Dr Haili Ma
- Position: Associate Professor/Reader in UK-China Creative Industries
- Areas of expertise: Creative Economy; Intangible Cultural Heritage; IP Commercialisation.
- Email: H.Ma2@leeds.ac.uk
- Phone: +44(0)113 343 9847
- Location: 1.04 stage@leeds
- Website: The UK-China Creative Industries Hub
Profile
I am Associate Professor/Reader in UK-China Creative Industries. My research examines the UK-China creative industries’ distinctions and compatibility. Before coming to the UK in 1997 I was a member of Shanghai Luwan All-female Yue Opera Troupe, specialising in xiaosheng (male role). I have continued to perform and produce whilst developing my academic career. My research methods bridge across theories and practice-led.
Shortly after joining University of Leeds in 2018, I initiated and set up MA Global Performance and Cultural Industries. The programme was launched in 2021 with the application number rising at 200%. External report commends the programme as “high quality” and “distinct”: “The concept for this course is innovative; there is no course quite like it in the UK or anywhere (except perhaps Australia) and has innovated on two fronts – (i) its ‘global cultural/creative economy’ framework, and (ii) bringing a critical studies approach to ‘event culture/performance’, which strengthens the School’s subject distinction and identity”.
Between 2018 and 2024, I successfully captured and led to completion five consequtive awards from the UKRI on the theme of UK-China Creative Industries Partnership. Adopting digital performance making as a research method, the project series explore the possibility of nurturing a shared audience across the UK and China, whilst testing the UK creative companies China market entry strategy.
Building on the leadership and experience, in early 2025 I set up The UK-China Creative Industries Hub to further support partnership and collaboration of the wide creative sectors across the UK and China. Leading from the UK, the Hub is based at Fudan University Science Park in Shanghai, with a dedicated research and admin team, as well as physical office and workshop spaces across China to provide on-the-ground expertise support. The Hub is currently fully funded by UK and China research and industry partners through in-kind and cash contribution, totalling over £2million a year, and the support is ongoing and growing.
I am the author of Urban Politics and Cultural Capital, the case of Chinese opera (Routledge hardcopy 2015, paperback 2020) and Understanding Cultural and Creative Industries through Chinese Theatre (Palgrave Macmillan 2024).
- 2020–2024, Principal Investigator, Bridging the Gaps. UKRI/AHRC UK-China Creative Industries Partnership Fund. Grant value: £1,632k (£500k AHRC+ £1,132k match fund from project partners).
- 2022–2023, Principle Investigator, Song the Future. UKRI/AHRC UK-China Creative Industries Partnership Fund. Grant value: £152,400 (£100k AHRC + £52,400 match fund from project partners).
- 2020–2021, Principal Investigator, Song of the Female Textile Worker. UKRI/AHRC UK-China Creative Industries Partnership Fund. Grant value: £205k (£75 AHRC+£130k match fund from project partners).
- 2019, Principal Investigator, Bridging the Gaps Prelude. UKRI/AHRC UK-China Creative Industries Partnership Fund. Grant value: £59,700 (£24,800 AHRC+£34,900 match fund from project partners).
- 2018–2021, Principal Investigator, Ghost in M50 Host. UKRI/AHRC Newton Fund. Grant value: £1,157k (£246k AHRC+£237k matching fund from Shanghai Theatre Academy+£690k from other project partners).
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2018, Lead Applicant and Supervisor, Sino-Wales cultural policy evaluation since the 2005 UNESCO convention. ESRC Wales Doctoral Training Fund. Grant value: £70k.
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2017–2018, Principal Investigator, Creative Class and Sustainable City Development. China National Natural Science Foundation Fund. Grant value: £18k.
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2016, Fellowship, China Cultural Economy, the case of Chinese opera. UKRI/AHRC IPS Fund. Grant value: £4,500.
Responsibilities
- Founder of MA Global Performance and Cultural Industries
- University of Leeds AHRC Strategy Group
Research interests
- intangible cultural heritage
- cultural and creative industries
- digital economy
- IP commercialisation
- Bridging The Gaps: Mixed Reality Performance of Chinese Opera in Rural and Urban Shanghai
- Bridging the Gaps: mixed reality performance of Chinese Opera in Shanghai's rural and urban heritage sites
- Development through the Creative Economy in China, reconnecting M50 creative cluster with Shanghai All-Female Yue Opera.
- UK-China Song of the Female Textile Workers: past, present and the future
Qualifications
- 2007-2011, PhD in Shanghai Yueju Marketisation, UoLeeds (full scholarship, Research Distinction)
- 2004-2005, MA in Asia Pacific Studies&Chinese Business, University of Leeds (full scholarship)
- 2001-2004, BA in English Literature, University of Salford (2:1)
Professional memberships
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- Member of the AHRC Peer Review College
Student education
I initiated and founded MA Global Performance and Cultural Industries. The programme contextualises theories and practice of Theatre and Performance studies within the Cultural and Creative industries to critically examine what performance is and how it is produced and consumed in different socio-political economic settings. Global performance in this context refers to both live and digital forms that are produced for educational and/or commercial purposes with international audiences in mind.
The programme draws on interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary theories, including theatre and performance studies, sociology, media studies, and practice-led research methods. It equips students with the knowledge and skills to progress onto a research degree and/or to pursue a career in the field of global performance and cultural industries.
Research groups and institutes
- Centre for Cultural Policy