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OpenARC Research Centre

@openarc.bsky.social
352 followers 600 following 115 posts

OpenARC, The Open University Arts & Humanities Research Centre, is the hub for research in the School of Arts and Humanities at The Open University. It hosts a broad range of research groups, and facilitates disciplinary and interdisciplinary research.

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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
New from The Open University: Issue 12 of Open Arts Journal, ‘Picturing bodies in medieval and early modern Europe’. Edited by OU art historians Andrew Murray and Margit Thøfner, it brings together five OU researchers and contributors from other institutions. ©The Trustees of the British Museum.
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
✦ Discover the Open Arts Journal: open-access, peer-reviewed arts research from The Open University, connecting research with creative and curatorial practice. 🔗 openartsjournal.org #OpenArtsJournal #ArtsResearch Image: © Trustees of the British Museum, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Why was John Vanbrugh called “the Shakespeare of architecture”? For #Vanbrugh300, Susie West explores the drama of his buildings—and the collaboration behind them—in The Conversation. 👉 theconversation.com/john-vanbrug... @shaftowheed.bsky.social @ou-gcsj.bsky.social
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
📚 Where Is the Future of Criticism? Online Platforms and Literary Discussion Join this free online conference exploring how digital platforms are shaping literary criticism and discussion. 📅 2 & 5 October 2026 ⏰ Register by 30 September Programme & details: university.open.ac.uk/arts/researc...
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
📢 Funding opportunity for OU Early Career Researchers! The British Academy ECR Network Seed Fund offers up to £5,000 to develop new research collaborations and innovative ideas. 📅 Deadline: 18 Nov 2026 📩 ris-ba-ecrn@open.ac.uk #ECR #ResearchFunding #OpenUniversity
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
📜 Bringing medieval Icelandic history to new audiences | Samuel Sargeant Samuel explains how research trips to Icelandic archives support his historical fiction writing. 🎥 Video: youtu.be/DHb1jSta1wk?...
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
📖 Why study bad poetry? | Richard Danson Brown Two publishing projects supported by OpenARC: an edited collection on Renaissance bad poetry and a major new edition of Spenser's Complaints. Watch how scholarly editions continue to open new perspectives on literary history🎥 youtu.be/ix4xjcs8JGc?...
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
🎭 Madness, identity and power on the early modern stage | Molly Ziegler Molly explores how representations of madness in Shakespeare and his contemporaries intersect with questions of race, gender and social power. 🎥 Video: youtu.be/k8b6n1X36XE?...
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
🎼 The remarkable story behind the music of Lili Boulanger | Laura Hamer By exploring family archives, correspondence and performance records, Laura sheds light on how Boulanger's music secured a lasting place in the concert repertoire. 🎥 Video: youtu.be/3-n5UZjMRhA?...
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
📢 Funding opportunity for Early Career Researchers Looking to develop a new research idea, build collaborations or explore an innovative project? 👇 #ResearchFunding #EarlyCareerResearch #ResearchImpact #Humanities #SocialSciences
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
🎨 Creativity, neurodivergence and building more inclusive research spaces | Lania Knight Lania reflects on organising a conference that brought together artists, writers, researchers and practitioners to explore neurodivergence through creative practice. 🎥 Video: youtu.be/xx6HYdsT00o?...
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
📢 Research Careers Day 2026 Join us for a day of career development, expert insights and networking. Hear from Prof Craig Mahoney, discover the Researcher Development Programme, and explore new opportunities within and beyond academia. 📅 23 Sept | 🕘 09:00–15:00 📝 Register via My Learning Centre
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
💻 How can digital humanities and AI support cultural wellbeing? | Francesca Benatti From bibliotherapy to AI-assisted storytelling, the project explores how digital tools can support wellbeing while opening new opportunities for interdisciplinary research. 🎥 Video: youtu.be/qe7jwSUyYSE?...
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
📖 What happens when autobiography, fiction and multiple voices collide? Fiona Doloughan explores Karl Ove Knausgård's work through voice, autofiction and adaptation, reflecting on research presented at the American Comparative Literature Association conference. 🎥 youtu.be/Gk1vPJx_lK4?...
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
👻 From manuscript to publication | Emily Bullock Emily Bullock shares how OpenARC funding supported the development of Almost a Ghost Story, highlighting the value of expert feedback and the creative journey from manuscript to publication. 🎥 youtu.be/2j5nza4hLvE?... #CreativeWriting #Publishing
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
🌿 How can art help us reconnect with the natural world? | the National Trust Nature Weekend Sam Shaw explored how creative practice can deepen our relationship with nature and foster environmental awareness. Read more: fass.open.ac.uk/news/ou-art-...
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
⚔️ Revisiting one of England's most famous battles | David Grummitt David Grummitt explores how new historical and archaeological research is reshaping our understanding of the Battle of Towton and the Palm Sunday campaign of 1461. 🎥 youtu.be/JEuN8I01McM?... #History #PublicHistory #Archaeology
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
📚 Remediating the Early Book: Pasts and Futures conference in Dublin. PhD student Ruth Allen presented her collaborative doctoral research with the National Trust on medieval books in its collections. Supervisors: Dr Andy Murray & Dr Susie West. #BookHistory #ArtHistory @shaftowheed.bsky.social
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
🖼️ Why does bringing people together around objects matter? Clare Taylor reflects on how a workshop on wallpaper, design and imperial trade networks helped shape a major international research bid, highlighting the value of archives, collections and collaboration. 🎥 youtu.be/9QF8JmcI0hQ?...
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
⚖️ Can ancient legal speeches reshape how we think about people and the environment? Christine Plastow explores how environmental humanities and "dark ecology" offer a new perspective on an ancient Greek legal dispute, revealing how landscapes can shape human conflict. 🎥 youtu.be/Wei56sS5wUg?...
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
🎶 What can music reveal about connections between communities, cultures and social spaces? Byron Dueck discusses his research with xylophone musicians in Cameroon, exploring how musical traditions connect celebrations, religious life & popular culture. 🎥 Watch: youtu.be/C6w8I917Jig?...
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
🏛️ How can seed funding spark international research opportunities? Angeliki Lymberopoulou reflects on how OpenARC support helped develop new research on Byzantine monumental painting, leading to fellowships at Dumbarton Oaks and Meiji University. 🎥Watch: youtu.be/pnf8GbFuXdA?... #ByzantineStudies
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
📚 How can open-access publishing create impact beyond academia? In this OpenARC Spring Festival talk, Andrew Murray explores how the Open Arts Journal builds research communities & encourages public engagement through accessible scholarship. 🎥 Watch: youtu.be/oknbUVZONSM?... #OpenAccess
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
🌍✍️ How can creative writing help us respond to the climate crisis? OU Researchers are exploring how storytelling, poetry and creative practice can deepen understanding of environmental challenges and inspire action towards more sustainable futures. 🔗 fass.open.ac.uk/news/ou-crea... #ClimateChange
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
🖊️ The afternoon sessions of OpenARC's conference The Public Humanities in the 21st Century are now underway. 🔹 Christine Plastow – Why co-creation matters 🔹 Veronica Davies – Art History in the community 🔹 David Grummitt – The Wars of the Roses: Negotiating the Battlefield of History and Heritage
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
📢 We’re about to begin OpenARC’s conference, The Public Humanities in the 21st Century. Looking forward to a day of discussion, debate and exchange on the role of the Arts & Humanities in a changing world. Stay tuned for updates and outputs from the conference. 🔗 fass.open.ac.uk/events/confe...
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
As A&H education and research face increasing pressures—from the instrumentalisation of university study to the narrowing of school curricula and the prioritisation of STEM—how do we make the case for critical and creative thinking? We'll be exploring these questions throughout the day.
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
📢 This Wednesday: What is the role of the public humanities in the 21st century? Join OpenARC for a free online conference bringing together researchers, teachers and learners to explore some of the key challenges facing Arts & Humanities education and research today. @shaftowheed.bsky.social
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
🎉 Congratulations to Emily Bullock (Senior Lecturer, Creative Writing), whose novel For Always Only has been shortlisted for the Virginia Prize for Fiction. 📖 The novel is one of four works selected for the 2025 shortlist. 🔗 Read more: fass.open.ac.uk/news/creativ... @aurorametro.bsky.social
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
The conference will examine issues including: 📚 The increasing instrumentalisation of university study 🏫 The narrowing of school curricula 🔬 The prioritisation of STEM And ask what role critical and creative thinking should play in today's world.
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
🎓 What is the role of the humanities in the 21st century? Join OpenARC's free online conference exploring the challenges and opportunities facing Arts & Humanities education and research today. 📅 17 June 2026 ⏰ From 9:30am 📍 Online #PublicHumanities #ArtsAndHumanities
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
🎼 Research by Dr Robert Samuels has been featured by Brill on its Kudos research showcase platform. His article examines the relationship between music and language through Robert Schumann’s first published critical text (1831). 🔗 fass.open.ac.uk/news/music-a...
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
✍️ Can taste, touch, smell and sight inspire creative writing? Join Dr Lania Knight for a sensory writing workshop featuring tea tasting, historic objects, and creative practice. 📅 11 June 2026 | London 🔗 www.goldsmiths-centre.org/whats-on/cre... @ouliterature.bsky.social @laniaknight.bsky.social
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
🎓 Congratulations to Michael Terry on successfully passing his PhD viva 🎉 The title of Michael’s thesis is "The Representation of Aerial Combat in First World War Literature". Supervisors: Sara Haslam & Edmund King. #PhD #VivaSuccess #DoctoralResearch #FirstWorldWar
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
🏛️ Prof Elizabeth McKellar and Prof Clare Taylor attended the Vanbrugh Panel Discussion at Blenheim Palace, exploring the legacy of Sir John Vanbrugh. Sharing photos from the evening — including Blenheim Palace wrapped in scaffolding during ongoing conservation work. #Architecture #BlenheimPalace
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
📚 Book Launch Event: Cybernetic Imaginations 📅 Wed 20 May ⏰ 12.00–1.30pm (GMT) Join The Open University Film and Media Research Group for the launch of Cybernetic Imaginations (Peter Lang), the first title in the Speculations series. #BookLaunch #Cybernetics #AI #MediaStudies #DigitalCulture
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
📢 OpenARC Conference | The Public Humanities in the 21st Century | 17 June 2026 - Save the date 💡 What is the role of the public humanities today? 📅 17 June 2026 🕤 Starting 9:30am 💻 Online | Free 🔗 fass.open.ac.uk/events/confe... #PublicHumanities #ArtsAndHumanities
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
🎉 Grant success | Leverhulme Research Fellowship | Congrats to Prof Byron Dueck The project explores xylophone traditions in central Cameroon and the movement of music across ritual & performance contexts 💡 fass.open.ac.uk/news/byron-d... #ArtsAndHumanities #MusicResearch
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
🎉 Award news | Historian David Grummitt wins the Templer Medal (Society for Army Historical Research, National Army Museum) His Wars of the Roses (OUP, 2025) is the first book on a medieval subject to receive the award. 🔗 profiles.open.ac.uk/david-grummitt #History #MedievalHistory
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
📖 We are history: community storytelling & new research How does community-led storytelling reshape the past? When #communities tell their own histories, they preserve overlooked voices & challenge dominant narratives. 🔗 fass.open.ac.uk/news/we-are-...
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
🎓 Prestigious annual lecture | Prof. Elizabeth McKellar OpenARC highlights Professor Elizabeth McKellar’s SAHGB annual lecture: “A wondrous bird is the Pelican”: The 1950s Revolution in British Architectural History. 🔗 www.sahgb.org.uk/whatson/2026...
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
🎨 OU art historians at Tate Britain Researchers contributed to a study morning for Birds in Art, exploring links between art, nature & environmental thinking. 💡 A strong example of interdisciplinary research in action. 🔗 fass.open.ac.uk/news/ou-art-... #ArtHistory @ou-gcsj.bsky.social
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
🎨 Reflecting on the Spring Festival as we look ahead to Public Humanities 2026 | Save the date As we prepare for The Public Humanities in the 21st Century, we’re looking back at this year’s OpenARC Spring Festival—and sharing a few snapshots 📸 @luxmea.bsky.social @chrissieplastow.bsky.social
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
🎉 Research success | Sara Wolfson wins British Academy/Leverhulme grant We’re delighted to share this fantastic achievement 👏
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Celebrating Sir John Vanbrugh: rockstar of the English Baroque? As part of national events, Dr Susie West took part in the Vanbrugh: From Stage to Stone conference, held at Downing College, Cambridge on 27 March 2026. 💡 fass.open.ac.uk/news/celebra... ✅ www.vanbrugh300.co.uk/
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
📖 New Publication | Rethinking art history Renate Dohmen’s experimental chapter in The Routledge Companion to Art and Challenges to Empire reimagines the field through overlooked figures and creative framing. 🖇️ tinyurl.com/35u463pm 💡 www.open.edu/openlearn/tr...
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
🎥 Public Humanities in Action | Ahead of our 2026 conference (The Public Humanities in the 21st Century) on 📅 17 June, revisit short recordings from last year’s OpenARC Festival (May 2025). 🎬 fass.open.ac.uk/research/cen... ⏰ Upcoming conference details: 🔗 fass.open.ac.uk/events/confe...
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
🎓 OU PhD Student Lecture Series | 30 Apr–21 May 2026 Join a series of online talks from Open University PhD students. Everyone is welcome—come learn something new and support our postgraduate researchers! 🖇️ fass.open.ac.uk/events/next-... @shaftowheed.bsky.social @ou-ld-social.bsky.social
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
1️⃣6️⃣ Postcolonial and Global Literatures Research Group explores Anglophone literatures from South Asia, Africa and the Caribbean, alongside colonial and neo-colonial experiences in literature. Director: Alex Tickell 🔗 university.open.ac.uk/arts/researc... Image Copyright: Wikipedia
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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
1️⃣5️⃣ Open Ecologies explores environmental change and ecological thinking across history, the present and the future. The group connects research reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of today’s environmental challenges. Convenors: Maria Nita & George Revill 🔗 fass.open.ac.uk/research/gro...
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