About MADRE

Much of the work in MADRE has an excellent record of high social and cultural impact. The School of Arts & Media is also exploring the relationships between research in its disciplines with teaching and learning and how this influences the curriculum. With the arrival of Professor Allan Walker as Head of School in November 2011, the School is building on the strong links with the creative economy and its distinctive provision with a renewed commitment to high quality specialist and interdisciplinary programmes, which are closely informed by research and are increasingly international. The School is continually exploring closer relationships between fine art and design disciplines, which have traditionally adopted different ideological positions, to inform a distinctive teaching and research culture.

The MADRE centre is uniquely placed to develop research-focused and research-led study opportunities within the context and environment of the new University campus building at MediaCityUK, which offers significant scope for postgraduate growth at the interface of industry, media, flexible learning, and high quality research. MediaCityUK also provides the Centre with a context, profile, and ‘footprint’ to generate significant collaborations with major academic and industrial research partners.

Art & Design research at Salford has an impressive record in achieving research grants and funding which amounts to £3.5 million since 2001. The MADRE centre has delivered three AHRC Fellowships in the Creative & Performing Arts and several successful Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, including research projects in collaboration with regional businesses and international centres of creative excellence. Research grants come from a wide range of bodies, including the AHRC, EPSRC, the Arts Council, Home Office, Design Council and the British Council. Research is undertaken in collaboration with industry and other disciplines within the University and between Universities. Collaborative partners currently include Greater Manchester Police, Catch 22, Xcalibre, Serious Crime Unit, Mines Advisory Group International, CARISMA, Peace FM, Salford City Council and leading museums and galleries such as the V&A, Tate, FACT and Imperial War Museum.