Art and Design: Unit of Assessment 63
The majority of research in UoA 63, Art and Design is officially classified as world-leading or internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour, having been placed in the highest categories of 4*and 3* in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise.
| Quality Level | 4* | 3* | 2* | 1* | Unclassified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % of research activity | 25 | 60 | 10 | 5 | 0 |
Our claim for research excellence has strengthened since 2001. We have transformed our infrastructure with over £4m invested in exciting initiatives such as Culture Lab and cutting-edge digital tools in Fine Art. Peer-reviewed research income has increased five-fold, improving the quality and scope of our outputs. We have recruited outstanding researchers from across Europe, focusing on exceptional researchers at the beginning of their careers.
The unprecedented institutional commitment that this represents has enabled us both to intensify work in existing areas of activity and to expand into related specialist and interdisciplinary arenas. We have consolidated this strategy by reconfiguring our research environment, linking Fine Art, Art History, Museology and Curating within a new School of Arts and Cultures.
Research is presented through three themes:
- Material and Process
- Site, Curating and Exhibition
- Digital Art, Digital Culture
Alongside promoting excellence in our established areas of strength in Fine Art practice and Art History, the development of Culture Lab has been a significant catalyst for new research in digitally-based and cross-cutting art. Opened in 2006, this £4m SRIF-funded state-of-the-art facility is designed to pursue research at the interface of art and science. Culture Lab has allowed us to challenge research boundaries and enrich methodologies and technologies integral to the shaping of new creative research, acting in particular as the stage for the second Connecting Principle event.
From 2007 onwards we will:
- Build upon and develop productive links with other new initiatives as they emerge (eg within the university: Science City, the Great North Museum which is currently undergoing a £26m redevelopment.
- Drive interdisciplinary developments in digital media and culture, building on the investment in Culture Lab and in the Hatton Gallery new posts.
Improving our capture of competitive external funding is a central strand of our strategy. Since 2001 we have won 27 separate awards totalling some £0.75m (comparing to £140,000 over the previous cycle).
Postgraduate researchers make an increasingly important contribution to our research culture. Seven PhD degrees were awarded over the assessment period: numbers are growing with over 20 students currently registered, many holding AHRC awards.
We regard the availability of appropriate physical resources as an essential feature in supporting our practice-based research. Staff and students base their research in built-for-purpose-purpose studios and offices in the Fine Art Building and Culture Lab. The provision of studios optimises access to our excellent research facilities and technical support (in digital media, print, woodwork, metalwork and photography). This also means that research is immediately accessible to colleagues, stimulating collegiality and exchange.
