IOU at 50 – Shaping Arts Ecology and Envisioning the Future City
Scholarship Overview
IOU Theatre, Halifax has been at the forefront of experimental arts for half a century, pioneering site-specific outdoor practices and integrating engineering and technology into creative production. Despite its significant contributions, the organisation’s history remains under-researched and underrepresented in broader arts discourses.
This proposed PhD project aims to fill that gap, positioning IOU’s archive as a key resource for understanding shifts in cultural practices and policies over the past five decades. It will also examine how the archive, as a repository of memory and innovation, can actively shape future art practices, supporting contemporary place-making initiatives and envisioning alternative urban futures.
Inspired by IOU’s roots in Calderdale, we invite PhD research that will critically assess the concept of a "Hidden Super City" in northern England—a vision where artistic and cultural movements transcend traditional urban hierarchies to reimagine regional identities and future creative economies.
Key Information
Find out more about this PhD opportunity, including research questions, aims, methodology, funding and potential impact.
Apply
Further information on eligibility and how you can apply for this opportunity
Research Questions
- What key narratives, themes, and movements are embedded in the IOU archive?
- How has IOU shaped the local and national arts ecology, particularly in the context of post-industrial regeneration?
- In what ways can the archive be reactivated to influence contemporary practices and curatorial strategies?
- How do artistic interventions reshape historical and cultural narratives, redefining notions of urban and rural identity?
Project Aims
The project has four primary research aims:
- Archival Exploration: Collaborate with IOU’s former Artistic Director to systematically explore, organise, and catalogue the 50-year archive, identifying key themes, artists, and moments.
- Artistic and Societal Impact: Analyse IOU’s role in transforming Calderdale into a hub of creative activity, contributing to local regeneration and influencing broader arts policies and practices.
- Relevance to Contemporary Practice: Investigate how archives can serve as living resources for contemporary artists, informing curatorial strategies and developing new artistic works.
- Arts and Regeneration: Uncover how IOU pioneered cultural regeneration, challenging perceptions of rural-urban divides and proposing alternative models for creative economies.
Methodologies of approach:
- Archival Research:
- Catalogue and document IOU’s archive, including photographs, props, administrative records, and audiovisual materials.
- Identify key themes and collaborations that reflect broader cultural trends.
- Oral Histories:
- Conduct interviews with former staff, artists, and stakeholders to gather insights into IOU’s methodologies and impact.
- Contextual Analysis:
- Situate findings within the historical, socio-political, and cultural contexts of the arts sector, focusing on regeneration and place-making.
- Practice-Based Research:
- Collaborate with contemporary artists to engage with the archive, culminating in new works to be showcased during IOU’s 50th-anniversary exhibitions at IOU and The Whitaker Gallery.
- Create a residency-based response at the IOU Hostel, integrating these new works into the living archive.
Potential Research Significance
We hope the PhD project will provide a model for how archives can serve as dynamic, active resources and will position IOU as a pivotal case study in the arts’ role in regeneration, cultural memory, and place-making. This research will contribute to fields including archival studies, contemporary art practice, and cultural history, while offering fresh perspectives on how regional arts organisations shape national discourse.
Resources
- Archival Access: IOU’s archive and materials.
- Digital Tools: Archival management and digitisation software.
- Residency Support: Six-month residency at the IOU Hostel.
- Exhibition Platforms: Inclusion in IOU’s 50th-anniversary exhibitions.
This PhD will illuminate IOU’s significant contributions to the arts while exploring archives as tools for memory, innovation, and regeneration. The project will not only preserve and activate IOU’s legacy but will also advance critical conversations about the arts’ role in shaping society and envisioning sustainable creative futures.
This project will run out of the Centre for Cultural Ecologies in Art, Design and Architecture at the University of Huddersfield and in collaboration with IOU.
CEADA – Centre for Cultural Ecologies in Art, Design and Architecture - University of Huddersfield
IOU - https://ioutheatre.org/
Funding
The project comes with a tuition fee-waiver (for 3 years) and a bursary provided directly by IOU Theatre.
Applying for this PhD
Eligibility
This opportunity is only available to candidates from the UK
Entry Requirements
Candidates must have a First Class or Upper Second Class Honours degree, MA or MSc qualification in order to apply for this opportunity.
How To Apply
Additional information: https://research.hud.ac.uk/music/
To apply: https://www.hud.ac.uk/postgraduate/how-to-apply/
Closing date: 24 February 2025
We invite applications that address this proposed project framework in the project proposal. Please follow the guidelines here:
https://www.hud.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/writing-a-research-proposal/
Enquiries
Dr Rowan Bailey: r.bailey@hud.ac.uk