The year that has passed since the last issue of Humanities Update has been an extremely exciting and productive one. New initiatives include:
- The award of four NRF research chairs, to Professor Caroline Hamilton (Archive and Public
Culture); Professor Raj Mesthrie (Migration, Language and Social Change); Professor Lungisile Ntsebeza (Land Reform & Democracy in SA: State and Civil Society Dynamics); and Professor Adulkader Tayob (Islam, African Publics and Religious Values). These new chairs provide us with opportunities to build research excellence of international stature in all of these areas.
- The creation of the Institute for the Performing and Creative Arts (IPCA) to promote excellence in teaching, research and creative output, across the creative and performing arts departments, (Creative Writing, Dance, Drama, Film & Media, Music and Fine Art) and the Baxter Theatre. IPCA, which enjoys significant donor funding, will foster shared performances, festivals, exhibitions, and other creative endeavours. We recently advertised the Directorship and later this year we will officially launch the Institute, under the name of the donor.
- The formation of the Centre for Curating the Archive (CCA) as a research centre and as a
vehicle for the conservation and creative use of object, image and paper collections. Already the CCA has secured the South Collection and is currently working to organise its 30 000 images representing twenty five photographers.
- The award of significant funding from the Andrew W Mellon Foundation for strengthening
scholarship in the faculty. This funding will enable emerging researchers in the faculty to travel abroad and extend international collaboration. Additionally, the funding will be used to further strengthen departmental research cultures by bringing outstanding fellows to UCT for brief periods.
The new Faculty website is now live and provides up-to-date information about what is happening in academic departments. Please stay in touch with us. Link? Those living in the Cape Town area are warmly welcome at all faculty events.
With warm good wishes
Paula Ensor
