Provoking Practice: new forms of reach, impact and significance.
Exploring the Cultural Value of Creative Practice Research Reach, Impact and Significance.
Following Hewlett, Bond and Hinrichs-Krapels’ 2017 publication The Creative Role of Research: Understanding Research in the Creative and Cultural Sector a range of observations emerged concerning long-standing issues relating to the role and understanding of creative practice in Higher Education, especially its social and cultural impact. Released between the 2014 and the 2021 REF exercises, the report highlighted a number of on-going concerns including the inconsistency of narrative approaches to evidencing impact, approaches to successfully quantifying public benefit and the need for greater consideration of longer-term impact more suited to creative and cultural practice. This is of course not new to practitioners in H.E. and yet the challenges remain regarding what the impact of practice-based research looks like, and how it can be conceived, defined and measured.
Consequently, this Practice Network Symposium aims to explore the value of practice-led research, practice-based research, practice as research and research for creative practice through the lens of impact. We especially invite responses from practitioners engaged in any research related activities across the range of media represented by MeCCSA, whose presentations can respond to questions, themes and ideas that include, but are not limited to:
- Progressing a decolonising agenda for media practice research examining the commitment to anti-racism and methods to support under-represented and under-resourced communities;
- Sharing approaches to narrativising impact claims for creative practice;
- Measuring meaningful impact in creative practice research;
- Case studies of creative practice as participatory method;
- Evaluations of cultural value and return on social investment;
- Responses to the challenge of demonstrating impact in a metrics-driven H.E. environment;
- Provocations and proposals that address the cultural value of creative practice research;
- Strategies for addressing issues of diversity and inclusion, and articulating the impact of such strategies, in creative practice research.
Proposals may take the form of:
- Scholarly papers to be presented in the form of a 10-minute pre-recorded video for asynchronous delivery to delegates.
- Online media such as video essays, screenings and other forms of creative or critical content for asynchronous delivery to delegates.
- Interactive and/or participatory experiences for either synchronous or asynchronous delivery to delegates.
- Provocations or proposals for online participatory panel discussions and/or open space breakout discussion topics.
The symposium organisers will consider all online presentations of practice-based research, practice-led research, practice as research or research for creative practice work, from all manifestations of creative and media activity across the full range of interests represented by MeCCSA.
Non-traditional forms of presentation (for example, lecture-performances, videos, photo essays, installations, media artworks, short films, interactive websites, roundtable discussions etc.) are encouraged.
Papers presented at the symposium will be considered for a special issue of Media Practice and Education in 2021.
Please submit abstracts/proposals (300 words) for all presentations, papers, artworks or screenings, outlining their aim and form, along with a short biography (150 word) via the online submission form.
The symposium convenors are:
Roy Hanney, Senior Lecturer Media Production
Darren Kerr, Head of Film and Digital Arts
Abstracts/proposals should be received by Friday 30th April EXTENDED TO FRIDAY 14th MAY 2021.
Download Link for PDF HERE!
Hosted by the Faculty of Business Law and Digital Technologies, Solent University, on the 24th/25th June 2021, the event will take place online and full details will be posted on our website in advance. You can register on the website for our mailing list for direct updates to your inbox
The MPE/MeCCSA Practice 2021 symposium is supported by MeCCSA Practice Network.
The MeCCSA Practice Network champions practice within the Media, Communications and Cultural Studies Association, ensuring that those that teach and research practice have a strong voice within the subject association and beyond. They are dedicated to maintaining and developing links with the creative industries and relevant national and international networks and associations.