PhD in Media - Birmingham City University (2014-2017)
MA in Media and Creative Enterprise - Birmingham City University (2009-2010) - Distinction
BA (hons) Media and Communication (Journalism) - Birmingham City University (2006-2009) - First Class
Karen has taught at BA and MA level, primarily on the following subjects:
- Creative industries and cultural policy
- Race and gender in the media
- Media enterprise
- Social media
- Research methods
Karen's research interests are in the politics of expertise, cultural work, social media, gender, feminism and race.
Books
Patel, K. (2020) The Politics of Expertise in Cultural Labour: Arts, Work and Inequalities. Rowman & Littlefield.
Naudin, A. and Patel, K. Eds. (2021) Craft Entrepreneurship. Rowman & Littlefield.
Journal articles
Patel, K. (2020) Race and Craft in the Covid Spotlight. Soundings, 75 (Summer 2020), 24-27.
Naudin, A. and Patel, K. (2019) Entangled Expertise: Women’s use of Social Media in Cultural Work. European Journal of Cultural Studies, 22(5-6), 511-527.
Book chapters
Patel, K. (2020) Diversity Initiatives and Addressing Inequalities in Craft. In S. Taylor and S. Luckman, eds. Pathways Into Creative Working Lives. Palgrave Macmillan.
Ashton, D. and Patel, K (2020). Girls’ Bedroom Cultures. In K. Ross, eds. The International Encyclopaedia of Gender, Media and Communication. John Wiley & Sons. [Open Access].
Ashton, D. and Patel, K. (2018) Vlogging Careers: Everyday Expertise, Collaboration and Authenticity. In S. Taylor and S. Luckman, eds. The ‘New Normal’ of Working Lives: Critical Studies in Contemporary Work and Employment. Palgrave Macmillan, 147-170.
Patel, K. (2017) Expertise and Collaboration: Cultural Workers Performance on Social Media in J. Graham and A. Gandini (eds) Collaborative Production in the Creative Industries. University of Westminster Press, 157-176. [Open Access]
Reports
Patel, K. (2021) Making Changes in Craft: Craft Expertise Phase One Report. Crafts Council UK.
Patel, K. (2021) Supporting Diversity and Expertise Development in the Contemporary Craft Economy: Working Paper 2. Crafts Council UK.
Patel, K. (2020) Supporting Diversity and Expertise Development in the Contemporary Craft Economy: Working Paper 1. Crafts Council UK.
Patel, K. (2019) Supporting Diversity in Craft Practice through Digital Technology Skills Development. Crafts Council UK.
Patel, K. and Naudin, A. (2018) Diversity and Cultural Leadership in the West Midlands: A report for the West Midlands Leadership Commission.
Selected talks and conference presentations
‘Safe’ spaces? Challenges for women makers of colour online. Presented at CAMEo Leicester, 6 September 2019. [PDF]
The experiences of women craft makers of colour. Presented at Work Inequalities and Lifecourse research seminar series, Southampton Solent University, 27 March 2019. [More info].
