Following recognition from the Queen’s Anniversary Prize, È«Ãñ²ÊƱ was invited to participate in the Coronation Challenge CreaTech. This year-long research initiative, commissioned by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), was launched as part of the 2023 Sector Vision initiative— aimed at stimulating growth within the UK’s Creative Industries.
The Coronation Challenge project team was convened by the Royal Anniversary Trust and brought together representatives from 22 universities and colleges that had recently been awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize.
Over the course of the year, UK-based innovators, creators, and businesses working in creative technology came together with academics and researchers in creative industries to produce a comprehensive report for the UK Government:
Representing È«Ãñ²ÊƱ in this initiative was Professor Andrew Lewis, an award-winning composer and internationally recognised figure in acousmatic composition, and Professor Andrew McStay, Professor of Technology and Society and Director of the Emotional AI Lab.
Professor Lewis has interests in the materiality of perceived sound and the use of technology to realise new musical ideas, while Professor McStay specialises in the ethical and societal implications of AI.
This initiative highlighted the potential of seamlessly connecting creativity and technology. The Creative Industries, worth an estimated £125 billion to the UK economy, are a key driver of growth, and music should be at the forefront of technological development. From supermarket sound design to immersive videogame soundtracks, the fusion of these fields shapes everyday experiences and fuels innovation.