Mapping contemporary art in the heritage experience: Creation, Consumption and Exchange
A project led by a research team including Dr Nick Cass has funding to critically examine the role and practice of temporary visual art commissioning within heritage properties in Britain today
Mapping contemporary art in the heritage experience: Creation, Consumption and Exchange is a three year interdisciplinary research project that will explore the impact of the commissioning of temporary visual art in heritage settings on its producers, sites and audiences. The research will be approached from multiple perspectives, bringing together the knowledge and experience of scholars, artists, heritage professionals, volunteers and visitors.
Through case study research centring on the development of new art commissions at four heritage properties, the project will explore in detail how contemporary artists engage with heritage narratives and how these artworks are received and consumed by visitors.
The case studies will be accompanied by the production of a new online resource that develops, expands and digitises an existing audit of such projects making this publicly available as a platform for further professional exchange. In doing so the research will generate a better understanding of UK contemporary arts in heritage practice and its future development needs.
Mapping contemporary art in the heritage experience: Creation, Consumption and Exchange is a collaboration between Newcastle University, University of Leeds, Arts & Heritage, Arts Council England, The National Trust, Churches Conservation Trust and Contemporary Visual Arts Network. It is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).
Dr Nick Cass, who is based in the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, said:
“The project is a fantastic one to be starting after finishing my PhD on the programme of contemporary art interventions at the Brontë Parsonage Museum last year. My thesis helped demonstrate that contemporary art in heritage sites offers rich experiences for visitors, but can be problematic.
“I am looking forward to exploring some of the questions which emerged from my PhD within the context of these new contemporary art commissions for such diverse heritage sites.”
