Radical Spaces of Making

This Research & Innovation Doctoral Project brief summarises our priority areas of research interest under the heading of: Radical Spaces of Making.

We welcome all research degree applications aligned with and in response to this brief.

Spaces of making have the capacity to shape life-worlds, shift political, economic and material narratives, and generate creative outputs that strengthen social and environmental bonds (Adamson, 2018; Desilvey, 2017; Luckman & Thomas, 2018; Marchand, 2008; Shales, 2017). With specific attention paid to practices of making, this doctoral project proposal invites an exploration of the function of the studio (Buren, 1979) through active studio practice within the Falmouth School of Art, whilst also addressing the artists’ studio in its expanding socio-political forms beyond the campus (Thorne, 2012). As such, the research may attend to the capacity for shared places to foster new relations by ‘enabling and constraining the way in which people come together’ (Kohn, 2018), and where assemblages of matter, materiality and performativity might also be activated (Bennett, 2010). Here, there are opportunities for enquiry throughout Cornwall’s creative and heritage sectors; where consideration might be paid to how, why and where makers are working.

Starting from a recognition that conceptualisations of space are now understood to encompass multiple intersections of human and non-human ecologies (Massey, 2005; Haraway, 1988; Sloterdijk, 2011), this doctoral proposal encourages an investigation and pursuance of the radical within the research narrative; thus opening up potential for the examination and contestation of spatial practice at a root level (Shaw and Humm, 2016). 

It is suggested that primary modes of practice-based research methodologies be drawn from, but are not limited to, sculpture, drawing, performance, craft as social practice, and audio-visual media. Other research methodologies might extend to the creative turn in the humanities framed by ethnography, anthropology, geography, archaeology, social science and experimental pedagogies.

This doctoral project would aim to contribute to interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary agendas, whereby opportunities are encouraged between disciplines and HEIs regionally, nationally and internationally. It is also important to acknowledge the possibilities through this doctoral proposal that links can be made with the wider ‘maker’ community of Cornwall, depending on the level of social engagement that the candidate establishes. Here there is huge value in creating critical dialogues of co-learning across different age groups, and economic and socio-cultural backgrounds towards a diversification of pedagogic attainment levels and aspirations in the region, and support connectivity and innovation in the productions and pedagogies of maker practices within FSA.

Radical Spaces of Making offers opportunities to carry out in depth research on the variety and distribution of spaces of making across the region, looking into both established and ‘below the radar’ spaces, and exploring non-traditional, temporary and experimental maker activity. This will perhaps form part of a survey of maker spaces that might support graduates, develop wider understanding of opportunities for graduates and offer opportunities to establish connections and generate new knowledge around the actual processes of developing maker and artist-led spaces. 

Projects deriving from this brief are expected to sit within the following Research & Innovation programme and department:

As successful research degree project proposals must emphasise a clear alignment between the project idea and one or more of our Research & Innovation programmes, we recommend that you review details of the programme aligned to this brief before you complete the application process.