The College of Arts collaboration with The Hunterian

Published: 18 May 2012

The College of Arts and The Hunterian, the University of Glasgow’s museum service, are delighted to announce the first nine Hunterian Associates, marking the launch of an exciting new collaboration.

Supported by funding from the Chancellor’s Fund, the Hunterian Associates Programme (HAP) is the first formal collaboration between the College of Arts Graduate School and The Hunterian. This innovative collaboration aims to provide the opportunity for postgraduate researchers to develop and apply their research to the Hunterian’s vast collections of art and artefacts that span natural, scientific and medical history. At its core is the idea that the cutting-edge research being carried out by postgraduates connects with the University’s extensive collections of human and scientific history in exciting and unexpected ways. The breadth of research across the University allows for the construction of new narratives surrounding the Hunterian’s collections, their juxtaposition and display, and their interpretation to and reception by the public.

Recognised as a Collection of National Significance to Scotland, the Hunterian provides an inventive platform for postgraduate researchers to share their expert knowledge and to develop their skills through meaningful public engagement and knowledge exchange activities. By proposing creative ways to present their ideas to the broader public, Hunterian Associates are able to broaden their perspectives on their own research-in-process, seeing the ways in which their topics connect to the collection strategies of past and present, as well as garnering immediate feedback through discussion and debate with a public audience.

 

The Associates and their Projects

Congratulations to the first Hunterian Associates: Nikki Cameron; Celaen Chapman; Suchitra Choudhury; Defne Cizakca; Sherezade Garcia Rangel; Francesca Mackay; Calum Roger and Michael Shaw. Selected from submitted applications, our Associates span the subjects of Creative Writing, English Language, Scottish Literature and English Literature.

HAP is an innovative programme responsive to Associates’ creative ideas. Our Associates are driving forward six vastly varied projects. One project will establish the first Writers in Residence within the Hunterian, drawing on a wide range of the museum and gallery collections to explore how objects initiate creative responses. Our Writers in Residence will deliver writing workshops for students and the wider public. Other projects include a study of Scottish-Japanese inspired artworks; a journey to the fantastic Anatomical Specimens of sea life held in the Zoology museum; an exploration of the cultural history of Paisley shawls; an encounter with the poetic prints of Ian Hamilton Finlay; and a review of Hunter’s book collections.

Motivated by a commitment to share and exchange knowledge, the findings from these projects will be disseminated through a series of public engagement events, including workshops, gallery talks and lectures, which will be further supported by various online resources accessible from the Hunterian’s website.

 

Future Associates

HAP is an ongoing initiative, open to all graduate researchers within the College of Arts. Future application rounds will be advertised via the Graduate School’s website.

 


First published: 18 May 2012

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