History of Art and Visual Culture
We explore art across periods, media and societies. We're not passive observers but constant questioners - Why that material? Why that subject? How did people react then? And what does it mean now?
As a small team studying with us means you get to know everyone well. And being part of a larger department allows us to bring in specialised knowledge from other subjects and collaborate with colleagues on interdisciplinary research.
Our degrees
Undergraduate
Combine with another subject
Foundation
Prepare for an undergraduate degree if you don't meet our usual entry criteria.
I looked at the modules and thought they seemed really interesting and applicable to loads of future careers as well. You don’t have to work in a museum when you come out the other end.
Research
Quality research
In the latest Research Excellence Framework assessment:
- 90% of our research environment has been recognised as of world leading quality
- 100% of our impact case studies have been recognized as having outstanding or very considerable impact
Our research in action
Dr Rebecca Senior, a Henry Moore Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow based in the Centre for Research in Visual Culture, created a series of resources to support institutions grappling with legacies of colonialism by engaging with recent debates over contested art in the UK.
The events of 2020 drew unprecedented attention to cultural heritage as a space that offers untapped potential for critically engaging with imperial British history.
Find out more about the "Contested Heritage" project
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