Coventry City of Culture 2021: New Research Perspectives in Engagement

Description

This joint presentation introduces the foundations of two PhD projects focused on Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021. Individually, the speakers will discuss the formulations of their own research and, together, they present shared aspects of the two projects.

Emily Dunford’s research considers the extent to which the City of Culture, as a produced entity, can act as an inclusive site for experimenting with alternatives to the culturally-specific context in which the event is located. Her project explores the performance of Coventry 2021, exploring its rhetoric against its activities and reception. It is intended that narrative-based methodologies will allow the project to measure the impact of the City of Culture initiative on communities surrounding it.

Charles Ingram’s study investigates the cause and effect that UK City of Culture (CoC) as a phenomenon may have on the perceived city image of Coventry, by following the work of CoC producers leading up to and during the CoC year. Using verbatim theatre as a lens for exploring these perceptions, this practice as research methodology aims to establish if CoC has the ability to shift perspectives of the public, offering a new way of measuring impact with regards to cultural Mega-Event’s, and provide advice to those invested in engaging communities in theatre practice.

Period	13 Nov 2019
Event title	Heritage, Memory and Creation: Conflicting Truths and Engagement
Event type	Conference
Location	Coventry, United KingdomShow on map