A new Centre for Creative Arts Research has been developed at Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), marking a significant step forward for researchers in the area. The new centre represents the merging of the Music Research Centre Ionad Taighde Ceoil and the Creative Media Research Group which includes academic membership of 16 staff members from within DkIT’s School of Informatics and Creative Arts.

The Centre for Creative Arts Research was designated by an external panel of research active academics who visited the Institute in November 2016 to assess research outputs by DkIT academic staff members to date. The panel was impressed to learn that over a three year period, DkIT researchers in the area of Creative Arts produced 244 single research outputs including, conference presentations, secured research funding, workshops, guest lectures, performances, journal articles and monographs. In its evaluation, the panel commented on the high quality of research produced to date and emphasised the strategic importance of such a centre to DkIT and the wider North East region.

Speaking today, Dr Tim McCormac, Head of Research at DkIT said: “The Centre for Creative Arts Research is one of six leading Research Centres at DkIT and through its creation; we aim to build upon the growing research and scholarship culture at the college. DkIT is committed to providing the highest standard of research-informed teaching and learning to our students and the new centre will help to foster a vibrant postgraduate programme in the area of Creative Arts and support existing undergraduate programmes in the area.”

In September 2015 DkIT announced the launch of two new academic Departments, the Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music and the Department of Human and Visual Centred Computing. The new research centre will support the work of these Departments and will encompass research in Musicology, Composition and Performance, Media and Cultural Studies, Gaming, Technology and Creative Arts Education. The centre will be co-directed by Dr Caroline O’Sullivan, Senior Lecturer in Creative Media at DkIT and Dr Daithí Kearney, Lecturer in Music at DkIT.

Speaking today, Dr Daithí Kearney said “I am delighted to announce the launch of the new Centre for Creative Arts Research at DkIT which will undoubtedly enhance the Institute’s cultural remit to the North East region and its communities. The Centre will build upon recent work in the area of interdisciplinary research, recognising that research is increasingly expected to be accountable to society and many projects aim to benefit our society and local communities.”

Dr Caroline O’Sullivan added “Many of our researchers are already involved in a number of exciting research projects in the Creative Arts and across the arts and humanities. Many of these involve external collaborations with regional industry, community groups and other Higher Education institutions in Ireland and internationally. The centre is also committed to attracting more funding and researchers to DkIT in the future and making the research outputs accessible to the local community in the first instance.”

For more information on the Centre for Creative Arts Research, please contact daithi.kearney@dkit.ie or caroline.osullivan@dkit.ie.