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Staff Profiles

Professor Andrew Newman

Prof of Cultural Gerontology

  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 7426
Background
I joined the University in 1992 to assist in setting up the MA in Museum Studies programme. Prior to this I had responsibility for the geological collections at the Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle upon Tyne, where I had worked since November 1983.

Roles and Responsibilities
  • Chair of BOE for UG and PGT MCH programmes 
  • SACS Appeals and complaints (from 2022)
  • Member of HaSS Faculty Promotions Committee (2017-2020)
  • Chair, University Safety Committee (2008 –2020)
  • Director of Excellence in Learning and Teaching, School of Arts and Cultures (2019-20) 
  • Chair of ICCHS Staff Student Committee (2003 – 2005 and 2008)
  • Chair ICCHS Board of Examiners (2009 –2016)
  • Deputy Director of the School of Arts and Cultures (January 2007 – September 2008)
  • Director of ICCHS (January 2006 – September 2008)
  • DPD for ICCHS programmes (2003 – 2005)
  • ICCHS Examinations Officer and Chair Board of Examiners (1998 – 2003)
  • Member of Faculty Teaching and Learning Committee (2005 - 2009)
  • Director of Teaching and Learning, School of Arts and Cultures (2005 - 2009)
  • Member of School Executive Committee (2005 - 2009) (2016 - 2017) (2019-20)
Qualifications
  • Museums Association, 1990, Diploma Natural Sciences AMA by examination
  • University of Leicester, 1982-83, Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies (Geological option)
  • University of Leicester, 1978-81, BSC (Hons.) Combined Science. (Geology, Physical Geography, History of Science)
Previous Positions
  • 2006 University of Newcastle upon Tyne, International Centre for Cultural and Heritage Studies, Senior Lecturer in Museum Studies
  • 1997 University of Newcastle upon Tyne, International Centre for Cultural and Heritage Studies, Lecturer in Museum Studies
  • 1995 University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Department of Archaeology, Research Officer in Museum Studies
  • 1992 University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Department of Archaeology, Research Associate in Museum Studies
  • 1983-1992 Hancock Museum, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, Geologist
Memberships
  • British Society of Gerontology, Committee Member and Treasurer (2018-21)
  • British Society of Gerontology, Committee Member (2021-22)
Interests
  • Road bike - Focus Paralane with Hunt wheels
  • Bouldering 
  • Running 

Research

My research uses the arts and heritage to provide new perspectives on critical themes within cultural gerontology such as:

  • resilience
  • connectivity and community participation
  • ageing well at home and in community environments
  • inclusion and participation in the community
  • healthy ageing and living better for longer
  • emotional regulation in older people


I am working on a project on the relationship between co-creative art and relational caring and a second that involves participatory film making in care homes as a response to the pandemic.

I have been involved in research projects funded by AHRC, ESRC, and MRC to the value of £3.7M.

I am actively seeking PhD students in these areas.


The timeliness and importance of this work is illustrated by the increasing numbers of older people. Worldwide numbers those over 65 are projected to increase from 390 million now to 800 million by 2025 and in the UK to have doubled to around 19 million by 2050.



Recent Projects


Co-creative arts and relational care for people living in care homes – developing and strengthening strategic partnerships for impact

Principal investigator – this project looks at the relationship between co-creative arts and relational care and has been funded by the ESRC Impact Acceleration Account - 2024.


My Corona Winter

Co-investigator - this project worked with a local care home to produce a film of their experiences of lockdown and the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-21), extra funding has been received for editing the final film.


Mapping Contemporary Art in the Heritage Experience: Creation, Consumption and Exchange

Co-investigator – AHRC, an interdisciplinary research project that will critically examine the role and practice of temporary visual art commissioning within heritage properties in Britain, £775,000, 2016-19.


The role of creative interventions in fostering connectivity and resilience in older people

Co-investigator – AHRC Connected Communities Summit 2013 follow-up fund, Exploring how creative interventions can help develop connectivity and resilience for older people. £40,000, 2014


Dementia and Imagination

Co-investigator - AHRC Communities, Cultures, Health and Wellbeing research grant. Investigating the use of the visual arts to enrich the lives of older people with dementia through reconnecting them with their communities. £1.5M, 2013-2017 


Contemporary visual art and identity construction – wellbeing amongst older people

Principal investigator – a project exploring how the lives of older people can be improved by examining their use of contemporary visual art for identity construction practices funded by the New Dynamics of Ageing Programme (www.newdynamics.group.shef.ac.uk/). £260K, 2009-2011  


Contemporary visual art and the wellbeing of older people: policy and practice

Principal investigator – This project builds upon our New Dynamics of Ageing programme (NDA) funded research. It aims to develop research-informed arts policy and arts interventions designed to improve the wellbeing of older people. £125K, 2012 to 2013


Research for Community Heritage – North East England – phase 1

Principal investigator - a project that links University research with heritage groups in NE England funded by AHRC under the Connected Communities Programme. £40K, 2012 to 2013


Research for Community Heritage – North East England – phase 2

Principal investigator - a project that assists local community groups in implementing projects that are funded by the HLF under their ‘All our Stories’ funding stream. Funded by AHRC under the Connected Communities programme. £60K, 2013 to 2014 


Ageing Creatively

Co-investigator for a pilot study to explore the relation of creative arts interventions to wellbeing in later life, funded from the Lifelong Health and Wellbeing programme through the Medical Research Council. £260K, 2010-2013 


Conference papers 

Rana, M. and Newman, A. (2023) Creativity making a space for relationship-centred care, National Creative Ageing Conference, Newcastle


Newman, A. Ross, K, Cole, A., Jolly, L., (2023) Participant film making and relational care during COVID-19: a case study from North East England, British Society of Gerontology Conference


Newman, A., Davenport, B. and Black, N. (2022) Emotional regulation by older people when visiting contemporary art commissions created for heritage sites. British Society of Gerontology Conference


Newman, A., Birt, L., Cheston, R. Davenport, B., Gray, K., Poland, F., Woods, S. and Zeilig, H. (2022) Exploring the use of Co-creative arts activities for enriching relational care for people living with dementia in care homes. British Society of Gerontology Conference. 


Cole, A., Jolly, L., Newman, A., Ross, K., Young, G. (2021) Participant film making in care homes - narratives of the COVID-19 Pandemic, British Society of Gerontology, Conference.  


Newman A. 2018, invited, Influencing policy and practice in arts and health, The art of good health and wellbeing, 10th International arts and health conference, Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia


Newman, A 2018, invited, Narrative and resilience, The art of good health and wellbeing, 10th International arts and health conference, Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia


Newman A. 2018, Invited, Wellbeing and the arts: a provocation, Exeter University and the National Trust


Newman, A. Howson-Griffiths, T. and Davenport, B. 2018 Visual arts activities and resilience for people with dementia, British Society of Gerontology conference, University of Manchester 2018


Newman, A. 2017 Narrative identity and resilience for people in later life with dementia living in care homes: The role of visual arts enrichment activities. Dementia and Cultural Narrative Symposium Aston University December 2017      


Newman, A. 2017 The connectivity and social capital of people in later life living with dementia, British Society of Gerontology conference, University of Swansea, July 2017


Newman, A. and Goulding, A., 2016 Qualitative data collection: Learning from Dementia and Imagination, Gerontological Society of America, Annual Scientific Meeting November 16-20, New Orleans, Louisiana.


Newman, A., 2016 The impact of visual arts interventions on the resilience of older people with dementia. British Society of Gerontology conference University of Stirling, July 2016


Newman, A. 2015 Wellbeing in older people through the visual arts, Creative Ageing, Australian Association of Arts and Health, Sydney, Australia, 25-27 August 2015


Newman, A. 2015 Dementia and Imagination, Creative Ageing, Australian Association of Arts and Health, Sydney, Australia, 25-27 August 2015


Newman, A. and Goulding, A. 2015 Developing social support amongst older people through the consumption of art, British Society of Gerontology conference Newcastle upon Tyne, July 2015 


Goulding A. and Newman A., 2014 The development of resilience through creative interventions 8th International Conference of the European Network of Ageing Studies – Cultural Gerontology, Meaning and Culture(s): Exploring the Life Course, 10-12 April 2014, Galway.


Newman, A. 2014 Engaging with contemporary visual art: Maintaining health and well-being Oxford Institute of Ageing Studies, Seminar Series, February 2014


Goulding, A. and Newman A., 2013, Follow-on from New Dynamics of Ageing project, The Art of Good Health and Wellbeing, 5th Annual International Arts and Health Conference,12 - 14 November 2013, College of Fine Arts (COFA), University of NSW and the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia


Newman 2013, Heritage and Museums: Ethics, Values and Communities seminar at Warwick University in November


Newman, A. & Goulding, A. 2013, Engaging with contemporary visual art: Maintaining health and well-being, British Society of Gerontology Annual Meeting, 11-13 September


Newman, A. & Goulding, A. 2013, Contemporary visual art and Identity construction – wellbeing amongst older people AHRC Cultural Value seminar, London, February 2013


Goulding, A. & Newman, A. 2012, Contemporary visual arts and the wellbeing of older adults: policy and Practice, British Society of Gerontologists Annual Meeting, 11-13 July 


Newman, A. & Goulding, A. 2011The role of social networks in determining the nature of older people’s engagement with contemporary visual art and its relationship to wellbeing. 64th Annual scientific meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Boston, USA, 18-22, November 2011  


Newman, A. & Goulding, A. 2011 The impact of engagement with contemporary visual art on the wellbeing of older adults. VII EUROPEAN INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS, HEALTHY AND ACTIVE AGEING FOR ALL EUROPEANS "II", Bologna, Italy, April 2011, peer reviewed paper.


Newman, A. 2010 Imagining the social impact of museums and galleries: interrogating policy through an empirical study, 6th International Conference on Cultural Policy Research, Jyväskylä, Finland, 24 - 27 August 2010 – peer reviewed paper


Newman, A. 2010 Contemporary visual art and identity construction – Wellbeing amongst older people, British Society of Gerontology, 39th Annual Conference, Identities , Care and Everyday Life, 6-8 July Brunel University – peer reviewed paper


Newman, A. 2009 Theorising the social role of museums/galleries: consequences for policy, Department of Public Policy, De Montfort University, Leicester, Seminar series, Wednesday 16th December 2009, Invited paper


Newman, A. 2009 Renaissance Research and Evaluation Network, Tuesday 24th November 2009, Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, Invited presentation


Newman, A. 2009 Contemporary visual art and identity construction: well being amongst older people, invited presentation, Humanities Discourse and the Passing Life seminar, Saturday 11th November 2009. Claus Moser Research Centre, Keele University


Newman, A. 2009 Theorising the social role of museums: the consequences for Social Exclusion Policy, Museums, the cultural industries and social inclusion: outlining and unearthing alternative perspectives, Invited paper, Tuesday 20th October 2009, Sackler Centre, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, Supported by ESRC and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport


Newman, A. 2009, invited participant, social return on investment seminar, Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, Tuesday 2nd June 2009, Wellcome Collection Conference Centre, London


Newman, A. 2008 ‘Museums and Migration a Question of Identity', Museums Immigration and Interculturality', Invited keynote address, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Barcelona, October 1st to 3rd 2008, UNESCO and Migration Museum Network.


Newman, A. 2008, ‘Meaning-making and identity: How museums and galleries combat social exclusion', Invited address – Curating for the Future Conference, invited paper, Manchester, September 2008


Newman A. 2008, invited panel member Museums and Refugees – Keeping Cultures Conference – session – Measuring Social Impact of Work with New Communities – Museum of Docklands 13-14 March 2008


Newman, A. 2008, invited address – Seminar on the Impact of Museums, National Museum Directors Conference, Tate Britain 18th March 2008


Newman, A. 2008, invited address – Museums, Libraries and Archive Council Seminar – Linking Value Measurement to Business and Income Model Innovation: Academic Research into Sustainability of the UK Cultural Sector, British Library, London, May 2008


Newman, A, 2007 ‘The Impact of Participation in Gallery Education Activities on Schoolchildren's Human, Social and Cultural Capital’, European and International Symposium on Research Carried Out into Evaluating the Impact of Arts and Cultural Education on Children and Young People, Paris, Pompidou Centre, January


Newman, A, 2007 ‘The impact on over 50s people of participation in activities related to British Art Show 6’, Access to Heritage AHRC funded seminar, Newcastle upon Tyne, 16 -17 January


Newman, A, 2007 ‘Social Stratification and Cultural Consumption – Policy Implications of Recent Research’, ESRC funded seminar - invited response, City University, London, 3 May


Newman, A, 2007 ‘Generic Learning Outcomes/Generic Social Outcomes’, Museums Association Conference, Glasgow, October (invited paper)


Newman, A, 2007 ‘The impact on over 50s people of participation in activities related to British Art Show 6’, Museums Association Conference, Glasgow, October (invited paper)


Newman, A, 2006 ‘Instrumental Museums and Gallery Policy in the UK: Origins and consequence for Practice’, invited address – peer reviewed paper to Fourth International Conference on Cultural Policy Research, Vienna, 12-16 July


Postgraduate Supervision

I am happy to supervise students in Cultural Gerontology and Critical Heritage Studies 


I contribute to the supervision of the following PhD students:


  • Louis Francis 
  • Beverley Briggs
  • Haidy Elmesiry

 

Esteem Indicators

Treasurer - British Society of Gerontology (2018-21)


Advisory Board member for the Centre for Ageing and Dementia Research, Swansea University


Member of ESRC Peer Review College (since 2010)


Member of AHRC Peer Review College (2005 - 2016)


Chair AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Awards Scheme panel meetings 2013, 2014


Member of AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Awards Panel C 2012


Member of AHRC Collaborative Skills Development 2012: Organisation-led proposals


Member of AHRC Studentship panel for 2009


Member of AHRC Museums, Galleries and Archives, Commissioning Panel 2008


Editorial Board Member of the International Journal of Heritage Studies


Editorial Board Member of Museum and Society


Editorial Board Member of Cultural Trends


External Examiner, Department of Archaeology, University of Durham (2005-2008)


External Examiner, Centre for Cultural Policy Studies, University of Warwick (2014-17)



Projects in addition to those given above

Paul Hamlyn Foundation to undertake a longitudinal evaluation of a new special initiative, Art Works: Developing Practice in Participatory Settings. Value £50,000


Non-users of Libraries, Museums and Arts in County Durham, Museums, Libraries and Archive Council, Value £9982


Sense of Place and Social Capital and the Historic Environment RES/0322/7236, English Heritage, Value. £66,140


Arts and Humanities Research Council – Museum and Gallery Workshops - to explore issues surrounding instrumental museum and gallery policy. Value £14,000


En-quire national research programme (phase 3), which will explore issues around pedagogical skill sharing amongst artists and the impact of artists’ involvement in educational projects with young people. Value £25,000


Artists' Insights research project (funded by Arts Council England and the Museums Libraries and Archives Council) into the practices, and the learning outcomes and impact, of writers and visual artists working with young people and educators/facilitators in cultural sites and schools. Value: £50,000


Five Arts Cities research project (funded by Arts Council England and Channel 5, to investigate the impact on older visitors of participation in gallery events. Value: £3,000


En-quire national research programme (phases 1 and 2), which has the aim of exploring, assessing and articulating the special learning benefits to young people of working with contemporary art and the gallery space. The project is funded by DCMS and DfES and managed by Engage, the national organisation for gallery education in association with the Arts Council of England. Value: £21,000(www.engage.org/projects/enquire.aspx)


Department for Education and Skills funded evaluation of the Museums and Galleries Education Programme Phase 2 £7500 2003


ESRC the contribution of museums to the inclusive community: an exploratory study £40,000 2001

Teaching
Postgraduate Teaching
I am the module leader for: 

  • MCH 8504 Caring for Collections (20 Credits ) (20/21-21/22)
  • MCH 8601 Research - Vocationally-Orientated project (20/21)
  • MCH 8599 Dissertation (20/21)
  • MCH8502 Management Practices in Museums, Galleries and Heritage Studies (21/22)
I also contribute to a range of postgraduate modules in Museums, Galleries and Heritage
Undergraduate Teaching
I supervise students taking COM 3073 (Dissertation in Media, Communication and Cultural Studies) and MCH 3072 (Dissertation on Research in Journalism).

I have 23 UG and PGT Tutees
Publications