George McKay

George McKay is a Professor of Media Studies at the University of East Anglia (UEA), leading research in cultural studies, media, and popular music. He previously held roles at the University of Salford and UCLan, with a career spanning over three decades. His work focuses on festivals, subcultures, disability in media, and the intersection of music with social movements.

Education: Holds a First Class BA (Hons) from Hull College of Higher Education (1984) and a PhD from the University of Glasgow (1992). Key academic roles include AHRC Leadership Fellow for the Connected Communities Programme (2012–2019) and panel member for REF2021. He is actively involved in peer review for international research councils.

Research interests span media and cultural studies, with emphasis on festivals, punk rock, jazz, disability studies, and gardening’s political dimensions. Notable books include Radical Gardening and Shakin’ All Over: Popular Music and Disability. His projects include the CHIME EU Heritage+ initiative and collaborations with organizations like the EFG London Jazz Festival.

Awards include the UEA Engagement Awards 2020 for Outstanding Achievement. He supervises PhD students in media and cultural studies, having mentored over 60 researchers. Active in public engagement, he has contributed to BBC programs and written for major publications like the Guardian.

Key projects include the £30m AHRC Connected Communities Programme, involving 350 projects and 1,000 community partners. Recent work includes the EIRA-funded project on digital creativity in music-making and the Reggae Research Network.

His academic networks include editorial roles in journals like Social Movement Studies and Popular Music. He regularly organizes international conferences and lectures globally, reflecting his commitment to interdisciplinary and community-engaged research.