Liam O'Kell

I am currently on the PhD Archaeology programme, working on a thesis titled “The Economic and Social Impacts of Heritage Management: Evaluating the Northern Saints Trails Project, 2021-26”. My research considers the impacts of heritage trails in terms of tourism development and within the contexts of historical and contemporary pilgrimage. My current work is focused on the Northern Saints Trails’ Way of Light (Heavenfield-Durham), with particular interest in funding, intention, local business and community impacts and international profile. Therefore, this work has an emphasis on County Durham and Northumberland and, as the ultimate destination of the routes, Durham Cathedral.
My other research interests include access and learning at art galleries and museums, East Asian and North East African archaeology, architecture and art, modern Chinese history and bias in the communication of history.
I hold a BA in History of Art from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies, which included Arabic and Chinese language courses, and an MA in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester, the research for which was primarily conducted in China. I have worked at an arts centre in Sudan and libraries and museums in North East England and have taught English as a Foreign Language and cultural studies in China, South Korea and Sudan.

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