Research at LICA

We do not let disciplinary boundaries hold us back but actively seek to work across them, knowing that this helps to find good solutions and that the dialogue between disciplines enriches knowledge for us all.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK’s system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.

Lancaster Institution for Contemporary Arts’ commitment to outstanding interdisciplinary and inclusive research is evident through our REF 2021 results. We ranked 20th among 86 institutions in Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory, joint 8th for impact, and joint 9th for environment, showing the effectiveness of our engaged approach.

Our exceptional international research addresses real-world issues, such as sustainability, the climate emergency, and health inequalities while redefining the relationship between creative practice, theory and criticism. Our work generates new perspectives and globally recognised solutions – putting creative thinking into practice and make a real difference in people’s lives.

Find out more about our research centres, networks and associations below.

Research Centres

  • ImaginationLancaster

    ImaginationLancaster is an open and exploratory research lab which conducts applied and theoretical research into people, products, places and their interactions.

  • Creative Cultures and Context

    Creative Cultures and Context brings together colleagues across all disciplines to conduct historical and theoretical research about cultures, art, and interconnecting lives.

  • Interrogating Practices

    The Centre for Interrogating Practices is a forum for advancing creative, critical and theoretical understanding of practice-based research in the contemporary arts.

Research Networks and Associations