# Creative Industries Clusters Round 2 **Funder:** AHRC **Budget:** Up to £6.75M per cluster (£27M total fund) **Duration:** 5 years **Consortium:** Required — lead HEI plus at least one other HEI or independent research organisation, with integrated industry partners **Frequency:** One-off **Eligible countries:** GB **Official call:** https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/creative-industries-clusters-round-2-invite-only/ **Last verified:** 20 June 2026 ## Eligibility & scope Invite-only call to establish up to 4 new Creative Industries Clusters in the UK. Led by UK HEIs in partnership with at least one other HEI or independent research org, with industry partners integrated throughout. Minimum 30% of AHRC grant devolved to creative industry partners; clusters must leverage at least 50% additional funding. PhD studentships not permitted. Proposals must address place-based or sector challenges in the creative industries. ## Summary AHRC Creative Industries Clusters Round 2 is an invite-only call to establish up to 4 new research clusters across the UK, with up to £6.75 million per cluster over five years. Lead host institutions must partner with at least one other HEI or independent research organisation, with industry partners integrated throughout the project; at minimum 30% of the AHRC grant must flow directly to creative industry partners. This is a one-off round designed to tackle place-based and sector-specific challenges in the creative industries with co-funding of at least 50% from non-AHRC sources. ## Who should apply - UK higher education institutions in a lead role, partnering with at least one other HEI or independent research organisation - Lead institutions with established creative industries research programmes and existing industry networks - Consortia with creative industry partners committed to at least 30% of the AHRC funding and secured co-funding of 50% or more - Teams addressing a clearly defined place-based or sector-specific challenge in the creative industries - Applicants invited by AHRC; unsolicited proposals are not accepted ## Key dates - Application link sent 27 May 2026; projects must commence by 1 February 2027 - Five-year project duration - One-off call, no further rounds planned ## Tips for applicants - Co-funding is gating: the cluster must secure at least 50% match beyond the AHRC grant. Demonstrate committed, ringfenced co-funders from industry, councils, or devolved bodies before submission. - Industry integration is not tokenistic, 30% of AHRC money flows directly to creative industry partners. Show how they shape research direction, not just supply access or evaluation. - Place-based or sector angle is mandatory. Frame your cluster around a specific geographic region, creative subsector, or ecosystem challenge with evidence of local need and stakeholder buy-in. ## Frequently asked questions ### How much funding is available for AHRC Creative Industries Clusters Round 2? Up to £6.75 million per cluster, with a total fund of £27 million across up to 4 clusters over five years. ### Who can apply for the Creative Industries Clusters Round 2? Only UK HEIs invited by AHRC; unsolicited applications are not accepted. Lead institutions must partner with at least one other HEI or independent research organisation and integrate creative industry partners throughout. ### What is the consortium requirement for Creative Industries Clusters? A lead UK HEI plus at least one additional HEI or independent research organisation, with creative industry partners; a minimum 30% of the AHRC award must be devolved directly to industry partners. ### Do Creative Industries Clusters fund PhD studentships? No, PhD studentships are not permitted under this scheme. ### How much co-funding must a Creative Industries Cluster secure? Clusters must leverage at least 50% additional funding beyond the AHRC grant from co-funders such as industry, local authorities, or devolved administrations. --- Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/ahrc-creative-industries-clusters-round-2-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying. **See which EU calls match your profile.** [Preview your matches in 30 seconds, no signup](https://grantsby.eu/demo?ref=llm_grant_md).