Research and the Curriculum

‘Borderlines’ was jointly funded by NEWI (as Glyndŵr University was then known) and the Arts Council of Wales and is an example of how critical practice further underpins the curriculum. The exhibition was accompanied by a catalogue with an essay by Dr Alec Shepley, which provided a detailed discussion on the nature of the material and conceptual border in art practice.

These academic activities feed back directly into the curriculum in terms of contemporary practice. Yvonne Eckersley’s research work is focussed on the exploration of visual and auditory perception in relation to the moving image, and she recently won a £24k commission to produce an animated short film, ‘Brush the Teddy’s Toes’, for S4C.

This film was screened on S4C and subsequently shown at the Ottawa International Animation Festival, the Kalamazoo International Animation Festival and the Edinburgh Film Festival.

Steve Keegan is conducting a PhD research degree into the silk route and ‘knowledge transfer’ through crafted objects. The research is building an intricate view of the transference of concepts into visual communication.

Design Communication staff in Multimedia Design are developing online 3D learning in virtual space by providing an immersive learning environment. This is a cutting edge enhancement of the VLE concept; it builds on initial research conducted with a cohort of undergraduate students in Multimedia Design, and is shaping the development of the FdA Digital Design and the BA Design scheme.

Alan Summers delivered a paper on the subject to the last CADE (Computers in Art & Design Education) Conference at University of Hull and he is currently considering a research degree in this area.

Other research includes a study of animation in relation to its use in propaganda and commercial advertising focussing on how it engages and animates desire. This has led to a number of book chapters and conference presentations by Jim Walker who is currently writing up his PhD for Spring 2007.

John McClenaghen is currently developing a joint digital action research project with the Centre for Applied Internet Research Centre to underpin practice-based learning, teaching and assessment in Fine Art.

Academic staff research and scholarship has resulted in a growth in staff research proposals and PhD registrations. For example, Sue Liggett is currently writing up her PhD thesis for summer 2007.

The development of a new area of the postgraduate curriculum supports these activities, as do the AHRC-funded collaborative research training projects with University of Wales Newport and Manchester Metropolitan University.

Alec Shepley and Sue Liggett delivered papers on practice-based research at the inaugural event ‘Syniad Da’ conference at University of Wales Newport and the research training event at MMU April 2005.

Art & Design staff are underpinning this area of curriculum development through the research seminar series and the formation of the ‘Research Centre for Art & Design’. This is an important step in improving the research support for staff and future research degree students.

The seminar series provides a forum for research degree students (and students on taught MAs) to focus discussion on research issues pertinent to the subject of Art & Design. Papers are presented by a number of academics from other higher education institutions as well as from Glyndŵr University.

Papers focus on specific topics such as ‘Case Studies and the Reflective Practitioner', ‘Research in Art & Design', The ‘Role of the Art Object in Academic Research’ and ‘Practice-led and Practice-based Research in Art & Design’.