The Anders Sandrew Institute for Culture and Creativity, founded in 2025 at Uppsala University, aims to strengthen and connect research and collaboration in culture, creativity, and artistic development by promoting innovative, interdisciplinary studies and deepening understanding of culture’s role in society.
New Director Outlines the Plans for the Anders Sandrew Institute
The Anders Sandrew Institute for Culture and Creativity aims to promote innovative research and the exchange of knowledge in the fields of culture, creativity, and artistic development. The institute’s new director, Johan Jansson, is interviewed by Uppsala University about the institute’s activities. Jansson, Associate Professor of Cultural Geography, assumed the role in February 2026.
“It’s really fantastic that, through the donation we’ve received from the Anders Sandrew Foundation, Uppsala University now has the opportunity to develop research and share knowledge in the fields of culture and creativity,” says Johan Jansson.
He highlights goals such as increasing understanding of the importance of culture in people’s lives and for social cohesion, as well as strengthening the volume of externally funded research projects in culture and creativity.
“I will work to ensure that the institute is regarded as a relevant hub for research and development, beginning with establishing effective collaboration with the institute’s board and with colleagues at the Department of Art History, where the institute has its organizational home.”
He also points to the significance of digitalization as an important area for the institute’s continued work:
“An exciting area I hope the institute will help to develop is the understanding of digitalization and culture, not least in collaboration with the professor of digital art history who will be affiliated with the institute.”
Johan Jansson. Photo: Meli Peterson Ellafi, Bildbyrån.