., URSA and GRS), please follow the deadlines for the specific funding competitions and indicate which scholarships you would like to apply for in the application form. Any application without selecting the right scholarships from the drop-down list may cause delay or not being considered. For more information about the funding, please see View Website.