‘Sense of Belonging’ Project

‘Sense of Belonging’ is an interdisciplinary research project led by academics in the Lincoln School of Design, Heather Connelly, Dave Eccles, Nick Wilson and Jo Mansfield. It has been designed to investigate how Art and Design can help to foster ‘a sense of belonging’ and to see what common themes emerge and how are they being portrayed/communicated (see full brief for further details). Additionally, it aims to explore the potential of collaborative practice-research across design, curation, art, and pedagogy – it is the start of something!

The impetus for this project was a conference call on the theme of Belonging from the Foundation Year Network and our desire to present and engage the delegates in what we ‘do’ on Art & Design Foundation courses: prioritising the physical and experiential nature of art and design over a mediated paper presentation.

Consequently, we booked the Project Space+ the University of Lincoln’s gallery (9th-11th July 2024) for an exhibition and have created an open call for staff and students to contribute new or existing work on the theme of ‘Sense of Belonging’.

The research project is broader than the exhibition, and will be conducted in different stages and comprises of a number of strands, questions and outputs, including a cross institutional zine workshop, catalogue and seminar, it is practice-based, emergent and generative.

Please read the brief and participant information form before submitting your online registration form

The project ‘A Sense of Belonging’ contributes to research conducted on behalf of the University of Lincoln and has received a favourable ethical opinion by a University Research Ethics Committee 17997. If you have any concerns please contact: ethics@lincoln.ac.uk