History of Art » Research Events

Whose Stories Are Told by Ethnographic Museums with African Collections from Colonial Contexts?

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:29:00 GMT

Njabulo Chipangura [Maynooth University]

Wednesday, May 6th 2026, 16.00-17.30. Room: OC 1.04

The Manchester Museum which is a part of the University of Manchester holds approximately 35,000 ethnographic collections mostly dispossessed from local communities and ordered and categorized according to geographical regions of Africa, the Americas, Oceania, and Asia. The African collection is the largest with over 15 000 provenanced objects and an estimate of 1500 unprovenanced objects. In this paper – I will look at what it means to relationally care for African collections from colonial context in view of collaborating with and giving access to diaspora African communities as part of decolonisation. An empirical practice of decolonisation informed by notions of relational care and the disobedient museum will be presented drawn from my own practice and positionality having been the curator of this collection between 2022 – 2025. I argue that curating with care is not only a way of work but is a theoretical perspective that challenges structural discrimination, sexism, racism, systematic injustices and colonial legacies in museums. Care is also extended in this discussion to look at what it means to care for each other’s pluriversality of epistemologies and ontologies by subverting epistemicides that are still embedded in museums. I will use examples drawn from an object handling workshop that I hosted at Manchester Museum as part of Africa Day Celebrations in May 2024. The aim of this workshop was to collaborate with communities in Greater Manchester of African heritage to gather new information about objects of African origin in the collection of Manchester Museum. Thereafter, new stories and new meanings were reimagined transcending usual anthropological discourses that traditionally treat African objects as timeless representations of cultures of the “other”. Using this workshop as a contact zone of engagement - I present curating as a space of social care that facilitated dialogue and building of active relationships with diaspora communities.

Respondent: Chao Maina [University of ��TV]

Marco Polo and the Silk Roads – Call for Applications

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 14:10:00 GMT

Autumn School for Postgraduate Students and Early Career Researchers

Venice, 30 September – 4 October 2024

Fifty Years of History of Art at ��TV

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 16:06:00 GMT

History of Art are celebrating their 50th Anniversary on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd November.

History of Art Research Seminar Tuesday 7 May 2024, 4.00-6.00, Oculus 1.07

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 15:36:00 GMT

Therese Martin (Medieval Studies, Instituto de Historia, CCHS, Madrid) The art of rulership, or material evidence for reigning women: Subh of Córdoba (d. 998/999) and Urraca of León-Castile (d. 1126)

Please note: Seminars are in person only. Everyone welcome. The seminar will be followed by drinks.

History of Art Research Seminar Wednesday 6 March 2024, 4.00-6.00, FAB2.32 (in person only) Jacques Schuhmacher (Senior Provenance Research Curator, V&A), “The Nazi-Era Provenance of Museum Collections: History, Policy Context, and Research Challenges”

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 18:32:28 GMT

History of Art Research Seminar Wednesday 21 February 2024, 5.00-7.00, FAB2.32 (in person only) Simona Valeriani (Senior Tutor, V&A/RCA History of Design), “The Royal Albert Hall: Building the Arts and Sciences”

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 18:30:45 GMT

HISTORY OF ART RESEARCH SEMINAR | WEDNESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2023, 5.00-6.30 (on Teams). Myat Aung, PhD candidate, University of Ohio, “A Multisensory Immersion: Experiencing the Nymphaeum and Peristyle Garden at the Villa San Marco in Stabiae”

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 11:02:00 GMT

The lecture focuses on the monumental fountain incorporated into a garden complex at the Roman villa known today as the Villa San Marco. Drawing on archaeological evidence, textual descriptions by Roman writers, and the use of 3D digital modelling as an interpretive tool, this lecture examines how the art, architecture, garden, and water display in this complex were designed to engage the sensory responses and experiences of villa visitors. The audience will be guided through the Villa San Marco, tracing the possible steps and sensory experiences of an elite Roman visitor to the villa. In doing so, this lecture provides new insights into how the Romans conceived, experienced, and interacted with their multisensory villa environments.

HISTORY OF ART RESEARCH SEMINAR | WEDNESDAY 25 OCTOBER 2023, 5.00-6.30 (on Teams)

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 16:34:00 GMT

Dr Nancy Wu, Education Officer Emerita, The Cloisters Museum, New York

"East-West Encounters in the 14th Century: John of Marignolli and the Tribute Horse"

TO ALL STUDENTS ��TV Arts Centre Curator Talk and Student Project -- Wednesday 18th October Time: 2.30pm-3.30pm Venue: FAB0.03

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 14:37:00 GMT

We've organised a special session for all students next Wednesday, 18 October from 2.30-3.30 in FAB 0.03. It's your chance to meet with the ��TV Arts Centre professional staff, hear about the new exhibition and learn about the project you can do.

It's a perfect opportunity to gain gallery experience, especially if you're thinking of making a career in this area. It'll also look good on your CV!

Wednesday 18^th October

Time: 2.30pm-3.30pm

Venue: FAB0.03

Curator Talk

Thomas Ellmer, Phantom Sculpture

https://www.warwickartscentre.co.uk/whats-on/39J-phantom-sculpture/

WAC Curator Thomas Ellmer will discuss the current Mead's Gallery major sculpture exhibition.

��TV Arts Centre Student Project

WAC Audience Development Officer Becca Randle will present ArtSprint, the Student Gallery Talks Event 2024 including the

Student Project Overview

Your chance to work with ��TV Arts Centre staff to research and develop a gallery talk based on the Autumn/Spring exhibition in the Mead Gallery, and then take part in a public event in the ��TV Arts Centre in Feb 2024.

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Thu, 12 May 2022 13:42:00 GMT

100% of our research is "world-leading" or "internationally excellent"