The Future of Arts Research Conference‏

A one-day postgraduate conference to be held at the British Library, Friday 18th November 2011, 9.30-5.00 sponsored by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, in partnership with the British Library.

Keynote speakers: Professor Martin McQuillan, Professor of Literary Theory and Cultural Analysis, Kingston University; David Cross, freelance artist and Reader in Art and Design at the University of the Arts London

The Future of Arts Research is an interdisciplinary conference in which all papers apart from the initial keynotes will be given by research students from across the UK. Papers will seek to define what current research students see as the true value of their academic activity within the cultural and creative sphere referred to as ‘the arts’. This is an interdisciplinary event and papers will range across the fields of Classics, Drama, English, Languages, Media and Film Studies, Music, Visual Arts, and related disciplines.

Academics are increasingly faced with pressure to demonstrate the impact of their research, through what is termed knowledge exchange and public engagement. In this context, it seems critical that students themselves should have a voice in defining what they see as the ultimate value of their work in creating a better world, as opposed to the value of that research as viewed by funding bodies and employing institutions. Contributors to this conference have been asked to frame their papers in terms that will make sense to participants from other arts disciplines. This will be an occasion for dialogue and interaction.

The event in the British Library will be followed by an informal reception at the Centre for Creative Collaboration in nearby Acton Street. At this reception, various forms of practice-based research will be displayed with ample opportunity for discussion.

The registration fee of £10 will cover refreshments and the reception. Places must be booked in advance, and numbers are limited. Online booking can be made through www.rhul.ac.uk/artssocsci/thefutureofartsresearch.aspx from 26 September. Enquiries may be addressed to FutureofArtsResearch@rhul.ac.uk