A new centre dedicated to the creative arts is being launched at Newcastle University.

The Newcastle Institute for Creative Arts Practice (NICAP) will build upon the excellent work across the arts and other subjects, which is already taking place at the university and in the city and region.

Eric Cross, Dean of Cultural Affairs at Newcastle University, will head up the new Institute which will be launched tomorrow (Wednesday, 5 June).

He said: “Over the last decade, Newcastle Gateshead has been transformed into an internationally renowned centre for the arts and culture. It is almost impossible to imagine the area without The Sage Gateshead or the BALTIC gallery.

“We want to keep building on that legacy and we are very fortunate at Newcastle University to have long-standing strengths in the arts and creativity across a number of disciplines. We are home to acclaimed artists, composers, writers, film-makers, performers, architects, scientists, and creative  entrepreneurs and thinkers.

“Our campus is already a thriving cultural hub where staff, students and visiting practitioners frequently showcase their creative work.

“Our new institute will help to bring these people together, fostering exciting new partnerships across different disciplines and developing new ideas with people from other organisations.”

The institute will promote cross-disciplinary research, postgraduate teaching and public engagement in various areas of creative practice:

• Creative business and enterprise
• Creative writing
• Curatorial practice
• Creative architectural design
• Drama and theatre studies
• Film and digital media
• Fine art
• Multimedia communication
• Music composition and performance

The launch of the Institute will take place in the Great North Museum: Hancock and will include a musical interpretation of work by Newcastle University poets, Sean O’Brien and Bill Herbert, a tour of the Fine Art degree show and performances of a range of works by students and staff.

published on: 4 June 2013