This reading group focuses on the African-Caribbean, Asian & African Art in Britain Archive, and other Special Collections at Chelsea College of Arts Library.
Now on its fifth year, the group is co-led by library and academic staff, including Gustavo Grandal Montero (Academic Support Librarian), Jheni Arboine (Lead Senior Lecturer Academic Enhancement Model), David Dibosa (Reader, Course leader MA Curating and Collections), Kimathi Donkor (Course Leader, Camberwell BA Fine Art: Painting), Mary Evans (Course leader, BA Fine Art), Paul Goodwin (Professor, Director TrAIN), Liz Peebles (Year 3 leader, BA Fine Art) and Ego Ahaiwe Sowinski (PhD candidate).
The sessions
There will be 8 online sessions in 2020/21; readings are taken from the Archive to gain an understanding of the reasons for its establishment, its content, and the significance of primary documentation and its curation in relation to the representation of potentially marginalised groups. Other specialist collections (artists’ books, multiples, ephemera) will also be explored. Digital facsimiles will be used.
The readings represent critical arguments, and relate to important exhibitions, publications and other interventions from the 1970s to date. You will get a chance to learn more about the role of primary source materials and the range of possibilities of research into Black British art and artists from diverse backgrounds working in Britain, with a focus on post-colonial narratives and discourses on race, class and gender in contemporary art.
Open to all UAL students and staff, you will need to read short texts/documents and be prepared to join in short readings and group discussions, currently online. The reading group welcomes students of any course and any academic level and is bookable through Academic Support Online.
2020/2021 Dates
- Wednesday 11 November 2020 (12pm to 1.30pm)
- Wednesday 9 December 2020 (12pm to 1.30pm)
- Wednesday 13 January 2021 (12pm to 1.30pm)
- Wednesday 10 February 2021 (12pm to 1.30pm)
- Wednesday 10 March 2021 (12pm to 1.30pm)
- Wednesday 21 April 2021 (12pm to 1.30pm)
- Wednesday 19 May 2021 (12pm to 1.30pm)
- Wednesday 16 June 2021 (12pm to 1.30pm)
contact g.grandal-montero@chelsea.arts.ac.uk
UAL supports a growing number of issue-specific, cross-disciplinary interest groups led by postgraduate students and academics.
These groups connect creatives with shared research/practice interests across different subject areas.