Brian J Hracs

Dr Brian J Hracs is Associate Professor in Human Geography within the School of Geography and Environmental Science at the University of Southampton. He joined the university in September 2014 and is actively engaged in research, teaching, and supervision of PhD students. His work focuses on creative economies, cultural policy, and the geographies of creativity, with particular attention to how affective atmospheres shape creative work and entrepreneurship. He is currently accepting PhD applications and maintains an active research portfolio with numerous recent publications.

Dr Hracs received his PhD in Geography from the University of Toronto. Prior to joining the University of Southampton, he worked as a research fellow at the Department of Social and Economic Geography at Uppsala University in Sweden. His academic journey reflects a strong foundation in human geography with a specialization in creative economies and cultural policy.

Dr Hracs' research spans multiple dimensions of creative economies and cultural geographies. His work examines how affective atmospheres influence creative workspaces, how cultural policy shapes community development, and how entrepreneurs navigate creative industries. He has conducted significant research on female entrepreneurship in the Global South, exploring how culture, traditions, and geography impact women's entrepreneurial experiences. His recent projects include "Female entrepreneurs: Working as female entrepreneurs in the Global South" and "Understanding and Supporting Creative Economies in Africa."

His recent publications reveal a strong focus on the creative economy, with particular attention to geographical dimensions of creativity. His work spans multiple continents, examining creative practices in South Africa, Iran, Amsterdam, and across Africa. A recurring theme is the role of affective atmospheres in shaping creative work and entrepreneurship. His research also addresses sustainability issues within creative industries, particularly in fashion, and explores how digital platforms are transforming creative labor.

Dr Hracs has received recognition for his academic contributions, including:

• National Award for Academic Engagement (2015)

Dr Hracs is actively supervising several PhD students in Geography, including Charlotte Amelia Campbell-Nieves, Xiao Hu, and Haolin Liu, with previous student Junwanguo Guo having completed their PhD. His research is supported by funding from the Arts & Humanities Research Council, particularly for projects like "Understanding and Supporting Creative Economies in Africa" and the "African Hub for Sustainable Creative Economies." He has also received the Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Development Fund to support collaborative research.

Dr Hracs is a key member of the Economy, Society and Governance research group at Southampton and contributes to the African Hub for Sustainable Creative Economies (AHSCE). He has established collaborative networks across multiple continents, working with researchers in Africa, Europe, and beyond to advance understanding of creative economies in diverse contexts.