Creativity
Creativity is a key driver of modern, dynamic societies and is at the centre of our research excellence. Our research links traditional arts and humanities disciplines with science and engineering. We work with partners in the creative sector and we study the impact of creativity on our society and economy.
Research topics
Focus area

Digital creativity
The creative industries are one of the UK’s leading industrial sectors with an established reputation for content production and technological innovation. Our research supports this expertise with academic collaborations across linguistic, cultural, aesthetic and cognitive dimensions.
Latest news
Featured research
Related departments
Our creativity research crosses academic boundaries. Find out more about the departments and related research groups involved in this work:
- Archaeology
- Centre for Medieval Studies
- Computer Science
- Education
- English and Related Literature
- Environment and Geography
- Health Sciences
- History
- History of Art
- Language and Linguistic Science
- Mathematics
- Philosophy
- Psychology
- School of Arts and Creative Technologies
- School of Physics, Engineering and Technology
- Sociology
Related research groups
- Archaeology Data Service
- Centre for Digital Heritage
- Centre for Future Health
- Centre for the Study of Christianity and Culture
- Communication Technologies
- Digital Creativity Labs
- Humanities Research Centre
- Institute for Public Understanding of the Past
- Music Research Centre
- Science and Technology Studies Unit
- Stockholm Environment Institute at York
- York Cross-disciplinary Centre for Systems Analysis
- York Neuroimaging Centre
Research Champion

Rachel Cowgill is Professor of Music and cultural-historical musicologist in the School of Arts and Creative Technologies. Her research focuses on music in cultural history, encompassing Mozart, opera studies, British music and musical cultures, internationalism, conflict and commemoration, and music, gender and identity.