History
PHASE I 2001-2006 AHRC CentreCATH
The first, fully funded phase, ran from 2001 to 2006.
Directed by Griselda Pollock, with co-directors Barbara Engh (Centre for Cultural Studies) and Eva Frojmovic (Centre for Jewish Studies), the Centre was a transdisciplinary initiative. Without effacing the values of disciplinary modes of thought and practice, while also drawing on the more recent interdisciplinary formations, the aim was to foster and intersect research in fine art, histories of art, cultural studies and Jewish cultural studies and art histories while seeking to create further transdisciplinary encounters between arts, humanities and social sciences. A fundamental research question was the tension between disciplinary modes of research training and practice, interdisciplinary innovations and the productivity of transdisciplinary encounter between disciplinary practices and interdisciplinary initiatives. All of the research in the creative, historical and theoretical components was inflected with questions of difference: sexual, postcolonial, queer and cultural-ethnic.
The Centre annually mounted a four-part programme comprising a specific address to advanced graduate training through Research Salons, as well as hosting Lecture Series, Invited Seminars and Workshops and organizing an annual Congress). In addition Visiting Scholars were invited to work at the Centre.
Five themes were established as the axes for the research:
- 'Hospitality' Difference and Social Alterity
- Aurality, Musicality, Textuality
- Philosophy of ArchitectureIArchitecture of Philosophy
- Indexicality and Virtuality
- Amnesia, Memoria, Historia
CentreCATH aimed also to work with other universities internationally (such as University of Michigan, University of Amsterdam, The Clark Art Institute) and other arts organizations (such as Tate Modern, Opera North, Henry Moore Institute)
The archive of activities of the first five year project can be accessed at Phase II began in 2006: CentreCATH
It has continued the graduate-oriented Research Salons. On behalf of PVAC, it has run a programme called ARTS@CATH: Advanced Research Training Seminars which took the form of Master Classes with Elisabeth Bronfen, Juliet Mitchell, John Mowitt, Catherine de Zegher, Bracha Ettinger. Some of these are available on line.
Collaborations with Opera North led to three events continuing the theme of Aurality, Musicality and Textuality:
The Orpheus Myth in Modern Culture 2007
America Elects 2008
Elektra: Vengeance and Desire 2008
CentreCATH II has won funding for specific research projects