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

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

Education, language and identity 2015-2018

A mixed methods approach was adopted, with the project undertaking qualitative interviews and a questionnaire survey. The interviews were conducted with policy-makers, teachers and young people in both Wales and Scotland. These focused on the link between education, minority languages and identity in both countries. Key themes include the use of minority languages in different settings (Welsh and Scots Gaelic), as well as the institutional support provided for the use of these languages by the schools. The interviews also address the link between minority language use and identity, as well as broader connections with other practices, including volunteering. This project investigated the types of civic participation and conceptions of language and identity promoted within the statutory education system, and within civil society organisations working with young people. The research took place in both Wales and Scotland. The questionnaire survey was conducted across a series of schools in Wales, focusing on the link between education, minority languages and identity. Key themes include the use of minority languages in different settings, the link between minority language use and identity, as well as broader connections with other practices, including volunteering.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

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

Redefining local civil society in an age of global interconnectivity 2017-2018

A series of interviews were conducted with participants in local organizations and stakeholders in three localities that are engaged with global issues. Issues include refugees and asylum seekers; the environment, including climate change and anti-plastic campaigning; and food, including food banks and food waste. The three localities are Aberystwyth, Mumbles (Swansea) and Splott (Cardiff). The resource also includes transcripts of interviews with stakeholders in these places. This project explored how imaginaries and practices of local civil society have been stretched and reconfigured by global interconnectivities, including both the reorientation of local civil society activities around global issues and concerns, and participation in local civil society by individuals outside the locality, for instance through social media. 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

Reports submitted to the Court of Governors / University College of Wales, Aberystwyth

1949-195

Reports submitted to the Court of Governors / University College of Wales, Aberystwyth

1931-193

Aberystwyth Studies. /

v. VI-X (1924-1928