The Cultural Institute is a vibrant, welcoming and inclusive centre within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Swansea University.
Our mission is threefold: to champion arts and culture for all, from our staff, students and alumni to schools and communities across Wales and beyond; to nurture collaborations with cultural, literary and publishing partners locally, nationally and internationally; and to enhance the student experience through a wide range of internship opportunities for undergraduates and postgraduates.
From the Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize, to our literary salon series and special events, educational programmes including a human rights focused poetry project for key stage 3, cross art workshops for key stage 2, and a new, free to attend children's literature festival, we celebrate and promote creativity, imagination, discussion and debate as integral to our wellbeing and shaping us as citizens of the world.
Please do get in touch if you'd like to work with us or have any questions about any of our projects.
About us
Originally from Belfast, Elaine Canning is a public engagement specialist, writer and editor living in Swansea, South Wales. She holds an MA and PhD in Hispanic Studies from Queen’s University, Belfast and an MA in Creative Writing from Swansea University. She is currently Head of Special Projects at Swansea University, including the international Dylan Thomas Prize. As well as having written a monograph and papers on Spanish Golden-Age drama, she has published several short stories. Her debut novel, The Sandstone City, was published by Aderyn Press in 2022. She is also editor of Maggie O’Farrell: Contemporary Critical Perspectives (Bloomsbury, 2024). She is a member of the British Council Wales’ Advisory Committee and a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales.
Matthew Hughes is a Marketing Administrator for Special Projects at Swansea University. He joined the Cultural Institute in 2015 and set about integrating his skills in photography, creative design, and event management into projects ranging from the Dylan Thomas Prize, The Being Human Festival, and the Hay Festival. He has a keen interest in Welsh arts and culture and has promoted the works of many up-and-coming Welsh creatives throughout the years.
Among other previous creative projects, Matthew played a key role as curator of Dylan Thomas’s Swansea birthplace during the Dylan Thomas centenary celebrations in 2014 - extensively researching and recreating what the poet's bedroom resembled at the time that his first book '18 Poems' was published in 1934. In his spare time, Matthew can be found documenting the changing landscapes and people of west Wales through his photography.
Starting his Ph.D in Creative Writing in 2023, Nathaniel Phillips immediately began volunteering for the Cultural Institute through its internship opportunities programme. Nathaniel kicked off his studies at Aberystwyth University where he achieved his Undergraduate and Masters degrees, both in Creative Writing. Though an avid reader of all genres, he has a preference for Sci-Fi and Fantasy with a mix of Philosophical and Psychological fiction. During his time at Neath Port Talbot College, Nathaniel had a poem and a piece of flash fiction published in the 2017 collections for Busta Rhyme and Welcome to Wonderland.
Luke Blake, a Swansea-born writer, recently completed his BA in English Literature and Creative Writing at Swansea University. Now he is pursuing an MA in Creative Writing – he is deeply passionate about storytelling. Inspired by his hometown's vibrant arts scene and the legacy of Dylan Thomas, Luke’s writing delves into the depths of grief, the complexities of identity, and the essence of Welshness. His diverse interests, including screenwriting, short stories, and poetry, make him a versatile and dynamic writer.
Beyond his academic pursuits, Luke is actively involved in the local art and queer communities, supporting initiatives like drag shows, theatre, and book launches. As a bibliophile and cinephile at heart, in his downtime he's often found lost in the pages of a short story collection or analysing the intricacies of a movie script.