Togas, truncheons, and terrific panellists – OpenARC Research Centre launches

Gemma Allen and Adrienne Scullion facing forwards smiling, standing in front of a OpenARC pull-up banner

The new research centre for the School of Arts and Humanities, OpenARC, launched on 10 June with a lively on-campus and online event.

Adrienne Scullion (Executive Dean, FASS) and Kevin Shakesheff (PVC-Research and Innovation) opened the day’s proceedings and lent their support to the inauguration of the centre. With the theme of ‘Arts and Humanities research for the 21st century’, the event showcased and explored new directions in Arts and Humanities research, with an exciting range of talks from A&H academics.

The outstanding work and impact of A&H academics as consultants for OU-BBC co-productions was recognised in the screening of a new film celebrating the social and cultural value of Arts and Humanities television and radio programmes. There was also a busy parade of research stalls, featuring a toga demo, a 19th-century police truncheon, a tiny screening of Star Wars on an authentic screen projector, and far more.

The event’s afternoon highlight was a panel of high-profile external speakers, consisting of Helen Small (University of Oxford; author of The Value of the Humanities), Arlene Holmes-Henderson MBE (University of Durham; Vice-Chair, Universities Policy Engagement Network), and Matthew McCallum (Arts and Humanities Research Council, Associate Director of Programmes). Chaired by Rosalind Crone (FASS Director of KEI), the panel discussed the future challenges facing Arts and Humanities research, and Higher Education as a whole, with questions from an engaged crowd.

The OpenARC website is now live, showcasing many of the exciting ongoing research projects and events from the school.

Visit the OpenARC website