StoryFutures Creative Industries Clusters Final Report

StoryFutures was a pivotal initiative under the Arts & Humanities Research Council’s Creative Industries Clusters Programme, spearheaded by Royal Holloway, University of London.

It sought to bolster regional creative industries by fostering the development of next-generation storytelling experiences through structured collaborative R&D projects between industry and academia. By enabling immersive and CreaTech companies to create innovative products, services, workflows, and business models, StoryFutures aimed to drive innovation, stimulate economic growth and job creation, enhance network connectivity within the cluster, as well as nurture next-generation talent.

This report delineates the outcomes and insights garnered from the five-year duration of the StoryFutures Cluster project, which saw the creation of nearly 150 projects exploring the exciting possibilities of novel storytelling formats and audience experiences. Intended as a guide for future clusters and R&D initiatives, it provides valuable lessons to build upon its successes and overcome previous challenges.

The report highlights the essential collaboration among regional higher education institutions, world-class creative partners, and key economic players, contextualising StoryFutures as a key player developing immersive R&D practices across the UK. Furthermore, this report underscores the critical role of applied research and innovation in driving economic growth within the creative sector.