PODIUM ISSUE 1 • April 2005 A RESEARCH COUNCIL The Face: Exploring Can we make A showcase the interface more of our of research AT LAST FOR THE ARTS between the arts, Museums, funded by the AND HUMANITIES technology, and Libraries and AHRC medicine Archives? Front cover Sicilian terracotta antefi x of a Gorgon. About 500 BC ©The Shefton Museum of Greek Art and Archaeology. Newcastle upon Tyne who receive funding through the AHRC’s Core Funding Scheme for Higher Education Museums and Galleries Editor’s Column Contents WELCOME TO THE fi rst issue of the AHRC magazine, Podium. In the following pages, guest writers explore some of the issues facing the arts and Page 1 humanities community, as well as News and Events the wider world. Lord Dearing, who A look at what’s been happening at the AHRC. recommended in 1997 that a research council should be created for the arts and humanities, looks at what the future might hold for the AHRC. Our other guest writer, Professor Sandra A Research Council…at last Page 2 Kemp, of the Royal College of Art, Lord Dearing, the man who proposed a research council for the explores the interface between the arts and humanities, refl ects on the achievements of the AHRB arts, technology, and medicine in the and looks at what the future might hold for the AHRC. context of her research on the face. Podium also showcases the range of high-quality research that we funded Facing the Future Page 4 as the AHRB and will continue to Professor Sandra Kemp explores the contribution research in the support as a research council. From arts can make to our understanding of medicine. an assessment of the public use of our museums and libraries, to the production of a new, experimental biopic of surrealist photographer Showcase Page 6 Claude Cahun, the case studies From an online catalogue of the Scots language to a study of the featured here reveal how the research work of novelist JG Ballard, and a report on how we can make supported by the AHRC enriches our more of our Museums, Libraries and Archives, we take a tour of lives and improves the depth of our the range of research supported by the AHRC. knowledge and understanding of human culture. Round-up Page 9 For those readers interested in Dates for your diary and information about the AHRC and the applying for funding from the AHRC, activities we support. Podium also includes information on our schemes, and gives details of forthcoming events organised both by The views expressed in articles in Podium are those of the authors, and do not the AHRC, and the researchers we fund. necessarily represent the views of the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Kathryn Willey, Editor, Podium Contacts If you would like to request For Advanced Research For General enquiries: further copies of Podium, enquiries: tel: 0117 987 6500 please contact: tel: 0117 987 6666 email: [email protected] Tricia White email: [email protected]; or The Arts and Humanities Publications Offi cer [email protected] Research Council tel: 0117 987 6776 For Postgraduate enquiries: Whitefriars email: [email protected] tel: 0117 987 6543 Lewins Mead Bristol BS1 2AE Marquesan gorget For Press enquiries: email: pgoffi [email protected] ©Pitt Rivers Museum who receive funding through the AHRC’s Core tel: 0117 987 6773 www.ahrc.ac.uk Funding Scheme for Higher Education Museums and Galleries email: [email protected] PODIUM ISSUE 1 • 4/05 NEWS 1 All eyes on The Centre for Irish Open doors and Scottish Studies at the AHRC ART LOVERS NOW have the opportunity to view some little known IT’S BEEN A busy few months for the AHRC’s The Ambassador isn’t the only high-profi le works of modern art. A collection Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies. January person who has recently supported the Centre. of paintings by artists such as David saw the visit from the Irish Ambassador to Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Scottish First Hockney, Richard Hamilton and Bernard the UK. His Excellency Dáithi Ó Ceallaigh Minister Jack McConnell both offered their Cohen are on display at the AHRC delivered a talk on the signifi cant economic congratulations at the announcement that offi ces in Bristol. The collection is on and political changes in Ireland in recent the Centre has secured an extra £1.25 million loan to the AHRC from the trustees of years. The event was a major coup for the in the second phase of funding of the AHRC’s the CNAA, which previously held the centre which aims to promote high-quality Research Centres scheme. It was one of two collection. The works are available to research and postgraduate training in order successful centres in this round. The other view by appointment. to provide an informed understanding of was the AHRC’s Centre for the Evolutionary the historical and cultural infl uences, which Analysis of Cultural Behaviour, hosted by To arrange to view the collection, have shaped relationships between Scotland, University College, London, and led by telephone 0117 987 6500. Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Professor James Steele. AHRC launches Prize nomination for Fitzwilliam Museum Strategic Programme THE AHRC’S FIRST fi ve-year multi- THE FITZWILLIAM MUSEUM at the University disciplinary strategic programme, Diasporas, Plate caption goes here of Cambridge has been shortlisted for this year’s Migration and Identities, was offi cially credit goes here Gulbenkian Prize for Museum of the Year. The launched on 21st April, at Europe’s fi rst Fitzwilliam, which receives funding through Museum of Immigration in Spitalfi elds. the AHRC’s core funding scheme for university The programme will use the distinct museums and galleries, has been nominated perspective of arts and humanities subjects for its £12 million Courtyard Development. The to explore issues relating to diasporas and Development has added 3,000 square metres migration and their impact on identities of new and improved accommodation, to and cultures, bringing fresh insights to our ensure the collections are made as accessible as understanding of these critical themes. The possible to the museum’s visitors. programme director is Professor of Religious Studies, Kim Knott, of the University More information on the Gulbenkian Prize can be of Leeds. More information about the found at www.thegulbenkianprize.org.uk. Museum of Immigration can be found at www.19princeletstreet.org.uk. It is a good year for arts and humanities researchers in more ways than one. Honours for Centre Directors 2005 IS A good year for arts and humanities hosted by Queen Mary’s University of London, researchers in more ways than one. The New received a CBE for services to Education, Year’s honours list contained accolades whilst Professor Tom Devine, who runs for two of the Directors the AHRC’s Centre for Irish of the AHRC’s Research and Scottish Studies, Centres. Professor Lisa hosted by the University Jardine, Director of of Aberdeen, was awarded the AHRC Centre for the OBE for services to Editing Lives and Letters, Scottish History. Joel Pike/19 Princelet Street PODIUM ISSUE 1 • 4/05 FEATURE 2/3 A Research Council… At last In 1997, Lord Dearing chaired a review of Higher Education. In it, he recommended that the Government should set up a research council for the arts and humanities to sit alongside those in the sciences. Almost a decade on, that recommendation has become a reality. Here he ponders what the future may hold, and why it was such a long time coming… Mysteries are always intriguing. The creation of the Council is a It’s a mystery to me why it took so long for the potential watershed in the fortune Government to give effect to the recommendation by the Higher Education Review Committee I chaired of the arts and humanities and for the back in 1997, to set up a research council for the long term wellbeing of us all in terms of arts and humanities. Maybe it was because we also our quality of life and economy. recommended a doubling of the then current level of funding! I say stronger now in part because it is through the arts But the arguments for both recommendations were and humanities that we express and cherish our cultural so strong, as anyone who read the case put to us by heritage, and have the confi dence to embrace the Professor John Laver, then Chairman of the British increasing diversity of our society. Cultural identity and Academy’s Humanities Research Board, will know. If cultural roots give form and confi dence to a nation as they were strong then, they are even stronger now and it faces up to the challenges of accelerating change and I am delighted that it is now happening. sees this as an opportunity rather than as an unwonted Maori Knife ©Pitt Rivers Museum who receive funding through the AHRC’s Core Funding Scheme for Higher Education Museums and Galleries It is through the arts and humanities that we express and cherish our cultural heritage, and have the confi dence to embrace the increasing diversity of our society. 17th century ‘Dish of disturbance to what has gone with the other councils, and another Enamelled Porcelain’ before. That is my fi rst reason. to succeed in the competition for containing Triad fi gures of resources. With the Department But I am ever more conscious the Daoist religion. for Trade and Industry being the of the centrality of our research Image courtesy of the Percival David sponsor of the Councils and their Foundation of Chinese Art who receive base to our economic, as well advocate with the Treasury, I funding through the AHRC’s Core as our social wellbeing, and of Funding Scheme for Higher Education suspect that rightly or wrongly, the need to recognize that the Museums and Galleries.