Our Research Clusters
The Institute supports the following cross-disciplinary research clusters:
Performance Research Network
The Performance Research Network is an interdisciplinary group drawing together thinkers and doers from across Newcastle University spanning literature, theatre studies, human geography, creative writing, urban planning, music, business studies, architecture, fine art, culture and media studies, digital cultures, and beyond.
We research performance; conduct research through performance; and research to create performance: for us, ‘performance’ is a subject, a methodology, and an outcome. This network enables colleagues to share their research; learn from each other's methodologies and approaches; share teaching materials and exercises; and develop relationships with local practitioners, companies, and arts organisations. The network also aims to increase the visibility of both performance research at Newcastle (within the University, nationally and internationally) and the vibrancy of the North East performance sector.
The Performance Research Network has recently launched an online exhibition on "Liveness": https://speccollstories.ncl.ac.uk/liveness/index.html
We are supported by the Institute for Creative Arts Practice and the Humanities Research Institute at Newcastle University.
For more information, or to get involved, please contact Ruth Raynor or Emma Whipday or visit our website.
Medical Humanities
The Medical Humanities Network is an interdisciplinary group of over 160 researchers from across Newcastle University. Our members work in the disciplines of literature, history, fine art, architecture, creative writing, business studies, archaeology, linguistics, museum studies, sociology, medical ethics, culture and media studies, and beyond.
We work on a diverse range of questions relating to medicine, health, and wellbeing. Our methodological approaches to these questions are historical, critical, and creative.
The Network facilitates cross-disciplinary collaborations, connecting researchers across the university. We share research in progress, host workshops to explore ideas and methodologies, organize training events for early-stage researchers, and develop relationships with local partners.
The Network profiles the range and vibrancy of medical humanities research at Newcastle. We bring people together with the aim of making a difference in relation to the key medical and healthcare challenges of today.
Led by Anne Whitehead, Vicky Long & Olivia Turner
Art in Heritage
The Art in Heritage research cluster brings together academics and research students working across the School of Arts & Cultures and the wider University community to share knowledge and experience of contemporary art in heritage practice and research. We are also active in developing research connections and collaborations between academics and external partners within the heritage sector, in the UK and internationally, including with the National Trust.
In 2022-23 the cluster organised an inaugural meet-up and a series of in-person site visits and round-table discussions at North East heritage sites, including at Lindisfarne Castle, Gibside, and Vindolanda.
The Art in Heritage research cluster is supported by the Institute for Creative Arts Practice and the School of Arts & Cultures at Newcastle University. Membership is open to all University researchers, academics and PGRs who are working with, or interested in, developing relationships between heritage and the arts.
For more information about our activities please read our Spring and Summer 2023 newsletters. Or contact cluster co-convenors Rebecca Farley or Judith King to join the mailing list for future events.
Meanwhile Space
Based within the Institute for Creative Arts Practice at Newcastle University, the Meanwhile Space research cluster brings together artists, creative practitioners, academics, policy-makers, town planners, architects, cultural theorists and interested others around the theory and practice of meanwhile use – or the temporary letting of vacant spaces for social and cultural benefit in between 'other' (more commercial) uses. It provides a sustainable meeting point for news and exchange and aims to foster long-term dialogue - recognising that this work all too often takes place on a project-to-project basis.
Through a newsletter and regular informal meetings the Meanwhile Space cluster enables colleagues to share opportunities, foster new collaborations, and develop and strengthen relationships across and outwith the University. It further generates support and visibility for a wide range of work – including creative practice, research, place-based, impact and knowledge exchange work, as well as sector-led projects. We work on a diverse range of topics, including the impact of meanwhile use on creative practice, collaborative and participatory planning, regeneration and gentrification, the adaptive re-use of heritage, arts-led regeneration and place-making, social and cultural impact, the re-visioning of town and city centres, and the protection of grassroots arts venues.
The cluster is open to students, staff, artists and creative practitioners from all disciplines (e.g. fine art, dance, music, theatre, graphic design, illustration, craft, urban planning, architecture, sociology, museum and gallery studies, media and cultural studies, business studies, politics and more) as well as sector professionals.
#WeTheRural
#WeTheRural is a research cluster based within the Institute for Creative Arts Practice which brings together different strands of creative arts practice and research associated with the materiality, representation and imagination of rurality. We aim to support an interdisciplinary dialogue across arts, humanities, the social and natural sciences about what creative arts practice might offer in rural contexts, and how this in turn might be linked with wider research and policy agendas of social justice and sustainable development in the countryside.
Our collaborative expertise draws on environmental music, folk, sound art, film and creative writing associated with rural areas; architecture, design research and visual art situated in rural and heritage landscapes; participatory and rural site-specific artworks; and, wider, creative arts practice that explores rural lives, challenges local and regional development narratives, and questions the social construction of rurality.
The cluster organizes with The Maltings and the Centre for Rural Economy a collaborative artist-in-residency programme.
Summer 2020: An asynchronous conference: ‘We, the Rural’
As a way to celebrate this diversity and become familiar with the multiple ways we and our partners engage with the rural, we held an asynchronous conference where we asked members of our community to talk about their research, creative arts practice or organisation in relation to this notion of creative arts practice in and about the countryside. We are extremely honoured to share with you a selection of this collection, showcasing some of the multiple facets of our artistic research and engagement with the rural.Keep in mind that all these videos were made during Covid-19 lockdown and that there are many colleagues and organisations that we work with that would normally contribute but couldn’t contribute during this time.We look forward to welcoming you all to our Rural cluster. If you would like to join us please contact menelaos.gkartzios@newcastle.ac.uk or frances.rowe@ncl.ac.uk
Follow us on Twitter using #WeTheRural
Conference Videos
Tweet 1 of 17 is here
Introduction to the #WeTheRural conference provided by Menelaos Gkartzios, Reader in Planning & Rural Development, Newcastle University
Posted Wed 8th July 2020
Tweet 2 of 17 is here
Video provided by Menelaos Gkartzios, Reader in Planning & Rural Development, Newcastle University
Posted Fri 10th July 2020
Tweet 3 of 17 is here
Video provided by Irene Brown, Artist & Head of Fine Art, Newcastle University
Posted Wed 15th July 2020
Tweet 4 of 17 is here
Videos provided by Niki Black, Research Assistant/Associate, Newcastle University and Rebecca Farley, Research Associate, Newcastle University
Posted Fri 17th July 2020
Tweet 5 of 17 is here
Video provided by James Lowther, Head of Visual Art, Berwick Visual Arts
Posted Wed 22nd July 2020
Tweet 6 of 17 is here
Video provided by Joanne Coates, Artist in Residence, Berwick Visual Arts
Posted Fri 24th July 2020
Tweet 7 of 17 is here
Video provided by Gemma Burditt, Animator and Illustrator
Posted Wed 29th July 2020
Tweet 8 of 17 is here
Video provided by Paul Cowie, Research Fellow, Centre for Rural Economy, Newcastle University
Posted Fri 31st July 2020
Tweet 9 of 17 is here
Video provided by Helen Pailing, Visual Arts in Rural Communities (VARC)
Posted Wed 5th Aug 2020
Tweet 10 of 17 is here
Video provided by Sam Douglas, Artist in Residence, Visual Arts in Rural Communities (VARC)
Posted Fri 7th Aug 2020
Tweet 11 of 17 is here
Video provided by Bridget Kennedy, Artist in Residence, Visual Arts in Rural Communities (VARC) & PT Studio Tutor, Fine Art, Newcastle University
Posted Wed 12th Aug 2020
Tweet 12 of 17 is here
Video provided by Shane Finan, Artist in Residence, Visual Arts in Rural Communities (VARC)
Posted Fri 14th Aug 2020
Tweet 13 of 17 is here
Video provided by Lucy May Schofield, Artist and past Artist in Residence, Visual Arts in Rural Communities (VARC)
Posted Wed 19th Aug 2020
Tweet 14 of 17 is here
Video provided by Simon McKerrell, Reader in Music and Society, Newcastle University
Posted Fri 21st Aug 2020
Tweet 15 of 17 is here
Video provided by Sabina Sallis, Artist and Doctoral Researcher, Newcastle University
Posted Wed 26th Aug 2020
Tweet 16 of 17 is here
Video provided by Julie Crawshaw, Senior Lecturer, Northumbria University
Posted Fri 28th Aug 2020
Tweet 17 of 17 is here
Video provided by Menelaos Gkartzios, Reader in Planning & Rural Development, Newcastle University
Posted Wed 2nd Sept 2020
Responses from our community
Tweet posted Mon 27th July 2020
Video from Dave Pritchard, Independent Consultant here
Tweet posted Mon 17th Aug 2020
Video from Lori Ann McVay, Sociologist and Career Counsellor at Michigan Works! Southwest Workforce Development Institute, USA here
Tweet posted Mon 24th Aug 2020
Video from Carole McCourt, Artist here
Tweet posted Mon 31st Aug 2020
Video from Beth Clark, Research Associate and Public Engagement Officer, Newcastle University here
Tweet posted Wed 16th Sep 2020
Video from Fram Kitagawa, Art Director and Chairman at Art Front Gallery, Tokyo, Japan here