About Us

The Centre for Visual Arts and Cultures (CVAC) takes a generous view of what constitutes visuality and visual culture. Our broad geographical, topical and chronological scope brings together scholars from across Durham University and beyond.

We provide an engaging, open environment for researchers at all career stages and across multiple disciplines and and approaches, under the banner of 'the Visual'. Our wide-ranging events programme enables interdisciplinary conversations around visual arts, culture and visual practices, fostering informed debate, a generous sharing of expertise in visual methods and techniques, and enabling the seeds of new research ideas to take root and flourish.

Our Research

CVAC takes a generous view of what constitutes visuality and visual culture, acting as a platform for connection amongst our research community, supporting interdisciplinary conversations and shared experience, under the banner of 'the Visual'.

CVAC's aims:

Fostering an enthusiastic community of cross-disciplinary researchers on all aspects of visual culture and the arts, at Durham University and beyond
Developing the next generation of researchers and practitioners through training events and other initiatives, in a welcoming, inclusive environment
Supporting research impact by connecting researchers with peers and partners in the arts, culture, and heritage, including archives and museums

Our colleagues' specialisms include the physical environment and its many representations, words and images, art and religion, creative practice, visual representation within medicine, the science of vision , film and image making, the history of photography, architecture, urban culture, heritage and philosophical aesthetics, gaming, AI, digitisation, digital culture and beyond. Currently, we are exploring the 'Visualities of Extraction' theme via an upcoming series of research conversations, creative 'sandpit' events and our annual symposium.

See our events page for details of our past and upcoming programme of pioneering visual research methods!

A rich and inspiring research environment

Durham is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that also includes Durham Cathedral.

Its acclaimed Oriental Museum is a significant asset which houses three Designated Collections, recognised by the Arts Council as nationally and internationally pre-eminent; alongside an outstanding collection of twentieth-century and contemporary art. CVAC has many established relationships with major national and international cultural organisations, and aims to develop further its links with museums, galleries and heritage sites.