Reframing Cultural Participation: From Access to Agency

Hughie Brown is a lecturer in Cultural and Creative Industries at the University of Leeds, specializing in cultural economics, the music industry, and the dynamics of creative work. He completed his PhD at Queensland University of Technology, where he researched the business models of self-publishing musicians in the digital era. Before joining Leeds, he taught across journalism, communication, and creative industries programs in Australia, developing an interdisciplinary approach to understanding cultural value. His current research focuses on defining and measuring the broader impact of culture, aiming to build frameworks that capture its social and creative significance beyond economics. Alongside his academic work, he continues to write, record, and publish music, maintaining a direct connection to the creative practices he studies.