Creative Commissions is a creative arts commissioning programme supported by Royal Holloway’s Centre for the GeoHumanities in collaboration with partners in and beyond the University sector. Since 2017, there have been three rounds of the programme, led by Sasha Engelmann, which have supported a total of twelve collaborative artistic projects undertaken by teams of artists and academics (geographers or other geographically-informed researchers). As well as supporting the creation of new works, the commissions have built capacity in the GeoHumanities and furthered dialogue on what the GeoHumanities might become.
A unique feature and ethic of the Centre’s Creative Commission programme is its emphasis on work ‘in progress’ rather than finished outputs; each collaborative team authors a series of ‘progress posts’ documenting the evolution of dialogue, practice and participation. The programme has also been impactful, reaching diverse public audiences through in-person showcases (for example at Raven Row Gallery, London), online events and an exhibition in central London attended by hundreds of visitors. Importantly, collaborations supported by the programme have grown into longer-term endeavours, from co-authored books to feature length films and new bodies of artistic work.
Creative Commissions: Rounds 1-3
Creating Earth Futures (2018-19)
Developed in the context of Harriet Hawkins’ AHRC Fellowship devoted to exploring GeoHumanities approaches to global environmental change, the first round of Creative Commissions supported five collaborative projects and culminated in a public event at the Raven Row Gallery, London, including performances, films and talks. Highlights of the event included a performative lecture by Caitlin Berrigan emerging from her collaboration with volcanologist Karen Holmberg, a performance by Jol Thoms on plasma and alchemy around his work with Julian Weaver; and the screening of Helena Hunter and Mark Peter Wright’s film Rehearsals for Uncertain Futures about the RHUL Sea Ice Simulator.
Variations on Mobility (2019-21)
Supported by the Centre in collaboration with our partners the Centre for Mobility and the Humanities in the University of Padova, the second round of Creative Commissions supported four artist-researcher projects and culminated in an online showcase and a further online exhibition of printable graphic works, co-curated by Giada Peterle. Giada Peterle worked closely with the web designer of the MoHu Centre's website to create a space to host the digital works. These works ranged from a 'mind map' poster by Layla Curtis and film-maker Stephen Connolly charting their research into the geographies of the Flying Boat in an era of climate crisis, and a graphic novel-like poster presenting the narratives of the Pearls from China project, created by artists Matteo Demonte and Ciaj Rochi.
Creating Diasporic Worlds (2022)
Supported by the Centre in collaboration with Royal Holloway’s Centre for Greek & Diasporic Studies, the Cyprus High Commission and the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, the third round of Creative Commissions supported three artist-researcher projects and culminated in a public exhibition in the gallery space at the Cyprus High Commission, London. The exhibition included a series of framed photographs of 'Aphrodite's Sisters' by Theopisti Stylianou-Lambert, Antigone Heraclidou, Giorgos Papantoniou and Christine Morris, a set of graphic sculptures and prints by the Liquid Narratives project led by Anastasia Mina and Konstantinos Argianas, and a video installation of the Green Line in London's Green Lanes by Olivia Melkonian, Anoushka Berberian and Rebecca Jinks.
