University announces PhD project to build first National Poetry Library of Wales

The University of South Wales (USW) has announced a groundbreaking new PhD studentship aimed at creating the first National Poetry Library of Wales.

The ambitious project, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), seeks to make poetry accessible for all by establishing a ‘digital-first, multi-site’ library, using innovative digital infrastructure.

The studentship is part of the Celtic Crescent Doctoral Fund Award – a flagship multilingual consortium of seven HE institutions across Wales, Scotland and Cornwall. The Award focuses on growing the next generation of research talent within the creative economy, specifically targeting micro-clusters affected by inequality and geographic isolation.

The project aims to address geographic and socio-economic barriers to cultural engagement by developing a library that thrives across multiple sites and digital platforms.

The successful PhD candidate will lead a research project to establish the library and a longitudinal impact evaluation. Using the Qualitative Impact Assessment Protocol (QuIP), the researcher will measure how this new institution affects practitioners and local communities within creative micro-clusters – areas often marked by under-representation or marginalisation.

Transformative

Dr Ben Gwalchmai, lecturer in Digital Innovation at USW, will lead on the studentship recruitment process. He said: “This project is more than just an academic exercise; it is a transformative project for the creative economy of Wales.

“By building a digital-first National Poetry Library, we are ensuring that the wealth of Welsh and English language poetry is accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live – from our rural coastal towns to our post-industrial heartlands.”

The PhD is fully funded for up to four years, covering tuition fees and providing an annual tax-free living stipend (currently £21,805 for the 2026-27 academic year). The researcher will be supervised by a specialist team including Dr Gwalchmai, Professor Diana Wallace, and Dr Rebecca Hutcheon, and will benefit from being part of the wider Celtic Crescent cohort, receiving specialised training and industry-led networking opportunities.

The University is seeking a bilingual (Welsh and English) researcher with a strong background in the creative industries, digital humanities, or literature.

The deadline to apply for the studentship is Friday 10 April 2026 at 4pm. The PhD will start in October 2026. For full details on the studentship and application requirements, visit the USW Graduate School website.