About Us

The Centre for Visual Arts and Cultures (CVAC) was established in 2013 and brings together scholars from across and beyond Durham University.

We provide a vibrant and dynamic setting for wide-ranging interdisciplinary research and debates about visual culture. The Centre provides a focus for cutting-edge research on visual arts and cultures: it aspires to train new generations of scholars through innovative postgraduate programmes, it fosters informed debate both nationally and internationally, and it offers an engaging, open environment for researchers at all levels.

Our Research

CVAC takes a generous view of what constitutes visuality and visual culture, enabling a broad geographical, topical and chronological scope. The Centre acts as a platform for connection amongst our research community, supporting interdisciplinary conversations and shared experience, under the banner of 'the Visual'.

CVAC connects colleagues from across the academy, whose interests range from the study of the physical environment and its many representations, through word and image, art and religion, creative practice, visual representation within medicine, the scientific study of vision and visual processes, film and image making, the history of photography, architecture, urban culture, heritage and philosophical aesthetics, to gaming, AI, digitisation, digital culture and beyond.
See our events archive for details of our programme of pioneering visual research methods, harnessing expertise from amongst our membership, and the emergent 'Visualities of Extraction' research theme, resulting in creative 'research sandpit' conversations and an annual symposium.

A rich and inspiring research environment

Durham is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that also includes Durham Cathedral.

Its acclaimed Oriental Museum is a significant asset which houses three Designated Collections, recognised by the Arts Council as nationally and internationally pre-eminent; alongside an outstanding collection of twentieth-century and contemporary art. CVAC has many established relationships with major national and international cultural organisations, and aims to develop further its links with museums, galleries and heritage sites.