The arts and humanities have a strong tradition of building, maintaining and using archives as part of their research. The creative industries also exploit archives, but refer to them as databases of assets from which they generate experiences for public audiences. In turn, social media now enable these audiences to contribute back to archives by commenting, tagging, annotating and uploading their own media. Our proposal addresses the potential for a productive collision of archives, assets and audiences to the benefit of all concerned by bringing together academics with the creative industries, and engaging both with diverse audiences. In order to drive this vision forward, we will focus on industrial heritage as a target sector of the creative industries, specifically on the three themes of i) enlightenment and innovation; ii) cultures of work, welfare and play; and iii) the rise, fall and re-invention of industry. This focus builds on the rich heritage of our region; the expertise of our three university partners, Nottingham, Leicester, and Nottingham Trent; and the interests and resources of a wide network of industry and cultural partners. Our objectives are to engage external partners, grow our capacity for knowledge exchange, deliver a portfolio of demonstrator projects, and ensure the future sustainability of our approach. We will achieve this through a year-long programme of engagement activities (theme launch days and a final symposium); mobility and training activities (knowledge exchange fellowships and student internships); feasibility projects; and sustainability activities (ingenuity and reflection workshops). As part of our programme we will work with the REACT Hub in particular to complement their Heritage Sandbox currently underway but which will have concluded by the start of our programme. The Director of REACT, Prof. John Dovey, will sit on the steering group to aid complementarity and shared learning.

The Data4Sustain feasibility study integrate environmental data into a prototype webGIS decision-support tool for renewable energy technology selection in urban development and redevelopment projects. Each data source will be processed in a way that adds value. Customers of the webGIS platform comprise house builders, developers and their advisors, local authorities, community groups and businesses. At least one dataset will be crowdsourced, as proof-of-concept to showcase its value and practicality. When Data4Sustain is market ready, it is intended that it will be available via professional subscription. A free low resolution product will also be made available for the general public. Data4Sustain will be designed to be modular and capable of including new data sources as they arise. Outputs of this feasibility stage will include an evaluation of the availability, limitations and applicability of each dataset measured against cost, usability, relevance, potential for added value; a prototype built for local authority use to evaluate how well it works; and a refined business model for bringing the product to market.

In a British context, and with significant exceptions, WWI still focuses largely on the white British armed forces active on the Western Front. While it is possible to subject the events of 1914-18 to disinterested and objective historical inquiry, the commemorative landscapes and rituals created after 1918, and reaffirmed each year in the UK and on the Western Front, tend to prevent a broader understanding of WWI as a global conflict that has continuing relevance for all communities in an increasingly cosmopolitan British society. This includes those for whom the Western Front, and the conventional British narratives associated with it, have limited significance. Many Indians fought on the Western Front, but people from different parts of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, including Ukraine, Russia, and Poland are likely to focus more strongly on the fallout from the collapse of the Russian Empire 1917-22, and the subsequent emergence of new nations in central and eastern Europe after 1918. People of the Balkan states may be more interested in the post-1912 wars which essentially led to Yugoslavia, the fall of the Habsburg monarchy and the emergence of a stronger Greece. Turkey's participation in WWI led to the destruction of the Ottoman Sultanate and the creation of the modern Republic of Turkey. The Irish have yet a further perspective on these years. The centrality of WWI to British identity has been reaffirmed by the UK government's ambitious £60 million programme to mark the centenary in 2014-18. The explicit objective is to remind the next generation 'that the First World War is not ancient history but a shared history that unites our country'. What of the many communities which have settled in Britain during the 20th century? Are they (intentionally or unintentionally) excluded? Some families have lived in Britain for several generations but do not necessarily feel any sense of engagement with previous commemorative events. The proposed Centre aims to identify and facilitate imaginative democratic community action and engagement around the memories and narratives of the period 1914-18 within the diverse communities which make up contemporary British Society. Initially the Centre will take advantage of its location and work with three, large cosmopolitan cities in the English East Midlands region: Nottingham, Leicester and Derby. These three cities have distinctive but comparable industrial heritages, and through the 20th Century experienced sustained immigration from all parts of Europe, the Commonwealth and elsewhere. From this foundation, and utilizing community networks, we aim to expand our community partnerships to achieve a national reach. The Centre will be led by a cross-disciplinary network of academics from across the Arts and Humanities, the Social Sciences and the Information Technologies. The University of Nottingham and its partners in the Centre have a strong track record of working with community groups and our key mechanisms of engagement will include a comprehensive programme of community-focused events (themed roadshows, research surgeries, talks and training) co-ordinated by an experienced Community Liaison officer. Access to research expertise will be facilitated by two funding schemes: (i) a Community Challenge Fund to support community groups to gain access to training, facilities and expertise to assist the development of community-led programmes and support the development of bids to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) schemes; and (ii) a Research Development Fund, aimed at extending the potential of a community-led HLF project or funding follow-up activities to further develop a completed HLF project. Mechanisms of engagement through events, and the funding schemes, will encourage fresh approaches to collaborations through the involvement of community theatre practitioners, community film makers and the novel use of technology through the UoN's digital research centres (e.g. Horizon).

This is a participatory research project into cultural identity. Via novel research, partnership building and public engagement it aims to energise and cross-fertilise communities within Derby. It was here that Dracula made his first licensed appearance, on the stage of the Grand Theatre in 1924. When the curtain rose, Hamilton Deane's adaptation debuted Dracula in evening dress and opera cloak. The monstrous nosferatu of the novel was recast as an urbane and sophisticated figure. The show became wildly successful; it toured the country, and from the West End transferred to Broadway, where Bela Lugosi played the Count. This production was then adapted by Hollywood for the iconic 1931 film. Since then Dracula has manifested in diverse forms: books, cartoons, toys, video games and over 200 further films, from Blacula (1972) to children's favourite Hotel Transylvania (2012). Dracula is one of the most adapted characters in the world, destined to reappear in diverse cultures and forms, transcending gender and ethnic boundaries through his/her/its appeal. The home of this cultural journey is Derby. This AHRC Curiosity research project is about the Draculas that exist beyond Bram Stoker's text. It uses the centenary to hold a series of events commemorating, exploring and understanding cultural adaptation, considering what Dracula has meant and can be made to mean. These events are guided and informed by a series of creative arts workshops designed to engage citizens in thinking through the modalities that Dracula mobilises. This vampire is an abuser, destroyer and sadist, yet also a source of comedy and a figure of love. Above all, Dracula is a creature of value, both a magnet for tourism and a mine for adaptation, and it is through shaping this value that the project seeks to rebrand the cultural identity of a city, in order, ultimately, to impact tourism. This is the challenge the project addresses, and its aim. Its objectives are to engage communities in raising critical consciousness of Dracula and Derby through a programme of impactful participatory creative arts research; stage cultural events to celebrate the first licensed adaptation in 1924. Each event allows the public to shape and influence Derby through Dracula; through these mobilisations of Dracula contribute to the national conversation on equality, diversity and inclusion in horror; analyse and document the project via scholarly and community publications. There are eight community organisations involved, alongside a novel and unique alliance of public sector organisations (Derby City Council, city centre Business Improvement Districts), cultural providers (Derby Book Festival, Derby Museums, Derby Theatre, QUAD, Thrivemind Village and Writing East Midlands), and three universities where relevant expertise is housed (Bournemouth University, Sheffield Hallam University, and University of Derby). The project thus makes connections between community and cultural organisations, transforming local networks, strengthening the creative industries, supporting entrepreneurship and contributing to a thriving, energetic community. Through involving the people of Derby in the story of the many Draculas the project aims to establish the city as a destination for gothic tourism.