Early Photographic work included in group exhibition 'In My Shoes: Art and the Self Since 1990', Longside Gallery, Yorkshire, (30 March–17 June 2018), touring to Attenborough Arts Centre, University of Leicester; PACCAR Room, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon; Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth University and The Harley Gallery, Welbeck throughout 2018 - 2019

Early photographic work from Billingham's series 'Rays a Laugh' was included in the group exhibition 'In My Shoes: Art and the Self Since 1990', Longside Gallery, Yorkshire, (30 March–17 June 2018). The show then toured the UK and was exhibited in the following venues: Attenborough Arts Centre, University of Leicester, (7 July–2 September 2018); PACCAR Room, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon, (6 October 2018 – 6 January 2019); Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth University, (19 January–12 May 2019) and The Harley Gallery, Welbeck, (6 July–22 September 2019). The exhibition explored ways in which UK-based artists have represented themselves in their work since the 1990s. There were 25 artists exhibited including Jananne Al-Ani, Tracey Emin, Ryan Gander, Emma Hart, Michael Landy, Sarah Lucas, Rachel MacLean, Jonathan Monk, Grayson Perry, Marc Quinn, Donald Rodney, Veronica Ryan, Gavin Turk, Mark Wallinger, Gillian Wearing, Bedwyr Williams and Grayson Perry. Self-portraiture has provided a source of inspiration to artists across time. In recent years many artists have challenged and expanded the genre by incorporating action, performance and narrative. The exhibition offered a survey of these contemporary approaches, presenting major works from the Arts Council Collection alongside key loans from other UK collections. The exhibition sought to reflect the widespread interest in self-expression that extends beyond the confines of the art world. The rise of the ‘selfie’ in contemporary culture and the construction of digital identities through social media provide a pertinent cultural context. This exhibition was also an opportunity to consider the legacies of the ‘Young British Artists’ (YBAs) who's work was often confrontational and self-referential. Major works from this period were represented, including a selection of Sarah Lucas ’ photographic self-portraits from 1990-1998 and Tracey Emin’s The Simple Truth (1993), an early blanket piece featuring the appliquéd words ‘Tracey Emin Here To Stay.’ Stitched by Emin in a hotel room on an early trip to the US, the work is a physical expression of the artist’s intention to establish herself in an overcrowded art world. A number of the works investigated different approaches to performance and role playing such as Gavin Turk’s photographic triptych, Oi! (1998), which references Turk’s performance as a drunk at the opening of the Sensation exhibition at the Royal Academy in 1997. Many artists in the exhibition have used self-representation to convey a range of ideas concerning identity, community and empathy. For example, Jananne Al-Ani employed the conventions of early photographic studio portraiture to explore her own identity as well as those of her mother and sisters in ‘Eastern’ and ‘Western’ clothing. In Stewart Home ’s photographic series, ‘Becoming (M)other’ (2004), the artist layered portraits of himself and his late mother, Julia Callan-Thompson, into unified images. Bedwyr Williams participatory installation 'Walk a mile in my shoes' (2006, Saatchi Collection) took the form of a shoe shop, with visitors invited to explore the gallery whilst wearing a pair of the artist’s size 13 shoes. In assuming the artist’s footwear, visitors were encouraged to metaphorically see things from a different perspective. Jill Constantine, Director of Arts Council Collection said: “This timely exhibition steps away from conventional self-portraiture to show us how artists explore their own identities, whether real or imagined, and offers us an insight into what fires their creativity. Some of the results are disturbing, playful or poignant - but this exhibition captures the breadth of the imagination and the vitality of the work being produced by artists in this country today.

Space Place Practice

Space Place Practice: a research station through which visual artists and multi-disciplinary researchers meet to engage with issues of space, place and site. Its dimensions are produced through interaction and critical discourse which act as points of departure for individual practice and collaborative projects. Together we challenge and explore the interstices between embodied practice and theoretical enquiry, and there is no hierarchical distinction between making, thinking, writing, and doing. Our expanded practice is expressed in image, word and action. The primary concern of Space Place Practice is practice-led research that examines the contested and problematic concept of ‘place’ and our attention is firmly focused on critical analysis within visual and textual (re)presentation of the experiential landscape. Through exploratory collaborative fieldwork projects and structured discussion/debate, members will be able to develop personal research practice as well as have the opportunity to explore cross-fertilisation of creative and performative strategies on both individual and collective levels

Patronage, Elites and Power Relations, 2021-2022

This project explored systems of patronage within civil society and the connections between civil society, civic stratification and elite formation. It considered the origins and destinations of patrons in civil society organisations and institutions, as well as the significance of different educational institutions and occupational profiles in affording privileged access to elite positions within civil society. Interviews were conducted with patrons and trustees from a sample of diverse civil society organisations in Wales, with multiple patrons from each organisation profiled and interviewed.WISERD celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Over time it has grown into an international research institute that develops the next generation of research leaders. Our research brings together different disciplines (geographers, economists, sociologists, data scientists, political scientists) to address important issues for civil society at national and international levels. Our social science core provides a strong foundation for working with other disciplines including environmental science, engineering and medicine to transform our understanding and approaches to key areas of public concern. Our aim is to provide evidence that informs and changes policy and practice. This Centre will build on all previous WISERD research activities to undertake an ambitious new research programme. Our focus will be on the concept of civic stratification. This is a way of looking at divisions in society by focusing on the rights and obligations and practices of citizens and the role of civil society organisations in addressing inequalities in those rights and obligations. We will examine and analyse instances where people do not have the same rights as others (for example people who are migrants or refugees). We will also look at examples of people and groups working together within civil society to win new rights; this is referred to as civic expansion. Examples might include campaigns for animal rights or concerns about robots and Artificial Intelligence. We will investigate situations where people have the same rights but experience differences in their ability to access those rights; sometimes referred to as civic gain and civic loss (for example some people are better able to access legal services than others). Lastly, we will explore how individuals and groups come together to overcome deficits in their rights and citizenship; sometimes referred to as forms of civil repair. This might include ways in which people are looking at alternative forms of economic organisation, at local sustainability and at using new technologies (platforms and software) to organise and campaign for their rights. Our centre will deliver across four key areas of activity. First our research programme will focus on themes that address the different aspects of civic stratification. We will examine trends in polarization of economic, political and social rights, looking at how campaigns for rights are changing and undertaking case studies of attempts to repair the fabric of civil life. Second, we will extend and deepen our international and civil society research partnerships and networks and by doing so strengthen our foundations for developing further joint research in the future. Third, we will implement an exciting and accessible 'knowledge exchange' programme to enable our research and evidence to reach, involve and influence as many people as possible. Fourth, we will expand the capacity of social science research and nurture future research leaders. All our research projects will be jointly undertaken with key partners including civil society organisations, such as charities, and local communities. The research programme is broad and will include the collection of new data, the exploitation of existing data sources and linking existing sets of data. The data will range from local detailed studies to large cross-national comparisons. We will make the most of our skills and abilities to work with major RCUK research investments. We have an outstanding track record in maximising research impact, in applying a wide range of research methods to real world problems. This exciting and challenging research programme is based on a unique, long standing and supportive relationship between five core universities in Wales and our partnerships with universities and research institutes in the UK and internationally. It addresses priority areas identified by the ESRC and by governments and is informed by our continued close links with civil society organisations.</p

Populism, Conflict and Political Polarization, 2021-2023

This project explored how the circulation of ideas, arguments and discourses within local civil society has contributed to the rise of populism and polarisation of politics in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and what part civil society can play in addressing social and political polarisation. We examined the relationship between polarising viewpoints at local community and national levels and the role civil society plays at engaging communities in these issues. In-depth interviews were undertaken in the United Kingdom and in New Hampshire and Vermont in the United States of America.WISERD celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Over time it has grown into an international research institute that develops the next generation of research leaders. Our research brings together different disciplines (geographers, economists, sociologists, data scientists, political scientists) to address important issues for civil society at national and international levels. Our social science core provides a strong foundation for working with other disciplines including environmental science, engineering and medicine to transform our understanding and approaches to key areas of public concern. Our aim is to provide evidence that informs and changes policy and practice. This Centre will build on all previous WISERD research activities to undertake an ambitious new research programme. Our focus will be on the concept of civic stratification. This is a way of looking at divisions in society by focusing on the rights and obligations and practices of citizens and the role of civil society organisations in addressing inequalities in those rights and obligations. We will examine and analyse instances where people do not have the same rights as others (for example people who are migrants or refugees). We will also look at examples of people and groups working together within civil society to win new rights; this is referred to as civic expansion. Examples might include campaigns for animal rights or concerns about robots and Artificial Intelligence. We will investigate situations where people have the same rights but experience differences in their ability to access those rights; sometimes referred to as civic gain and civic loss (for example some people are better able to access legal services than others). Lastly, we will explore how individuals and groups come together to overcome deficits in their rights and citizenship; sometimes referred to as forms of civil repair. This might include ways in which people are looking at alternative forms of economic organisation, at local sustainability and at using new technologies (platforms and software) to organise and campaign for their rights. Our centre will deliver across four key areas of activity. First our research programme will focus on themes that address the different aspects of civic stratification. We will examine trends in polarization of economic, political and social rights, looking at how campaigns for rights are changing and undertaking case studies of attempts to repair the fabric of civil life. Second, we will extend and deepen our international and civil society research partnerships and networks and by doing so strengthen our foundations for developing further joint research in the future. Third, we will implement an exciting and accessible 'knowledge exchange' programme to enable our research and evidence to reach, involve and influence as many people as possible. Fourth, we will expand the capacity of social science research and nurture future research leaders. All our research projects will be jointly undertaken with key partners including civil society organisations, such as charities, and local communities. The research programme is broad and will include the collection of new data, the exploitation of existing data sources and linking existing sets of data. The data will range from local detailed studies to large cross-national comparisons. We will make the most of our skills and abilities to work with major RCUK research investments. We have an outstanding track record in maximising research impact, in applying a wide range of research methods to real world problems. This exciting and challenging research programme is based on a unique, long standing and supportive relationship between five core universities in Wales and our partnerships with universities and research institutes in the UK and internationally. It addresses priority areas identified by the ESRC and by governments and is informed by our continued close links with civil society organisations.</p

Shifting Forms of Governance and the Grassroots Politics of Separatism, 2022-2024

This project undertook comparative case studies in regions where separatist movements are in flux to understand perceptions of, and engagement in, separatist conflicts from the bottom-up. In-depth unstructured interviews were undertaken with individuals in Catalonia (Spain), Scotland and Wales to explore individuals’ perceptions of, and responses to, debates about secession. Participants were asked to take four photographs that captured their thoughts and feelings on the topic of 'independence'. These photographs were then discussed in a follow-up interview.WISERD celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Over time it has grown into an international research institute that develops the next generation of research leaders. Our research brings together different disciplines (geographers, economists, sociologists, data scientists, political scientists) to address important issues for civil society at national and international levels. Our social science core provides a strong foundation for working with other disciplines including environmental science, engineering and medicine to transform our understanding and approaches to key areas of public concern. Our aim is to provide evidence that informs and changes policy and practice. This Centre will build on all previous WISERD research activities to undertake an ambitious new research programme. Our focus will be on the concept of civic stratification. This is a way of looking at divisions in society by focusing on the rights and obligations and practices of citizens and the role of civil society organisations in addressing inequalities in those rights and obligations. We will examine and analyse instances where people do not have the same rights as others (for example people who are migrants or refugees). We will also look at examples of people and groups working together within civil society to win new rights; this is referred to as civic expansion. Examples might include campaigns for animal rights or concerns about robots and Artificial Intelligence. We will investigate situations where people have the same rights but experience differences in their ability to access those rights; sometimes referred to as civic gain and civic loss (for example some people are better able to access legal services than others). Lastly, we will explore how individuals and groups come together to overcome deficits in their rights and citizenship; sometimes referred to as forms of civil repair. This might include ways in which people are looking at alternative forms of economic organisation, at local sustainability and at using new technologies (platforms and software) to organise and campaign for their rights. Our centre will deliver across four key areas of activity. First our research programme will focus on themes that address the different aspects of civic stratification. We will examine trends in polarization of economic, political and social rights, looking at how campaigns for rights are changing and undertaking case studies of attempts to repair the fabric of civil life. Second, we will extend and deepen our international and civil society research partnerships and networks and by doing so strengthen our foundations for developing further joint research in the future. Third, we will implement an exciting and accessible 'knowledge exchange' programme to enable our research and evidence to reach, involve and influence as many people as possible. Fourth, we will expand the capacity of social science research and nurture future research leaders. All our research projects will be jointly undertaken with key partners including civil society organisations, such as charities, and local communities. The research programme is broad and will include the collection of new data, the exploitation of existing data sources and linking existing sets of data. The data will range from local detailed studies to large cross-national comparisons. We will make the most of our skills and abilities to work with major RCUK research investments. We have an outstanding track record in maximising research impact, in applying a wide range of research methods to real world problems. This exciting and challenging research programme is based on a unique, long standing and supportive relationship between five core universities in Wales and our partnerships with universities and research institutes in the UK and internationally. It addresses priority areas identified by the ESRC and by governments and is informed by our continued close links with civil society organisations.</p

Ageing, serious leisure and the contribution of the grey economy 2016-2018

Interviews were conducted with 'older' (60+) volunteers working at a range of community organizations across mid Wales. Community organisations included a village community hub, the National Botanic Garden of Wales, Newtown Textile Museam and the Royal British Legion. This project investigated the benefits of ‘serious leisure’ in retirement, both for the individual and for the wider communities of which they are part. These interviews explore the participants involvement in serious leisure, the purpose of their engagements and value attached to their activities.This proposal is for a National Research Centre (WISERD/Civil Society) to undertake a five year programme of policy relevant research addressing Civil Society in Wales. Established in 2008, WISERD provides an 'All-Wales' focus for research and has had a major impact on the quantity and quality of social science research undertaken in Wales. As part of WISERD, WISERD/Civil Society will enable this work to be deepened and sustained through a focused research programme that further develops our research expertise, intensifies our policy impact and knowledge exchange work and strengthens our research capacity and career development activities. WISERD/Civil Society will therefore aim to develop key aspects of the multidisciplinary research initiated during the first phase of WISERD's work to produce new empirical evidence to inform our understanding of the changing nature of civil society in the context of devolved government and processes of profound social and economic change. There are many disagreements over what civil society is and how it may be changing. We do know that over the last forty years there have been unprecedented changes in the spheres of economy and industry, politics and governance, social relations and individual life courses. How individuals in local contexts are affected by and respond to dramatic institutional changes is not well understood. An important gap in our knowledge is in describing and explaining the impact of social change on local forms of civil society and civil society organisations and what this means for social cohesion and well-being. In addition how different forms of civil society are developing in the context of multi-level and devolved government is not well understood. Because of its size and devolved government, Wales offers a unique context for studying these issues. Viewing Wales as a 'laboratory for social science' the proposed centre will build on existing networks of researchers who have a wide range of expertise and skills. Large survey data sets will be exploited and analysed and new data collected on civil society in Wales, the UK and Europe. Inter-disciplinarity and multi-method approaches applied to longitudinal and comparative data will be a key feature and strength of the WISERD/Civil Society research programme. Our research will be underpinned by three principles: (i) to maximise research impact, (ii) to become a centre of excellence for comparative, longitudinal, and relational research methods and (iii) to contribute to the growth of research capacity in Wales. We will also extend our research out from Wales to undertake comparative studies at different regional, national and international levels. In this way WISERD will make substantive and novel contributions to the advancement of social theory applied to researching contemporary civil society and to methodological approaches to describing and explaining patterns of civic participation in the context of devolution and multi-level governance. Substantive research will be applied to real and timely research problems conducted under four inter-related themes: 1) Locality, Community and Civil Society 2) Individuals, Institutions and Governance 3) Economic Austerity, Social Enterprise and Inequality 4) Generation, Life Course and Social Participation. Our aim will be to produce a wide range of outputs accessible to a variety of different audiences, including: academic papers; books; working papers; seminars; web based material; video and e-learning materials; as well as disseminating our work through a diversity of activities. Public awareness will be raised through events; activities; and exhibitions, designed to foster interest and encourage discussion and debate. WISERD/Civil Society will have a strong management structure, substantial institutional support, and close links with relevant organisations, and will provide substantive career development for new and early-career researchers and PhD students.</p

Ageing, serious leisure and the contribution of the grey economy 2016-2018

Interviews were conducted with 'older' (60+) volunteers working at a range of community organizations across mid Wales. Community organisations included a village community hub, the National Botanic Garden of Wales, Newtown Textile Museam and the Royal British Legion. This project investigated the benefits of ‘serious leisure’ in retirement, both for the individual and for the wider communities of which they are part. These interviews explore the participants involvement in serious leisure, the purpose of their engagements and value attached to their activities.This proposal is for a National Research Centre (WISERD/Civil Society) to undertake a five year programme of policy relevant research addressing Civil Society in Wales. Established in 2008, WISERD provides an 'All-Wales' focus for research and has had a major impact on the quantity and quality of social science research undertaken in Wales. As part of WISERD, WISERD/Civil Society will enable this work to be deepened and sustained through a focused research programme that further develops our research expertise, intensifies our policy impact and knowledge exchange work and strengthens our research capacity and career development activities. WISERD/Civil Society will therefore aim to develop key aspects of the multidisciplinary research initiated during the first phase of WISERD's work to produce new empirical evidence to inform our understanding of the changing nature of civil society in the context of devolved government and processes of profound social and economic change. There are many disagreements over what civil society is and how it may be changing. We do know that over the last forty years there have been unprecedented changes in the spheres of economy and industry, politics and governance, social relations and individual life courses. How individuals in local contexts are affected by and respond to dramatic institutional changes is not well understood. An important gap in our knowledge is in describing and explaining the impact of social change on local forms of civil society and civil society organisations and what this means for social cohesion and well-being. In addition how different forms of civil society are developing in the context of multi-level and devolved government is not well understood. Because of its size and devolved government, Wales offers a unique context for studying these issues. Viewing Wales as a 'laboratory for social science' the proposed centre will build on existing networks of researchers who have a wide range of expertise and skills. Large survey data sets will be exploited and analysed and new data collected on civil society in Wales, the UK and Europe. Inter-disciplinarity and multi-method approaches applied to longitudinal and comparative data will be a key feature and strength of the WISERD/Civil Society research programme. Our research will be underpinned by three principles: (i) to maximise research impact, (ii) to become a centre of excellence for comparative, longitudinal, and relational research methods and (iii) to contribute to the growth of research capacity in Wales. We will also extend our research out from Wales to undertake comparative studies at different regional, national and international levels. In this way WISERD will make substantive and novel contributions to the advancement of social theory applied to researching contemporary civil society and to methodological approaches to describing and explaining patterns of civic participation in the context of devolution and multi-level governance. Substantive research will be applied to real and timely research problems conducted under four inter-related themes: 1) Locality, Community and Civil Society 2) Individuals, Institutions and Governance 3) Economic Austerity, Social Enterprise and Inequality 4) Generation, Life Course and Social Participation. Our aim will be to produce a wide range of outputs accessible to a variety of different audiences, including: academic papers; books; working papers; seminars; web based material; video and e-learning materials; as well as disseminating our work through a diversity of activities. Public awareness will be raised through events; activities; and exhibitions, designed to foster interest and encourage discussion and debate. WISERD/Civil Society will have a strong management structure, substantial institutional support, and close links with relevant organisations, and will provide substantive career development for new and early-career researchers and PhD students.</p

Europeanizing or Securitizing the 'outsiders'? Assessing the EU's partnership-building approach with Eastern Europe

This project investigates the ENP’s effectiveness in Eastern Europe (EE), in the light of a growing tension between Europeanisation and Securitisation. Although Europeanisation is seen as better suited for building a sustainable partnership with EE, being linked to the wider process of modernisation, its validity has been progressively challenged by Securitisation, which prioritises the EU’s immediate security concerns over the long-term promotion of democracy in EE. The existing conceptual tension may not only affect the ENP’s successful implementation, but also hinder the development of a constructive dialogue with the ‘outsiders’ – Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova in particular. The project will seek to establish the following: How are Europeanisation and Securitisation defined in the key ENP documents? Is there a growing tension between the aims and the means of these discourses? To what extent do these discourses correspond to those adopted by EE? What implications may the tension have on achieving stability, security and well being in the wider Europe? The project methodology will include content-analysis of official documents across the border; elite interviews; published data in the EU and national surveys in EE; ‘school essays on Europe’ and focus-groups in EE to allow individual-level analysis of public responses

Negotiating neuroliberalism: Changing behaviours, values and beliefs

Qualitative interviews with policy executives and entrepreneurs who have been utilising the ideas of the behavioural sciences within the design and delivery of public policy. Interviews were conducted with policy executives and entrepreneurs in Australia, Denmark, Netherlands, Singapore, UK, USA. Qualitative interviews with policy makers and interviews who participated in mindfulness and behaviour change trials. Questionnaire survey results from participants on mindfulness and behaviour change trials. This project explored the impact of the behavioural sciences (including psychology, behavioural economics, and neuroscience) on the design and delivery of public policy. This project had three aims: 1. to explore the extent to which the behavourial sciences are informing public policy initiatives across the world 2. to assess how effective related behaviour change initiatives are and what methods are being used to monitor and understand their effectiveness 3. to consider the extent to which it is possible to develop alternative effective and empowering ways of changing behaviours? Focusing on six international case studies (Australia, Denmark, UK, Netherlands, USA, and Singapore), this project conducted a series elite-level, in-depth interviews with policy executives in these countries. Following this international research, this project developed a series of behavioural interventions with policy-makers and practitioners (involving meditative techniques and related forms of behavioural training). These interventions explored the extent to which it is possible to use the insights of the behavioural sciences to empower individuals to more effectively control their own behaviour. These behavioural interventions were assessed using a mix of participant observation techniques, in-depth interviews and quantitative measures of personal attribute changes.</p