Broadening horizons and influencing practice
Jun 28, 2023
Source Royal College of Midwives Podcast Summary Jo Tunner, from the RCM Podcast, interviewed Maria Velo Higueras (RCM), Emily Miscioscia (RCM), Silvia Amman-Fietcher (ZHAW) and student midwives Sara Irlanda (RGU) and Zeina Bannaan (Lebanon university) about the International Student Midwives Network and the importance of international perspectives in midwifery. People Emily Miscioscia
Maria Velo HiguerasOutputs Using digital technology to widen access to international experiences: International Student Midwives Network. Themes Inclusive & Creative Societies URL https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/royal-college-of-midwives/episodes/Broadening-horizons-and-influencing-practice-e26a54c/a-aa2gu07
News (18)
Fashioning an ethical approach is a big task for the clothing industry
Jan 16, 2020
Source Press & Journal Summary Opinion piece exploring some of the issues surrounding fashion and the environment. People Madeleine Marcella-Hood Org Units Legacy School of Creative & Cultural Business Themes Environment, Energy & Sustainability
Inclusive & Creative SocietiesURL https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/opinion/1954409/madeleine-marcella-hood-fashioning-an-ethical-approach-is-a-big-task-for-the-clothing-industry/
Fashion cuts its cloth to fit the new world
Jul 24, 2020
Source Press & Journal Summary Opinion piece article exploring the fashion industry's response during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. People Madeleine Marcella-Hood Org Units Legacy School of Creative & Cultural Business Themes Inclusive & Creative Societies
Living in a Digital World
Environment, Energy & SustainabilityURL https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/opinion/columnists/2359676/dr-madeleine-marcella-hood-fashion-cuts-its-cloth-to-fit-the-new-world/
Sounds of the overground: why train journeys are audio odysseys
Jun 20, 2023
Summary Sound piece commission and interview in association with LNER and The Times People Maja Zeco Outputs Listening and recording in situ: entanglement in the sociopolitical context of place. Org Units Legacy Gray's School of Art Themes Inclusive & Creative Societies
Living in a Digital WorldURL https://www.thetimes.co.uk/static/trains-stations-railways-sounds-art-maja-zeco-lner/
Public Discussion : Everyone Wants a View, KRAK, Bihać, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Nov 19, 2022
Summary KRAK Center for Contemporary Culture (Hamze Hume Street, Bihać)
Saturday, November 19, 2022, at 7 pm
Irfan Hošić in conversation with Alban Muja, Jonathan Blackwood and Sabina Šabić
Public discussion Everyone Wants a View is an opportunity to bring attention to at least two important issues by using Bihać as an example – the shaping of public space on the one hand and the issue of collective environmental awareness on the other. The starting point for the conversation will be the same-name sculpture by the artist Alban Muja, which after several months of planning was placed on the roof of Kombiteks skyscraper in the Hatinac neighborhood of Bihać. By placing it in a dominant location within the city view and stepping into the public space, Muja's sculpture actually strikes the individuals who privatize the river bank and shape it according to their narrow-minded views. Therefore, this intervention is a distinct criticism addressed not only to those with extremely exclusive access to the river banks, but also a direct reminder to the authorities that they are obliged to protect the common good and natural wealth by all means to the satisfaction of all citizens.
In addition to Alban Muja as the author of the art intervention, the discussion will also see the participation of art historian Jonathan Blackwood, expert on cultural and artistic situations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Sabina Šabić, activist in the field of the protection of Bosnia and Herzegovina's rivers. This is an opportunity to raise awareness of the endangerment of water assets in the environment, but also to mark a promotion – placing an art object in the city area.
This project is being implemented by KRAK Center for Contemporary Culture. The curator is Irfan Hošić, project partners are the City Administration of the City of Bihać and the Government of Una-Sana Canton. The implementation of the project is supported by the Open Society Foundation Bosnia and Herzegovina. Administrative support during the implementation of the project is provided by the Institute for Spatial Planning Bihać, the Tourist Board of the City of Bihać and the Local Community Hatinac. The public discussion is supported by the British CouncilPeople Jon Blackwood Org Units Legacy Gray's School of Art Themes Inclusive & Creative Societies Research Centres/Groups Curatorship URL https://www.krak.ba/en/event/public-discussion-everyone-wants-a-view
Macedonian Performance Art Presented in Switzerland
Aug 26, 2022
Summary An article in the Macedonian cultural portal "UMNO" which reviews an exhbition of Macedonian video art that I curated for a programme on contemporary Macedonian performance art, organised by Maricruz Penalloza and Verica Kovacevska, and hosted by the Tinguely Museum, Basel, Switzerland People Jon Blackwood Themes Inclusive & Creative Societies Research Centres/Groups Curatorship URL https://umno.mk/makedonskata-perfotmans-umetnost-pretstavena-vo-shvajcarija/
Universities co-host summit to discuss North-East's cultural life
Feb 22, 2023
Source Aberdeen Live Summary Press coverage of the inaugural Aberdeen Cultural Summit hosted by RGU in collaboration with the University of Aberdeen, Friday 3 March 2023. The summit was addressed by the chief executive of Aberdeen City Council Angela Scott, RGU Principal Professor Steve Olivier, amongst others. People Jon Blackwood Org Units Legacy Gray's School of Art Themes Inclusive & Creative Societies Research Centres/Groups Curatorship URL https://www.aberdeenlive.news/news/aberdeen-news/universities-co-host-summit-discuss-8175994
Students from RGU Organise Event to Support victims in Ukraine
Mar 8, 2022
Summary This was an online fundraising exhibition co-organised with Fine Art and Design students at Gray's School of Art, in response to the Russian aggression against Ukraine beginning on 24 February 2022.
The exhibition was associated with an organised teach-in chaired by myself and featuring guest speakers from Belarus and Moldova, as well as recent graduates from Ukraine and Russia.
The exhbition raised over £1,000 for Ukrainian charities and NGOs and was subsequently voted RGU Community project of the year.People Jon Blackwood Org Units Legacy Gray's School of Art Themes Inclusive & Creative Societies Research Centres/Groups Curatorship URL https://www.rgu.ac.uk/news/news-2022/4866-students-from-rgu-organise-events-to-support-victims-of-ukraine
Event "Intersections between Contemporary Art and Football" at Technopolis, Nikšić, Montenegro
Oct 20, 2023
Source Grad Kulture, Montenegro Summary I was invited to give a lecture on art and football by the National Museum of Montenegro, to accompany their exhibition "Great Dream of Great Friends", held in Cetinje in September-October 2023, on intersections between art and football in the country. (Details here: https://narodnimuzej.me/2023/12/06/pravi-san-velikih-prijatelja/)
The lecture was covered on Montenegrin television and in a national cultural portal as the article shows.
Further details on the exhbition and my own critical reflection on it are here: https://jonblackwood.net/2023/11/19/on-art-and-football-in-montenegro-feat-slobodan-rubezic/People Jon Blackwood Org Units Legacy Gray's School of Art Themes Inclusive & Creative Societies Research Centres/Groups Curatorship URL http://www.gradkulture.me/aktuelnosti/video-niksic-u-tehnopolisu-odrzano-predavanje-ukrstanja-savremene-umjetnosti-i-fudbala/
Film on X Research revealed created by RGU on research that explored Eu citizens living in the UK through Brexit and Covid
Apr 12, 2023
Source X (twitter) Summary Filming of a short with staff from the RGU communication.
A short film was shot for the series “Research Revealed” on our research EU citizens living in the UK through Brexit and CovidLinked Funders ESRC Economic & Social Research Council People Charles Hackett Org Units Legacy Gray's School of Art
Legacy School of Applied Social StudiesThemes Inclusive & Creative Societies URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6Im5hyqLw8
North universities aim to provide digital platform for Orkney heritage tales
May 8, 2021
Source The Northern Scot Summary A team of academics from two north universities are aiming to create a digital story platform to celebrate the heritage, culture and identity of the Orkney Islands. Linked Funders RSE Royal Society of Edinburgh People Rachael Ironside Outputs Angles of vision: digital storytelling on the cosmic tide? Projects My Orkney Story: Developing a collaborative digital story platform Themes Inclusive & Creative Societies
Living in a Digital WorldURL https://www.northern-scot.co.uk/news/north-universities-seek-to-provide-digital-platform-for-orkn-237261/
Tiny Scottish village that disappeared in a sandstorm to be revisited
Feb 4, 2022
Source The Scotsman Summary The history and legends of a tiny Scottish village that disappeared in a sandstorm more than 300 years ago are to be revisited. Linked Funders Museums Galleries Scotland People Peter Reid
Rachael IronsideProjects The Disappeared Village Themes Inclusive & Creative Societies URL https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/tiny-scottish-village-that-disappeared-in-a-sandstorm-to-be-revisited-3556047
Tiny Scots village which 'disappeared in a sandstorm' 300 years ago to be explored in new project
Feb 7, 2022
Source Daily Record Summary Historians will explore the legends of a tiny village that disappeared in a sandstorm 300 years ago - amid superstitious claims the disaster was punishment for whisky smuggling.
The history and folklore of Culbin in Moray is to be revisited during a new project led by Robert Gordon University and Moray Libraries.Linked Funders Museums Galleries Scotland People Peter Reid
Rachael IronsideProjects The Disappeared Village Themes Inclusive & Creative Societies URL https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/scotland-now/tiny-scots-village-disappeared-sandstorm-26158086
It’s 30 years since The X-Files came to our TV screens, but is the truth still out there?
Aug 19, 2023
Source The Press and Journal Summary Mulder and Scully brought paranormal phenomena to an international audience and millions of people still want to believe. Linked Funders Museums Galleries Scotland People Rachael Ironside Projects The Disappeared Village Themes Inclusive & Creative Societies URL https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/lifestyle/6015394/its-30-years-since-the-x-files-came-to-our-tv-screens-but-is-the-truth-still-out-there/
Interdisciplinary Workshop: Creative approaches to the energy crisis
Jun 17, 2024
Summary Creative practitioners including artists Kate Downie, Alison Scott and Maja Zećo, the filmmakers Sara Stroud and Callum Kellie, the writer Shane Strachan, and the composer Dylan Dutot Mayne delivered presentations at the interdisciplinary workshop at the University of Aberdeen. People Maja Zeco
ALISON SCOTT
Callum KellieThemes Environment, Energy & Sustainability
Inclusive & Creative SocietiesURL https://www.abdn.ac.uk/news/23268/
Why tiny artworks and a figure clad in a white soundproof suit will be turning Leicester into outdoor gallery
Feb 22, 2022
Source Leicestershire Live Summary The event will take place in arts venues and public spaces across the city from Friday, February 25 to Sunday, February 27.
The three-day takeover is organised by national charity UK New Artists (UKNA) - which aims to champion the next generation of creativity by supporting and developing the careers of artists in the first 10 years of their practice.
Artist Maja Zeco performs ‘Silencer’ clad in a suit created from thick white soundproof panels, not able to hear most sounds or feel vibrations. Look out for her performance starting at The Guildhall Museum and roaming the streets via the Cathedral, St Martin’s Square, Leicester Market, LCB Depot and Curve. You can follow her performance or just have a chance encounter (Friday 1.30pm-2.30pm and 5.30pm-6.30pm starting at The Guildhall Museum, and Saturday 12 noon-1pm at Soft Touch Arts on New Walk).People Maja Zeco Themes Inclusive & Creative Societies URL https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/tiny-artworks-figure-clad-white-6692017
Artists take over Leicester for weekend of performances, exhibitions and installations: in pictures
Feb 27, 2022
Source Leicestershire Live Summary Leicester became the canvas for a string of artists to perform over this weekend as part of the UK New Artists takeover.
Artists took to the city streets and were hosted at city venues where the public was invited to immerse themselves into and enjoy their work for free.
The city welcomed 75 artists from across the UK between Friday and today, coordinated by national charity UK New Artists (UKNA).
Many people attended the multiple performances held across the weekend while others happened upon them unsuspecting in the city centre.
If you were in the city over the weekend, you might have spotted artist, Kirsty Kerr's mini reconstruction signs.
The tiny artworks which shared words of resilience were dotted around the city.
Meanwhile a figure clad in a white soundproof suit turned heads in the street while many stopped to take pictures with them.
It was all part of the performance piece Silencer by Maja Zeco. She started at The Guildhall Museum and roamed the streets via the Cathedral, St Martin's Square and the cultural quarter.People Maja Zeco Org Units New Gray's School of Art Themes Inclusive & Creative Societies URL https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/gallery/artists-take-over-leicester-weekend-6726437
Soundwalking the energy transition: will Aberdeen's clean energy ambitions damage its local community?
Jul 23, 2024
Source Research for the World, The London School of Economics and Political Science Summary Aberdeen’s plans to move away from oil and gas towards clean energy have highlighted the difficulties in ensuring such transitions are equitable. Through a series of soundwalks, Gisa Weszkalnys, Rachel Grant and Maja Zećo explore how the city’s overlapping energy regimes are already impacting its citizens. People Maja Zeco Org Units New Gray's School of Art Themes Environment, Energy & Sustainability
Inclusive & Creative SocietiesURL https://www.lse.ac.uk/research/research-for-the-world/sustainability/aberdeen-etz-clean-energy-ambitions