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Insights

UK's Creative Industries through our reports, insights and research

Welcome to our Insights page where you can discover the latest research from the CoSTAR Network's UK-wide team of world-class researchers, academics and experts.

Explore our reports, papers and articles shaping the future of the UK's creative industries, covering a wide range of perspectives from responses to government sustainability policy to proposals on how to build a fair AI copyright framework.

Sign up to our CoSTAR Network Newsletter for regular updates from this page or follow us on socials.

A large professional film or photography studio filled with equipment and crew members. The space is dominated by a huge, seamless bright blue backdrop that curves at the base, creating an infinity‑style stage. Several silhouetted figures stand or work around cameras, tripods, and large LED panel lights positioned throughout the room. The floor reflects the blue light, and overhead rigging and studio fixtures are visible across the dark ceiling.
Foresight LAB
research
AI

AI in the Screen Sector Quarterly Digest - January to March 2026

Welcome to the CoSTAR Foresight Lab’s screen sector digest, summarising events and developments in AI each quarter.

Posted: 23 April 2026
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A large professional film or photography studio filled with equipment and crew members. The space is dominated by a huge, seamless bright blue backdrop that curves at the base, creating an infinity‑style stage. Several silhouetted figures stand or work around cameras, tripods, and large LED panel lights positioned throughout the room. The floor reflects the blue light, and overhead rigging and studio fixtures are visible across the dark ceiling.
Foresight LAB
research
AI

AI in the Screen Sector Quarterly Digest - October to December 2025

Welcome to the CoSTAR Foresight Lab’s new screen sector digest, summarising events and developments in AI each quarter.

Posted: 26 February 2026
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virtual production led volume
Foresight LAB
research
AI

AI Policy and its Impacts on the Screen Sector Across the Globe

This report from the CoSTAR Foresight Lab explores how artificial intelligence is impacting the Screen Sector across different international contexts.

Posted: 20 February 2026
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image of a computer screen with large screen behind it showing AI generated imagery with people performing in front of it and operating computers at a desk
National LAB
project
AI

Realtime Conjuring For Live Performance

CoSTAR National Lab's Prototyping Team share a blog about their project looking at the role that audiovisual Generative AI can play in enhancing human creativity in an ethical way using converged media production

Posted: 31 July 2025
Realtime Conjuring For Live Performance
A surreal black‑and‑white scene shows a flat, rectangular platform floating above rough, stormy ocean waves. A small turtle sits near the center of the platform, while a tall wading bird with long legs and outstretched wings stands near the edge. The sky is dark and foggy, adding to the dramatic, dreamlike atmosphere.
Foresight LAB
research
AI

AI in the Screen Sector: Perspectives and Paths Forward

This report represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first UK-wide exploration of the overall impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on the full breadth of the UK’s screen sector.

Posted: 09 June 2025
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A stylized 3D map of the UK with glowing points connected by curved light trails, set against a dark blue background.
Foresight LAB
research
AI

UK Innovation in Immersive XR Technologies for screen, performance and digital entertainment: UKRI funding trends and insights (2006–2024)

This report provides a benchmark for the state of play of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) investment into XR technologies for screen, performance and digital entertainment at the close of 2024.

Posted: 28 May 2025
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CSNL_ACCCT_ReportCoverImageAsset
National LAB
research
AI

Time to ACCCT: an AI copyright framework for UK creative industries

This report considers the challenges in developing a publicly available, machine-readable approach to copyright consent that protects the interests of copyright holders whilst allowing AI companies to legally access data. It is published by CoSTAR National Lab with the support of DECaDE and Sheridans.

Posted: 20 May 2025
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janesca
Foresight LAB
research
AI

Policy Briefing: Sustainability Impacts of Convergent Technologies in the UK Creative Industries

This policy briefing highlights the policy implications of the Foresight Lab’s report ‘Sustainability Impacts of Convergent Technologies in the UK Creative Industries’.

Posted: 03 April 2025
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A film still from The Great Endeavour, directed and designed by Liam Young, 2024. The image shows an aerial view of a large solar farm in a desert landscape. Rows of solar panels are arranged in a grid pattern, with some sections appearing darker and others lighter, possibly due to the angle of sunlight or different types of panels. The ground is sandy and dotted with sparse vegetation. There is a bright reflection of sunlight near the centre of the image.
Foresight LAB
research
AI

Sustainability Impacts of Convergent Technologies in the UK Creative Industries

Arup, in partnership with the CoSTAR Foresight Lab, has investigated how the Creative Industries landscape will be reshaped by convergent technologies in the coming years, with a particular focus on how these technologies will require businesses to rethink and redefine their sustainability strategies.

Posted: 02 April 2025
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Immersive experience
Foresight LAB
research
AI

CoSTAR Network response to the Copyright and AI consultation

This policy briefing sets out the CoSTAR Network’s joint response to the UK Government’s Copyright and Artificial Intelligence Consultation (2025), outlining the Network’s approach and recommendations.

Posted: 12 March 2025
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artwork
Foresight LAB
research
AI

Certain Uncertainties

This publication in the Foresight series explores the future of convergent media production, shifting focus from technological possibility to lived experience and asking how creative practitioners are responding to rapid transformation in their everyday work.

Posted: 10 February 2025
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