Theme: Diversification of the Arts: Accessibility, Inclusion, and Advocacy

Aim: Teaching Research as Creative Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Over a year after initial cases of the virus were reported, global repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to pose issues both for academia and for the entertainment industry. The closures of theatres, concert halls, museums, galleries, universities, and libraries, alongside the postponement or cancellation of conferences and international travel restrictions have severely limited face-to-face learning, networking and collaboration. Thus, this project goes live at a time where there is a necessity to find creative ways of exchanging knowledge.

This project also situates itself at a time of socio-economic disruption, much of which has also been caused or exacerbated by the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns in the UK and worldwide. Some have described racism as being ‘the real virus’, and this concern has been echoed both in relation to the Black Lives Matter Movement and in relation to problems with hate crimes being committed against East Asians inhabiting Western societies as a result of the global pandemic. NHS funding for those with disabilities, chronic illnesses, and mental health conditions has seen unmanageable cuts because of those funds being redirected to COVID hospital wards. The worsening of said mental health conditions, as well as domestic violence, has also been on the rise as a result of social restrictions, and a lack of adequate funding has also negatively impacted the likes of school pupils entitled to free school meals. Other social issues which have come to the forefront of UK governmental debate(s) in recent months, which may or may not have been impacted by the pandemic, include of Brexit and the resulting rise in xenophobia and, by extension, Islamophobia from some organisations, as well as debates around teaching gender/sexuality-inclusive sex education in schools, administering hormones to transgender youth, and most recently, whether to abolish conversion therapy in England. This event series, bearing in mind its timing, aims to inform and equip presenters and attendees to critically and conscientiously condemn and challenge prevailing socio-economic inequalities that have come about as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bearing all of the above in mind, this online conference sees presenters showcase how their inclusive and diverse research translates into creative practice in the format of a streamed or pre-recorded performance or digitised art installation. The event will be hosted on Blackboard Collaborate and the aim of broadcasting said research-as-creative-practice is to discover what kind of impact it can have upon audiences outside of academia in general, and specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This conference engages with, but is not limited to discussions of, the following themes of diversity and inclusion:

• Research as creative practice related to/generated by those who consider themselves part of the BAME community

• Creative practice related to/generated by those who consider themselves part of a ‘minority’ religious/faith group

• Creative practice related to/generated by those who consider themselves part of underprivileged financial/social backgrounds

• Creative practice related to/generated by those who consider themselves part of the LGBTQIA+ community

• Creative practice related to/generated by those who consider themselves to have a physical/intellectual disability/difficulty

• Creative practice related to the rise in domestic abuse during the lockdown

• Creative practice related to the rise in mental health complications because of the lockdown and issues around NHS funding for mental health conditions

SCHEDULE:

10.00

Welcome & Introduction (Aisha Hussain, University of Salford)

10.10

Practice-based Research Performance: Practice as Research- Interdisciplinary collaboration using dance and motion capture technologies (Lucie Sykes, University of Salford)

Abstract: This session explores an interdisciplinary research environment for dance practice, using motion capture technology. The session will start with a short performance to demonstrate the initial findings of the first phase of Lucie’s PhD research. Followed up with discussion on Practice as Research methodologies using Robin Nelson’s Multi-mode epistemological model for PaR (2013), methods and technological tools to share with larger audiences outside the discipline. Lucie will share short pre-recorded performance. Lucie will guide you through a short tasks. You will have an opportunity to engage with the visualisation by responding with movement, reflect on the experience with free writing and free drawing. Following with a short discussion to share your responses. 

11.00

Break

11.10

The Art of Change - Connection & Discussion

(Aisha Hussain)

11.50

Round up and close

(Aisha Hussain)

12.00

Close

Aisha Hussain is a PhD candidate at the University of Salford and oversees the Events page at Medieval and Early Modern Orients (MEMOs). Her research interests include of Turkish Otherness, fictional terror, Anglo-Ottoman commerce, gender studies, Orientalism, and, in particular, crusading and anti-crusading discourses in early modern English drama. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Drama (University of Salford, 2017) and a Master of Arts in Renaissance English Literature (University of Leeds, 2018). Aisha was awarded the Pathways to Excellence Studentship by the University of Salford upon commencing her PhD studies in September 2018. Her current research investigates how the emergence of a more positive theatrical Turkish type in the works of Fulke Greville, Thomas Goffe and Roger Boyle reflects, in a shift from their contemporaries, what can be considered an anti-crusading discourse.

Lucie Sykes is an academic, researcher and an artist in dance and digital performance practices. She is currently pursuing a PhD by practice as research in the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology, at the University of Salford. Her research title is: An exploration of the sculptural quality of an improvising body through its visualisation in digital environments. Lucie is fascinated by movement and the interface between the body and new digital technologies. Lucie uses interdisciplinary approaches to explore improvisation to enhance her dance-making of interactive installations and interactive performances.

This event is part of The University of Salford’s Festival of Research 2021. Our programme will showcase the research being carried out across the University of Salford.

The festival brings together academics, students, industry and the public to discuss and develop the future research strategy. At the heart of the festival is the Postgraduate Research flagship conference SPARC, where festival goers can enjoy performances, music, family friendly fun and opportunities to meet with students and staff, share research interests and experiences.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/95613085723?pwd=cmMwak14dHFCU05KYUVXd05zNUJNdz09

Please register to attend the event via the Eventbrite link in this listing and email [email protected] for the Zoom meeting passcode should you wish to join.