The ARC is one of our flagship buildings and as the professional home for over 500 colleagues, it is vital that we take a considered approach to curating art in the building.

Sarah Cook, Professor of Museum Studies, curator, and ARC theme lead for Creative Economies and Cultural Transformation, has been developing a research-informed art strategy. Sarah is keen to ensure that the art displayed reinforces to building residents and visitors that the ARC is a vibrant environment, encouraging creativity and collaboration.

In Spring semester 2022, Nan Xia, Masters student in Museum Studies undertook a work placement to look at the most suitable locations within the ARC to display art. Nan also audited works of art displayed across the campus and visited several artists’ studios to identify potential artworks and develop a list of pieces to consider for acquisition.

Professor Cook explains, “The ARC’s spaces have been designed to support our staff and students to be creative, to experiment and to develop new ways of working. Art in the workplace promotes social interaction through initiating conversations about what it is, and these conversations can break up an otherwise stressful work day and promote creative thinking. Working with the Hunterian offers an opportunity for the University to invest in art that will bring the ARC to life.”

Several locations on levels 3 to 5 of the building have been identified and research is underway to determine the ideal conditions for both the works of art and the building’s users. The longer-term aim is to foster relationships with visual artists from Glasgow and further afield around the research happening in the ARC.

First published: 7 October 2022

<< 10 October 2022


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