Newcastle University

Background

After completing my PhD in Museum Studies at Newcastle University in 2007, I rejoined ICCHS and the Fine Art department at Newcastle as an associated member of teaching staff in 2008. Since that time I have been involved with developing and undertaking undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and assessments and student pastoral care. In addition, since 2011, I have been the Research Associate on the FP7 funded MeLA (European Museums in an age of Migration) project.

I have an MA (Hons) in German and History of Art from Edinburgh University and an MA in Museum Studies from Newcastle University. My postgraduate studies were funded by the AHRC and the German Academic Exchange Council (DAAD). During my undergraduate degree I benefitted from an ERASMUS year at Leipzig University, Germany and a key part of my PhD research involved in depth research visits to the Institute for Museum Research in Berlin and to major museums around Germany and the UK.

In addition to my academic work, I also have professional experience within the cultural heritage sector internationally. I have worked at:

• the Alte and Neue Pinakothek - two major art museums in Munich, Germany
• The Royal Commission for the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), for the National Monuments Record Scotland - a national architectural and archaeological archive
• the Palace of Holyroodhouse - a historic royal palace and major tourist attraction in Edinburgh
• AKG Images - a commercial arts and history picture library with offices in London, Berlin and Paris

Memberships

Museums Association
Association of Art Historians
Museums & Galleries History Group
ICOM

Languages

fluent German (I am a bilingual dual-national)
basic Dutch
rusty French

Research Interests

My research interests are interdisciplinary and span the full breadth of what is understood as 'heritage' (in other words museums, galleries, tangible and intangible heritage).

Within this I have particular specialist knowledge and interests in: German art and architecture; cultural policy; museum architecture; museology; economic and social regeneration; built heritage; difficult histories (in particular in relation to German history); migration, diversity and representation. One commonality for me between these diverse interests is that they all encompass the wider issue of the relationship between heritage, culture and history and the state.

My recent research work has included: assisting Aron Mazel on the 'Embedding Apartheid' research project examining the influence of the Afrikaner Broederbond secret society on museums, culture and public life during Apartheid-era South Africa; working as Research Associate on the European FP7 funded MeLA, European Museums in an Age of Migration project (http://www.mela-project.eu/).

I am currently researching and writing on: the controversial restoration of Dresden's Baroque built heritage in relation to the apparent neglect of its GDR built heritage; the politics surrounding the 'musealisation' of expulsion in contemporary Germany; and the use of personal memory and testimony in German museum representations of migration.

I am developing a major new research project to examine in depth the issue of the Post-World War Two expulsions  (Vertreibungen) of German populations from east of the Oder-Neisse line and the representation of this history and these populations within museums in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Funding

MA and PhD funded by the AHRC
PhD research visit to Institute for Museum Research, Berlin funded by DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)

Undergraduate Teaching

I have taught on the following modules in Fine Art:

FIN 1007 Preliminary Studies in Art History 1 - Seminar leader and lecturer

FIN 1008 Preliminary Studies in Art History 2 - Lecturer

FIN 3036 - Art & War - Lecturer

FIN 3029 - Exhibiting Art - Lecturer 

FIN 3097 Art History Dissertation - Dissertation Supervisor

Postgraduate Teaching

I currently teach on the following Masters level modules in the International Centre for Cultural & Heritage Studies (ICCHS):

ICS 8001 Issues & Ideas - Module leader, Seminar leader and lecturer

ICS 8003 Communication & Interpretation - Practicals leader

ICS 8012 History - Lecturer

ICS 8024 Heritage Management 1 - Lecturer 

ICS 8099 Dissertation - Module leader and dissertation supervisor

Pastoral care

Since 2010 I have also acted as a personal tutor to Masters level students in ICCHS

• Whitehead C, Eckersley S, Mason R. Placing Migration in European Museums: Theoretical, contextual and methodological foundations. Milan: MeLA Books, 2012.
• Eckersley SC. Opening the doors to hold the fort: museums and instrumental cultural policy in 19^th century Britain and Germany. Museum History Journal 2012, 5(1), 77-104.
• Eckersley SC. Policy Review “Supporting Excellence in the Arts: from measurement to judgement”. Cultural Trends 2008, 17(3), 183-187.
• Eckersley SC, Reid SC. (Re) creating positive cultural landscapes in Germany: the role of iconic museum buildings. In: Forum UNESCO Cultural Landscapes in the 21st Century. 2006, Newcastle University.
• Reid SC, Eckersley SC. Visite du Musée juif de Berlin. Les Cahiers du Judaïsme 2005, 17, 109-120.