8 July 2024
Stop the Redundancies in Visual Cultures

Dear Francis Corner, Imran Chughtai, David Oswell, Ernest Caldwell, Adam Dinham, Stephen Graham, Matthew Cragoe, Dinah Caine

We are writing as the first generation of Masters and doctoral graduates of the Department of Visual Cultures to express our shock and dismay that Goldsmiths is proposing to make eight members of staff in this department redundant. These are members of staff who are our treasured colleagues, former PhD supervisors and our peers who have all made major contributions to the constitution a department that has global significance in opening up the most vibrant, innovative and relevant field of visual studies in the last twenty years. As scholars who trained in Visual Cultures and who now hold positions in leading universities and world-renowned contemporary art institutions, we recognise that the intellectual and artistic contexts that we work in have been shaped to a huge extent by the discourses in art theory and practice developed in this department, including geographies, critical ecologies, postcolonial, feminist, decolonial and queer methods. We were witnesses to, and beneficiaries of, the foundation of Visual Cultures as a distinct department under the visionary leadership of Professor Irit Rogoff. This radical agenda, expanded and enhanced by subsequent heads of department, diverged from the traditional protocols and canonical preoccupations of art history in its commitment to criticality, rights-based research, environmental justice and advanced practices.

These redundancies are an act of intellectual and cultural vandalism and a hugely retrograde step. They represent a threat to Goldsmiths’ reputation for scholarly excellence and innovation and will have lasting damage on students, staff, related departments at Goldsmiths and the wider world community of artists, curators and thinkers at a time when we have never been more in need of creative and rigorous interventions in visual cultures. We are particularly concerned for current and future Masters and doctoral students, as the targeting of senior lecturers and professors for redundancies will leave the department bereft of the necessary experience and accumulated knowledge that our colleagues, former PhD supervisors and peers have built up over decades of scholarship, teaching and academic administration.

It is our hope that you will respond by taking all our colleagues and former supervisors out of scope of redundancy so that Visual Cultures can continue its vital work as a truly ground-breaking department that produces exceptional research and new generations of graduates who will go on to produce agenda-setting work.

Yours sincerely

Name, Position/institutional affiliation, year of graduation from Visual CulturesMA/PhD

200
signatures
189 verified
  1. Ros Gray, Reader and Programme Director, MA Art & Ecology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London
  2. Suzana Milevska, PhD in Visual Cultures, 2006, Independent curator, Independent, Skopje
  3. Nicole Archer, Assistant Professor, Department of Art and Design, Montclair State University, New Jersey/New York
  4. Gerard Ortin, PhD student Art Research, Goldsmiths, University of London, London
  5. Dimitra Gkitsa, Lecturer in Curating & Cultural Leadership, University of Southampton
  6. Helena Reckitt, Reader in Curating, Goldsmiths, university of London, London
  7. Elly Clarke, PhD Art Researcher and Lecturer, Goldsmiths, University of London, London
  8. Celine Condorelli, Artist and Professor, HfG Karlsruhe, London
  9. Jessie McLaughlin, PhD Student, Goldsmiths, London
  10. Adela Železnik, Curator, Moderna galerija, Ljubljana
  11. Rowena Harris, PhD student Art Research, Goldsmiths, University of London, London
  12. Gabo Camnitzer, Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts, Providence
  13. Susan Kelly, Senior Lecturer, Goldsmiths, Art Department, London
  14. Gareth Longstaff, Senior Lecturer, Newcastle University
  15. Petra Bauer, Professor, Stockholm University of the Artd, Stockholm
  16. marion coutts, Reader, co-programme leader, BA Fine Art and History of Art, Goldsmiths, University of London, London
  17. gretchen geraets, Lecturer, Norwich University of the Arts, Norwich
  18. Alice Andrews, PhD Visual Cultures 2012, Lecturer in Visual Cultures, Goldsmiths, University of London
  19. Dr LYNETTE FANTHOME, Lecturer in Critical and Contextual Studies, Staffordshire University, MANCHESTER
  20. Suzanne Sacorafos, Conservator, Freelance, London
  21. Anna Kontopoulou, Curator, Lecturer, Konsthall C, Stockholm, Sweden
  22. Dr Assunta Ruocco, MA Contemporary Art Theory 2010, Lecturer in Fine Art, University of Lincoln, Nottingham
  23. Marianne Mulvey, Senior Lecturer, University of The West of England, Bristol
  24. Anna Castelli, Lecturer, Iulm, Milan
  25. Susan McHugh, Professor of Literature, - None -, Auburn
  26. Andrea Khôra, Artist, Goldsmiths, London
  27. Katrine Dirckinck-Holmfeld, PhD, Visual Artist, Independent, Copenhagen
  28. Ben Spatz, Reader, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield
  29. Lucy Steeds, Senior Lecturer, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh
  30. Magdalena Wisniowska, Curator, Munich
  31. Aimar Arriola, PhD in Visual Cultures, 2019., Curator, editor, researcher., Madrid & Bilbao
  32. Sarah Charalambides, PhD Visual Cultures 2020, Lecturer in Visual Cultures, Goldsmiths, London
  33. Emily Pethick, Director, Rijksakademie, Amsterdam
  34. Rosie Spencer, Editor, Brighton
  35. Orsalia Dimitriou, Associate Lecturer, Central Saint Martins, London
  36. Ramon Amaro, Senior Researcher for Digital Culture /Curator Digital, Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam
  37. Caroline Stevenson, MA Grad Cultural Studies, Programme Director, London College of Fashion, London
  38. Tomislav Medak, cultural worker & political organiser, Multimedia Institute / MaMa, Zagreb
  39. Giulia Casalini, Curator, MA Visual Cultures, 2012, London
  40. Mary McCarthy, Retired Teacher, BELFAST
  41. Rachel O'Reilly, Artist/Writer/Phd student (suspended), Goldsmiths University, Brisbane
  42. Giovanni Aloi, Professor, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago
  43. Dr James Hellings, Lecturer in Art, University of Reading, Reading
  44. JD Smith, Artist/Writer, Studio Red Dog House, Casares, Spain
  45. Angela Anderson, Artist / Lecturer, Kassel Kunsthochschule, Berlin
  46. Bruno Verner, PhD in Visual Cultures 2022, Sound and Music dept, London College of Communications, UAL, Composer, Associate Lecturer MA Music Production
  47. Lisa Rosendahl, Curator and Professor, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Oslo/Berlin
  48. Jess Baines, Senior lecturer Contextual &Theoretical Studies, LCC, University of the Arts London, London
  49. Julia Morandeira Arrizabalaga, Director, KADIST, Paris
  50. Roberto Cavallini, Film producer & member of the European Film Academy, Albolina Film, Trento (Italy)
  51. Rana Hamadeh, Artist, Rotterdam
  52. Ane Rodríguez Armendariz, Curator, researcher, institutional practitioner, MA Contemporary Art Theory, 2020, Madrid
  53. Mike Watson, PhD in Visual Cultures, Goldsmiths, 2012, OULU
  54. Gema Darbo, Curator, PhD Advanced Practices, Goldsmiths, London
  55. Adeena Mey, MA Aural & Visual Cultures 2008, Editor & Research Fellow, Afterall, CSM, UAL, London
  56. Amal Khalaf, Curator / Director, Cubitt Artists / Sharjah Art Foundation, London
  57. Didem pekun, PhD in Visual Cultures, 2016, Istanbul Berlin
  58. Rayya Badran, Writer, MA Aural and Visual Cultures 2008, Beirut
  59. Juliana Mainard-Sardon, Research Fellow, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham
  60. Margit Neuhold, MA Contemporary Art Theory, 2009., Writer and Lecturer, Graz
  61. Flora Dunster, MA Contemporary Art Theory 2014, Course Leader MA Contemporary Photography, Central Saint Martins, London
  62. Owen Parry, Lecturer Fine Art Critical Studies (PhD in Visual Cultures 2014), Central Saint Martins UAL, London
  63. Sebastian Truskolaski, Lecturer in German Cultural Studies, University of Manchester, (PhD, Vis Cult, 2016)
  64. Lendl Barcelos, MA in Aural & Visual Cultures 2014, Artist, Porto
  65. Leena Robertson, Associate Professor, Middlesex University, London
  66. Waradas Thiyagaraja, Lecturer, University of Bath, Bath
  67. Jenny Doussan, Lecturer, Goldsmiths, London
  68. Alex ressel, PhD student and Goldsmiths visual cultures alumnus 2009, Griffith university, Darwin
  69. Paola Debellis Alvarez, PHD student in Visual Cultures, Goldsmiths, London
  70. Oriana Fox, Visual Cultures PhD 2019, Lecturer, City & Guilds of London Art School, London
  71. Janice Armstrong, Teacher of Art and Design, Shetland Islands Council, Levenwick
  72. Naomi Hennig, PhD student, Department of Visal Cultures, Goldsmiths
  73. Solveig Suess, PhD Candidate, Filmmaker, Basel University, Basel
  74. Irina Botea bucan, faculty, The School of The Art Institute, Chicago
  75. Linda Schilling Cuellar, PhD Student Research Architecture, CRA, Goldsmiths, University of London, London
  76. Amit S. Rai, Lecturer, Queen Mary University of London, London
  77. Georgia Perkins, PhD, Visual Cultures at Goldsmiths University of London
  78. Mercedes Fernandez, Goldsmiths Graduate School Fellow, London
  79. Madeleine Collie, Teaching Associate, Monash University, Elwood
  80. John Russell, Head of Department, School of Art, University of Reading, Reading
  81. Florencia Portocarrero MA Contemporary Art Theory Goldsmiths (2014-2015), Curator, Independent, Lima
  82. Rosy Martin, Artist, London
  83. Esther Siddiquie, PhD Student, Advanced Practices Goldsmiths, London
  84. Alison Moloney, PhD student, Advanced Practices Goldsmiths, London
  85. Charles Esche, Professor and Museum director, Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven
  86. Borbala Soos, Curator, Stanley Picker Gallery, London
  87. virginia lazaro villa, PhD Student, Goldsmiths University, London
  88. Ruth Lipschitz, Lecturer, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg
  89. Flora Brown, Goldsmiths Student
  90. Jeremi Glazewski, Student in Visual Cultures, Goldsmiths, University of London, London
  91. Chris Fremantle, Research Fellow, Ayr
  92. Heidi Rustgaard, MRes Advanced Practises 2023, Choreographer, curator & lecturer, H2DANCE, Fest en Fest & Trinity Laban, London
  93. Alena Kavka, MA student in Contemporary Art Theory, Goldsmiths University, London
  94. Dr Claire M. Holdsworth, Writer, curator, archivist, lecturer, Central Saint Martins, UAL, London
  95. Agata Hosnova, Curator, graduate of BA Curating, Berlinskej model Gallery/Academy of Arts, Architecture, Design, Prague
  96. Clare Pritchard, Lecturer, Cardiff
  97. Kate Burgess, MA Student and Public Librarian, Goldsmiths and Lewisham Council, London
  98. J. Mark Bishop, Retired Professor, Ex-Goldsmiths, London
  99. Tomas Percival, PhD Research Architecture, Goldsmiths, University of London, London
  100. Dont Rhine, Artist, Los Angeles
  101. Carô Gervay, Artist, London
  102. Ciaran Maunder, Student, Goldsmiths, London
  103. Natasha Adey, MA CAT, Goldsmiths UoL, London
  104. Gabrielle Decamous, Associate Professor, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
  105. jurga daubaraite, curator/tutor, Dutch Art Institute, Neringa Forest Architecture, Vilnius
  106. Gerald Nestler, Artist and Researcher, Vienna
  107. Tony Cokes, Artist, Professor, Modern Culture and Media Department, Brown University, Providence
  108. George Kalivis, PhD Candidate, Goldsmiths, University of London, London
  109. Ariel Zhang, Student, Goldsmiths, London
  110. Yuhang Zhang, PhD Student, Goldsmiths, London
  111. Faiza A Khan, Filmmaker, India
  112. Joselyne Contreras, Curador and Lecturer, UDP, Santiago, Chile
  113. Maria Taniguchi, artist, Manila
  114. Jazmin Hall, Student, Leeds Beckett University, Keighley
  115. Paola Bascon, Student MA Art&Ecology, Goldsmiths, London
  116. Leire Vergara, Curator, Bulegoa z/b, Bilbao
  117. Shivanjani Lal, Artist, MA Artist Film and Moving Image, Lidcombe
  118. Chiara Haefliger, Student, Visual Cultures, Goldsmiths College, London
  119. sirun chen, teacher, OAOA ART, Chengdu
  120. Emre Ataman, Student, Goldsmiths University, London
  121. Hollis McConkey, Student, Visual Cultures, Goldsmiths College, London
  122. Hanna Rullmann, filmmaker, designer, MA Research Architecture 2018
  123. Jiatong Yuan, Student, Arr and Ecology, London
  124. Andrea Mason, artist, UAL, London
  125. Raphaël Grisey, Artist and researcher, Berlin
  126. sarah koekkoek, student, London
  127. Vinati Sehgal, Visual Artist, PhD Advanced Practices, Goldsmiths, Delhi
  128. Maddy Ginger, student, Goldsmiths, London
  129. Ieesha Barnett, Marketing executive, MAIDSTONE
  130. Gillian Robin, Masters Student: Department of Visual Cultures, Goldsmiths, University of London, London
  131. Ryann Donnelly, Goldsmiths Visual Cultures PhD, 2017, Lecturer, Art History, University of Sussex, Brighton
  132. Clara Christiansen, Student, Visual Cultures, Goldsmiths, London
  133. Emily Gibbons-Filippini, MA Contemporary Art Theory, Goldsmiths, London
  134. Lisa Skuret, MA Contemporary Art Theory 2009, Artist Researcher & Writer, London
  135. rachael finney, Course Leader and Senior Lecturer, MA Music Production, University of the Arts London, London
  136. Lucy A. Sames, Curator, Lecturer and Visual Cultures graduate 2011
  137. Abelone Jochumsen, Head of Comics, Egmont Creative Solutions, Copenhagen
  138. Stu Hansom, Designer, NHS/freelance researcher, Leeds/London
  139. Janice Cheddie, Researcher Translating the Image: Cross Cultural Contemporary Arts, Visual Cultures 2000-2005, Independent scholar, London
  140. Ellen Feiss, Assistant Professor, Providence College, Providence RI
  141. Divya Kishore, Student, London
  142. Marianna Tsionki, Associate Professor, Leeds Arts University
  143. Denise Ferreira da Silva, Professor, New York University, New York
  144. Helen Brewer, PhD graduate, Centre for Research Architecture, Goldsmiths, London
  145. Amy Jones, Curator, Wysing Arts Centrr, Cambridge
  146. Subhasree Biswas, København Nv
  147. Paolo Plotegher, Art Psychotherapist, Queen Margaret University, Glasgow
  148. Stephanie Post, MA CAT 2010, Director, Office for Contemporary Art Aotearoa, Auckland
  149. Jesper Christiansen, Founder, Christiansen & Co, København Ø
  150. Tara Plath, MA Research Architecture 2019, PhD student, University of California, Santa Barbara
  151. Christine Tohme, Curator, Ashkal Alwan, Lebanon
  152. Celia Jameson, Teacher, jameson.celia@gmail.com, London
  153. Zoe Keller, PhD student 1st year, Goldsmiths, A/P visual cultures, University of London
  154. Ross Hammond, Artist, London
  155. David Ferrando Giraut, Time-based Media Tutor, Goldsmiths, London
  156. Célia Hay, Artist, London
  157. Catherine Yass, Artist, London
  158. Warren Harper, Graduate School Fellow, Goldsmiths, University of London
  159. Asadour santourian, Arts Administrator, Arts Consultant, Ashland
  160. Helen Barff, Artist, London
  161. Azar Mahmoudian, Independent curator and educator, azar.md@gmail.com, Tehran
  162. Joe Burrows, Student, MARA, London
  163. Boris Ondreička, curator, freelance, Bratislava
  164. Ifor Duncan, Lecturer in Research Architecture & Visual Cultures, Goldsmiths, London
  165. Will Aghoghogbe, MA Student in Contemporary Art Theory, Goldsmiths Dept of Visual Cultures, Warwick
  166. Daphne Vitali, Curator, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens (EMST), Athens / Rome
  167. Asli Uludag, PhD student and artist, Goldsmiths, University of London
  168. Gabriella Alberti, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, University of Leeds, Leeds
  169. Valeria Graziano, Lecturer, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen
  170. yathukulan Yogarajah, Lecturer in Anthropology, University College London, London
  171. Aiwen yin, Incoming PhD student, Rotterdam
  172. Weitian Liu, PHD student in Advanced Practices, Goldsmiths, University of London, London
  173. Hang Li, researcher, royal college of art, London
  174. Kika Thorne, Artist, OCAD University, Toronto
  175. Dev Varma, PhD student, Centre for Research Architecture, Goldsmiths, London
  176. Sara Haq, Artist, monkey tree projects, London
  177. Edgar Schmitz, Director Art Research MPhil/ PhD programme, Goldsmiths, PhD in Visual Cultures 2009, London
  178. Grant Watson, Curator, Royal College of Art, London
  179. Stephanie Cubbin, Head of Arts, St Marylebone, london
  180. Carmina Masoliver, Student, Goldsmiths, London
  181. Christopher Atkins, Curator, Sioux City Art Center, Sioux City
  182. Rose-Anne Gush, Assistant Professor, IZK - Institute for Contemporary Art, Graz
  183. Yara Haskiel, artist and rsearcher, Berlin
  184. Catherine Spooner, Student, Goldsmiths University, London
  185. Helena Hunter, Artist, London
  186. Eleanor Higgs, Lecturer, Brunel University, London
  187. Mirene Arsanios, Writer / Professor, NYU, NY
  188. Simon Harvey, Reseacher, letchworth garden city
  189. Roelof Petrus van Wyk, STRATEGIC HEAD, AREA CREATIVE CONSULTING, Cape Town
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