Dr Simone Wesner completed her PhD in 2002. She is currently Researcher and Project Manager in the International Institute for Culture, Tourism and Development at London Metropolitan University

Arriving at Warwick for the first time I was instantly struck by the convenience of the campus, which provided for all student needs. It came across as the perfect model for the higher education service industry: The library offered an excellent range of subject-related literature. There was always easy access to computer facilities and the coffee bar. The arts centre offered good films and going for a swim after a day of contemplation and books put the work into perspective. Supermarkets, the bookshop, hairdresser and cash machine dealt with the other essentials of every day life.

But what mattered most were the critical minds, the talks and discussions with colleagues and the Centre staff, who generated an atmosphere that fosters critical cultural policy thinking and analysis at its best. Nothing was certain - assumptions were questioned carefully and investigated. I fondly recall the debates with fellow students who came from many parts of the world. We were speculating on the future of the arts while realising cultural preoccupations and debating cross-cultural values. The centre was and still is a place where provoking arguments are welcomed at the same time as pragmatic management solutions are generated.

I spent seven years studying at Warwick. After completing an MA dissertation about Visual Galleries in Saxony in 1995 I embarked on a more detailed and intense piece of research a year later, which after six years part time work resulted in a doctoral thesis about the impact of German unification on the living and working conditions of visual artists in Saxony/Germany and their response to transformation. My interest in cultural values and their implication on policy developed over the years into a research portfolio crossing national boundaries while maintaining a special focus on German Cultural Policy. More recently I became interested in the interchange of artistic ideas, concepts and conceptions across continents (South East Asia and Europe), how such ideas travel and how influential they prove to be in the development of cultural policy in such regions.

Looking back at my PhD, the most satisfying experience was being able to focus on one topic intensely within the critical environment of the centre and to get into the discipline of continuous study while beating the isolation of individual research. Today, I often smile when students in my seminars at my current institution argue about the disillusionment of market forces and then think that even they are still benefiting from the Warwick bug.

Dr Eleonora Belfiore completed her PhD in 2006. She is currently a Research Fellow in the Centre for Cultural Policy Studies at the University of Warwick. 

When I completed my MA in European Cultural Policy at the Centre I had no idea that I would end up enrolling for a 3-year PhD course. I had enjoyed the MA immensely, and researching my final project on the social impacts of the arts had been a particularly stimulating and interesting experience. It was my dissertation supervisor who suggested I should think about pursuing further studies. After much deliberation, I took the plunge, enrolled for a PhD and never looked back (well, apart from a few panic-stricken moments, but they are all part and parcel of being a doctoral student!). When I decided that I wanted to do some more research in the cultural policy field, I had no doubt that Warwick was the best place to pursue my ambition. Not only is the Centre highly regarded internationally, but the teaching staff are very knowledgeable yet friendly and approachable (though I might be slightly biased: I am one of them now!). I had enjoyed writing my MA dissertation and I felt that I had managed to establish a good working relationship with my supervisor, who then became my PhD supervisor. He knew my rhythm and style of work, and it was great to be able to start my PhD on a common understanding of what our respective role would be. I like to ponder over things, and to read extensively before putting my thoughts to paper. My supervisor was very helpful in accepting my way of working, whilst also always being available for a brainstorming session (or just reassurances that I was still on track, even when I felt a bit lost!).

I decided that writing my thesis was the best opportunity to explore cultural policy in Italy, my country of origin, whilst also further pursuing areas covered during my MA studies. My thesis was a comparative study of post-war cultural policies in Britain and Italy and looked at how and why an instrumental rhetoric now seems to dominate in both countries. I was deeply passionate about my topic of research, and this is, I feel, one of the most important factors required to succeed in your doctoral studies, second only to a good working relationship with your supervisor. Studying for a PhD is a largely solitary endeavour and you need to be able to sustain interest in your work over a 3-year period. Enthusiasm and a certain resilience are indeed precious qualities in any PhD candidate! The research environment at the Centre, however, can offer a good counterbalance to the solitude of research. In my time at Warwick I contributed to setting up and running a lively PhD student group, which has since then grown in size and activities. The intellectual debates, emotional support and friendship provided by the group were essential to my PhD experience.

After completing my PhD, I obtained a Research Fellowship, co-funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and Arts Council England, that allowed me to conduct, here at the Centre, further research into many of the issues that I covered in my PhD work. I have subsequently been offered an Assistant Professorship at the Centre, which I will take up on the conclusion of my Fellowship.

My research question was ‘why have we seen the expansion of education/outreach programmes in nonprofit cultural organisations in Britain since the 1990s?’ I tried to answer that question through historical analysis of cultural policy and theatre organisation. Supervision was spread out over quite long intervals, but it was suitable as I was required to show progress at each supervision. For me the biggest challenge was being a remote student and having to work alone, but it also functioned positively giving me a kind of intellectual freedom.

In my view the great driving force behind the Centre’s research is its active community of PhD students. The PhD group not only organises research activities but also facilitates conversations between its members, which sometimes give enormous emotional support to each other. I am still a member of the PhD group and am benefiting from its activities. 

There seem to be two qualities necessary for PhD studies in this field: first, efforts to know how to study; and second, a clear understanding of the interdisciplinarity of cultural policy research. In particular, looking for conceptual links between culture, public policy, organisation, history and industry is challenging but very rewarding.

After submission of my thesis, I applied for a number of research posts. Although I could not make it instantly, I felt more confident as I found that cultural policy research could relate well to research in a wide range of disciplines. Since 2004 I have taught cultural industries and cultural policy at King’s College London.  

A PhD thesis is a lonely journey that can be completed by no one else other than one’s self. But with good colleagues and helpful tutors, one can get through it and even enjoy it! In this sense, the Centre for Cultural Policy Studies is a great place to be.    

Dr Lingjie Wang completed her PhD in 2005. She is currently a Research Analyst for Screen Digest, a media research centre in London

With some work experience in the Chinese TV industry, I came to Warwick in 2000 for the MA in Creative and Media Enterprises. I enjoyed the course so much that I decided to stay for a PhD without even thinking about applying elsewhere. I did not realize then how well established our Centre is, until I started my PhD research.

My take on the PhD experience? Two very 'philosophical' points, so to speak: you are alone, but you are not alone.

A PhD is VERY different from a Master’s course, given that a PhD is a very private programme managed between you and your supervisor(s). You are supposed to propose your own topic, design your own research plan, and eventually and most importantly, develop your own ideas and argument. In the process you will have guidance and advice from one or two of your supervisors at arm’s length.

On the other hand, doing a PhD is not that lonely and miserable. You will have lots of opportunities to discuss and share ideas with fellow research students, going to conferences and meeting people in the same or similar field. I benefited from the Centre’s close links with Warwick Business School, where I got valuable advice and comment on my research plan. I also feel extremely lucky to have been part of a strong and supportive PhD student group. We actively organized research seminars, conferences and meals together. We supported each other, and learned from each other. In the meantime, the Centre has been extremely generous and supportive of the conferences and seminars that we organized.

While finishing my PhD, I was also working for the National 863 Research Project on western media regulation and management systems, trends and legacy, which was funded by the Chinese government. In charge of the British broadcasting sector, I wrote a 100,000 paper for one of the books which evolved from this project. The book is due to be published at the end of 2006. I can not thank the Centre enough for its strong expertise in this area and immense intellectual input.

Soon after my Viva examination, I was offered a job at Screen Digest, a media intelligence and consultancy company in London, working as journalist, consultant and media researcher at the same time. For this, I owe the Centre enormous debt for its extensive network in the industry for the right reason and at the right time.

Dr Li-jung Wang completed her PhD in 2003. She is currently  Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology, Yuan Ze University, Taiwan

I conducted my doctoral studies from 1999 to 2003, after I had finished my MA degree at the Centre for Cultural Policy Studies. Previously, I had received an MA degree in Journalism in Taiwan. However, I developed an interest in cultural policy studies while I was working as a newspaper literary editor. That is why I decided to quit my job in Taiwan and study abroad; I wanted to seek a new direction for my life.

For me, the most important thing for a PhD student is to confirm one’s interest in a particular topic and one’s reasons for pursuing a PhD. In fact, the life of a PhD student is daunting: loneliness, pressure, isolation, and boredom are always close at hand. Nevertheless, I felt very happy when I was doing my research on multiculturalism in Taiwan, and I also enjoyed the process of reading, writing, re-reading and re-writing.

Of course, quality supervision is key for a PhD student. Many PhD students face difficulty in dealing with their supervisors, or feel unsatisfied with their supervision. However, I was very lucky on this point. My supervisor was always supportive of me and provided much useful feedback for the improvement of my thesis. I really learned a great deal from supervision, such as how to conduct reliable research, how to interpret and incorporate various theories and how to write a better thesis. 

Afterwards, I accepted an offer to serve as Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology, and also taught some graduate courses in Arts Management, Environment and the Arts. My research interests cross various fields, such as ethnic studies, cultural studies, media studies, sociology, arts and management. I believe that my background in cultural policy studies has provided me with wide-ranging perspectives and rich experiences that will enable me to successfully deal with many new academic topics in the social sciences.