Current Students and Staff

// University News

8 Mar 2016

Cultural Engagement Research Fellowships awarded

Two research projects focusing on cultural engagement in the local community are set to get underway following the award of two Research Fellowships by the University.

Dr Clare Ravenwood from the School of Business and Economic and Dr Vlad Morariu from the School of the Arts, English and Drama will undertake three month projects, linking with various organisations in the local area.

Dr Ravenwood’s project is centred on corporate heritage.  It will investigate the role of archival material in anniversary celebrations.  The project will explore the value of corporate archives by gathering experiences and stories, and it will seek to increase awareness in local businesses of the value of their archive collections.  In addition, the project will consider the potential for the digitisation of material to create an ongoing legacy from such celebrations for the benefit of the business and the local community. Dr Ravenwood will be supported by Research Assistant Dr Tim Zijlstra.

Dr Morariu’s project will explore the role of the creative arts in critiquing social institutions and the significance this has on shaping contemporary cultural and political spheres.  There will be particular focus on the work of R.D Laing and the anti-psychiatric movement. The project will culminate with public events in collaboration with art institutions in London and Bucharest.

Funding for the Fellowships comes through the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Cultural Engagement Fund and coincides with activities to mark the AHRC 10th anniversary. The scheme seeks, in particular, to fund recently completed doctoral graduates and aims to support their career development, particularly in relation to work with non-academic partners to support the wider impact of arts and humanities research.

More information on the AHRC Cultural Engagement Fund is available here