Cultural
NTU has an outstanding reputation for innovative courses with an international perspective. Our students benefit from our excellent academic teaching staff, world-leading research, links with industry and outstanding facilities.
Our cultural partnerships connect students and staff from across the University with projects and opportunities with key cultural institutions.
Our partners
Our current cultural strategic partners are:
- Nottingham Contemporary - Nottingham Contemporary is one of the largest contemporary art galleries in the UK, presenting free exhibitions, special events, and family activities.
- Nottingham Playhouse - Nottingham Playhouse as been one of the UK's leading producing theatres since its foundation in 1948, producing bold, thrilling and diverse drama, dance, comedy, and music.
- Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature - Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature strives to ensure Nottingham is recognised internationally as a creative powerhouse, while working to create a better world within words.
- ChalleNGe - ChalleNGe is a city-wide partnership of culture professionals, creative practitioners, teachers, youth leaders and young people who ensure children and young people in Nottingham engage in arts and culture.
- New Art Exchange - New Art Exchange (NAE) is a ground-breaking, award-winning and internationally recognised creative space in the heart of Hyson Green, Nottingham. It promotes excellence in culturally diverse contemporary arts through exhibitions, events and engagement initiatives.

Nottingham Contemporary

Nottingham Playhouse

Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature

ChalleNGe

New Art Exchange

Working in partnership with key cultural institutions
NTU champions arts and culture and plays an active role in the cultural life of the city. We have strategic partnerships with Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham Playhouse, Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature, and ChalleNGe Nottingham, the Cultural Education Partnership. These relationships span multiple schools and colleges and create opportunities for students, staff, and the wider public. We also enjoy mutually beneficial relationships with many more city cultural organisations at course and college level.
Every cultural strategic partnership is bespoke, but they all achieve four main aims; they contribute to our curriculum, improve our student experience, add to our research activity, and enrich society. At the same time, they grow our sector knowledge and provide fascinating insights into the cultural industries.

Our research
NTU works collaboratively with its partners on a range of research-based projects. There are opportunities for post graduate study through Collaborative Doctoral Awards delivered in partnership with NTU, cultural partners and with Midlands4Cities funding. There are also opportunities for collaborative research projects led by Principal Investigators from NTU, but developed in partnership, as well as research delivered by NTU but designed and commissioned by our partners.
News
Wed 2 Dec 2020
Celebrating the 2020 Nottingham Playhouse Prizewinner, Gemma Caseley-Kirk
Introducing Nottingham Playhouse Prize winner, Gemma Caseley-Kirk. Gemma, who graduated with a BA (Hons) in Design for Stage and Screen (Design for Theatre and Live Performance) in 2020, is the set designer for the Playhouse Children’s Christmas Show, Jack and The Beanstalk.
Announcing the recipient of the John Harwood Bosworth Creative Writing Bursary
Fri 13 Nov 2020
NTU students showcase an exciting array of poetry films
Fri 25 Sep 2020
Letters of Solidarity – a new writing campaign for young people
Wed 22 Jul 2020
NTU’s graphic design students champion the city’s poetry in new project
Fri 3 Jul 2020
The John Harwood Bosworth Creative Writing Bursary
Nottingham Trent University is delighted to announce the launch of a new opportunity for aspiring writers – The John Harwood Bosworth Creative Writing Bursary.
For more information about NTU's cultural strategic partners, please get in touch by emailing Sarah Dossor, Project Manager, Strategic Partnerships (Culture).
Sector partnerships
Discover more of our strategic partnerships in the sectors below.
Creative and Digital
Nottingham Trent University benefits from outstanding links with industry, professional organisations and partners in the creative and digital sectors on local, national and international levels.
Professional and Public Services
We're working with the professional and public services sector to address the growing threat posed by disruptive digital technology, including fintech, insurtech, lawtech and cybercrime.
Life Science, Food and Drink
We offer partners our expertise, cutting-edge facilities and technology in the fields of medical technologies, biosciences, nanotechnology, forensic science, food and drink, and sport science.
Healthcare
We are working with partners to address major challenges in the healthcare sector, including an ageing population, maintaining wellbeing, and improving the recruitment and retention of staff.
Construction and Sustainability
We are working with partners to support the UK's 2050 target to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80%.
Engineering and Digitalisation
We are working with partners to produce a modern curriculum, highly skilled engineers, and shared access to talent, knowledge and innovation through collaborative research.