- Tuesday 28 – Wednesday 29 April 2026
- Newcastle University Business School, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4SE, UK
The Local Organising Committee is pleased to announce the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre Research Symposium 2026, which will be held in person at Newcastle University Business School on Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 April 2026. The Symposium provides a forum for researchers to present their latest research on the economics of cultural and creative industries.
The call for submissions is now open and we particularly welcome those that address policy-relevant topics/themes – the non-comprehensive list of these includes the following:
- R&D and innovation in the creative industries
- Creative and cultural ecosystems
- Trade, investment and migration in the creative industries
- Skills development and labour markets
- Artificial intelligence and the creative industries
- Creative industries, social development, health and wellbeing
- Creative industries, green transition and sustainability
- Interplay between the cultural sector and the creative industries
The Symposium will also host two keynotes from Professor Pierluigi Sacco and Professor Joanna Woronkowicz, as well as a high-level policy panel.
Call for abstracts and special session proposals
Authors interested in submitting a paper to the Symposium should send an extended abstract of around 500 words to research@pec.ac.uk.
We also accept proposals for special sessions. These should indicate the planned topic/theme, including a short description of the session and the intended beneficiaries, with a list of 3 to 4 speakers per session.
Please include your contact details for future correspondence.
Important dates
- Deadline for special session proposals: Friday 23 January 2026
- Deadline for extended abstract (c 500 words): Monday 2 February 2026
- Notification of acceptance: Monday 9 February 2026
- Registration deadline: Friday 27 February 2026
Funding
There are no registration fees, but registration is required to present at or attend the Symposium. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. A limited number of bursaries are available for presenters, attendees and early career researchers – these will each cover one night’s accommodation.
Local organising committee
Tom Cahill-Jones, Giorgio Fazio, Alejandro Ramirez Guerra, Sarah Najm, Nirat Rujimora, Duncan Todd
Creative PEC is led by Newcastle University Business School with the RSA.
Photo by Duncan Elliott
