Jonathan joined the Department of Culture, Media & Creative Industries (CMCI) in 2015, following posts at the universities of Leeds and Sheffield. Drawing on his interdisciplinary background in cultural studies, audience studies, and the history of political thought – his work addresses questions of cultural policy, cultural participation, and cultural politics.

In projects supported by funders including the AHRC and Horizon 2020, he has conducted research in collaboration with policy makers, cultural organisations, and communities across the UK and internationally. These include Developing Inclusive & Sustainable Creative Economies (Horizon 2020) and Future Festivals South Africa: Possibilities for the Age of COVID-19 (AHRC). His projects also include an oral history of the UK government’s internationally influential Creative Industries Mapping Document. He is currently writing a book on how art and culture enable hope – and contest what can be hoped for – in times of crisis.   

Jonathan is Department Education Lead, and was previously Programme Director for the MA Arts & Cultural Management. His activities as a teacher and as a researcher – including his work on hope – are closely interconnected. He supports students to engage critically and creatively with culture, media, and creative industries as they are – and as they could be.

• Cultural policy
• Cultural participation
• Culture & hope
• Culture & crisis
• Culture & care

Jonathan’s work has been published in a wide range of reports, edited collections, and journals including Arts and the Market, Cultural Trends, European Journal of Cultural Studies, International Journal of Cultural Policy, and Participations. He has also co-edited a special issue of Futures. 

Jonathan welcomes PhD applications connected to his areas of research.