Briefly, could you explain your role at the Science Gallery and how the Gallery sits within King's?
Science Gallery London is King’s flagship public gallery, located on Guy’s campus right next to London Bridge station, and it sits at the exciting threshold between the university and the city. The work we share emerges from dialogue between communities of artists, academics, students, young people, activists, local organisations and the wider public.
Each year, we put on a themed season comprising an exhibition and an events programme. Most recently, we took a playful and questioning look at artificial intelligence in AI: Who’s Looking After Me? Between seasons, we produce and facilitate exhibitions, takeovers and events that platform the ideas of our communities.
My role as Marketing & Communications Lead (maternity cover for Stella Harrison) involves effectively communicating the Gallery’s offer to a wide range of audiences. On a day-to-day level, this means delivering targeted campaigns for our programme of exhibitions and events; managing the website and digital channels; overseeing press and PR campaigns; and working collaboratively with colleagues across King’s and externally to maximise audiences and profile for the Gallery.
The exhibition 'Dementia Journeys' has been created in response to the research done by EMBED-Care. Could you explain the process of getting this exhibition in motion?
This exhibition forms part of the public engagement strand of Empowering Better End of Life Dementia Care (EMBED-Care), a six-year research project jointly led by King’s and UCL which aims to generate a step change in how end of life care is provided.
A public-facing exhibition at Science Gallery London was part of the original funding bid, enabling us to work with creative producer Tim Harrison.
Dementia Journeys aims to reveal the human stories behind the statistics by sharing the experiences of three people who have cared for loved ones dying with dementia - powerfully told through portrait photography by Allie Crewe (two-times winner of the BJP Portrait of Britain prize) and comic strips by pioneering doctor-turned-cartoonist Ian Williams. Another output of the exhibition is a manifesto in the form of a poem, that was developed through a workshop with the participating carers led by Manchester-based poet, playwright and performer Louise Wallwein.
What are the benefits for a researcher of working with the team at the Science Gallery? What other kinds of opportunities are available for research staff and students with the Science Gallery?
Science Gallery London is part of King’s Culture, the university’s Knowledge Exchange Institute for collaborations with the creative and cultural industries. Part of the Gallery’s mission is to offer opportunities for King’s researchers to interface with the wider public by facilitating collaborations with with artists and the creative community, technologists, patient groups, students and young people from our local boroughs Southwark and Lambeth.
Our annual season offers opportunities for creative research and discovery (R&D) on original projects, live research and public platforms to spotlight relevant King’s research. Throughout the year, the Gallery supports creative approaches to public and community engagement – from hosting events to mounting temporary exhibitions for public audiences at a variety of scales.
What is your favourite thing about your job?
What Science Gallery London offers is truly unique for a cultural venue in London – there's no place that I can think of that’s doing what it does. It's a creative space where artists, scientists, academics and young people co-create work that is timely and relevant to some our biggest collective challenges. The team that I work alongside come from a range of backgrounds including education; youth work; science communication; visual and performing arts; and more.
Where is your happy place?
A multi-day hike on a National Trail.
Favourite film?
Labyrinth, or anything with Julia Roberts.
Ideal dinner guest?
Beverley Knight.
A Reality Near You, the new zine from Science Gallery London, is out now.