Overview

WIRAD is a collaborative venture founded by the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC) and University of Wales, Newport (UWN).

Despite the economic significance of the so-called "Creative Industries" (at least £2 billion per annum in 2003), and the esteem in which Welsh creative activity is held both at home and abroad, formal research in the creative sector in Wales has, to date been limited in scope and scale. This is a potentially important weakness in any strategy which attempts to situate and promote Wales as a significant provider of Higher Education.

WIRAD seeks to address this issue by creating a greater critical mass of support for research excellence in Art & Design within Wales by sharing expertise across institutions. The Institute will create a significant body of research related to the fields of art, design and media which would be competitive with the research quality and intensity achieved by institutions in Scotland, England & Ireland.

Cardiff School of Art and Design and Newport School of Art, Media and Design have been (in various guises) major contributors to the cultural and creative life of Wales for very many years. Both have been home to a number of significant artists and designers and, more recently, nationally and internationally recognised centres of research. Individually, the two Schools undoubtedly represent major forces in research and creative activity within the Higher Education sector in Wales.

UWIC & UWN have a well-established relationship, with a good exchange of information, mutual respect and much open discussion. In recent years, the two have been engaged in a range of ad-hoc collaborations, ranging from a major funded research programme to working cooperation between individual artists and scholars. Both are highly committed to research within the field and, in turn, are recognised internationally particularly in their lead areas, including photography, animation, product design, performance art, and ceramics.

Members of WIRAD will have a common research strategy, regulations, procedures and codes of practice. Student support structures, supervisor training, funding applications and administration are also managed centrally.

Vision

WIRAD's vision is to become Wales' premier Art & Design research institution with an internationally reputation for cutting edge research in the field. The Institute may eventually become a jointly owned independent entity of its own. By so doing, it will not only serve Wales through stimulation to creative and cultural practices, but also make very evident at an international level the high standing of research in Wales. Research may be commissioned on the contribution Wales might play in the development of pure and applied research within the Art and Design fields; aiming to ensure that the Institute is outward-looking and responsive, serving Wales by serving Europe and beyond.

Future

WIRAD operates an "open door" policy because the institute's success is in many ways predicated on the creation of a critical mass of expertise, experience and capacity that does not currently exist. All Welsh Universities and Colleges are invited to apply for membership.

Lecture programmes and research days will be held as open events to facilitate dissemination and the development of a wider research community in art and design in Wales.

Associate membership of the Institute will be developed for academics, HEIs and other research bodies with established interests in this level of research.