I have been visiting Venice for decades, and perhaps inevitably it has accumulated stories. I have been thinking a lot recently about accumulation,...
Writing
Life as an Accumlator
Black jackets from Yohji Yamamoto, certainly. And I could probably always find room for another pair of Margiela tabi shoes. But looking back, the things I...
The Dark Beauty of Venice
I have been visiting Venice for decades, and perhaps inevitably it has accumulated stories. I have been thinking a lot recently about accumulation, about the...
Writing Forward
Picasso: “Le Journal” (1955) One of the challenges I need to consider in developing my writing is how to reveal more about myself and tell more...
Why do we make?
“History has remembered the kings and warriors, because they destroyed; art has remembered the people because they created.”William Morris Chair from Perch,...
Cleaning and leadership
A few weeks ago, I wrote a piece about how several women from history and mythology have inspired how I think about leadership. This time I want to write...
Beyond Bedlam: Richard Dadd, Creativity and the Power of Nature
As Chair of Maudsley Charity, I was invited to the Royal Academy’s exhibition ‘Beyond Bedlam’, exploring the life and work of Richard Dadd. Best known today...
The only way out is through
This thought has been milling around in my mind for some time now. What resonates with me is how it illustrates the way we make change, how we continue to...
Two remarkable women, two very different exhibitions
Reflections on exhibitions celebrating Elsa Schiaparelli and Leonora Carrington, and what they reveal about creativity, reinvention and artistic legacy. Last...
Courage and pragmatism: keeping EDI at the heart of the university
On Wednesday 25 March, I was pleased to take part in a panel on Courage and Pragmatism at the Advance HE Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Conference. Chaired...
“Longevity of vision is what we need.”
Visiting Paris Fashion Week for the first time for a couple of years gave me a chance to reflect on where I think the industry is. It’s made me consider...
International Women’s Day – Madame Gres
In the run up to International Women’s Day I’ve been thinking about those women who have achieved much not just in their chosen field, but who have also...
Genuinely novel: 10 years of the Goldsmiths Prize
The Goldsmiths Prize is now in its tenth year, and on the occasion of the awards ceremony last week, I was prompted to reflect on the Prize itself, and what...
Towards a more creative society
Creativity is at the heart of all we do at Goldsmiths: in the students who come to learn here and the ways we teach them; in our research agendas and...
Seeking answers to today’s big questions
The start of a new academic year has always brought the anticipation of the new as well as some familiar rhythms: it is a moment of renewal and...
Exploring a long term plan for education
Earlier this month I attended a roundtable event on long-term education organised by Universities UK (UUK) and the Foundation for Education Development (FED)....
Lewisham is London Borough of Culture
Today, Friday 28 January, sees the long-awaited start of Lewisham’s year as London Borough of Culture. There will be celebrations across the borough, from...
On the level: what Civic Engagement must now do for London
This post first appeared on the HEPI blog on Friday 15 October 2021. London is in the firing line these days. At the Conservative Party Conference in October,...
Inspire Lewisham
Last month saw the announcement of an exciting project to support young people into employment in Lewisham. Inspire...
Goldsmiths degree shows 2021
The creativity of our student community has shone through in another year of outstanding Degree Shows at Goldsmiths. With the reduced restrictions this...
For London to truly tackle climate change, we can’t forget our universities
This blog post was first published on the HEPI blog on Friday 2 July 2021. In the run up to November’s postponed COP26, the conversation around climate change...
The business world needs the arts and humanities
Amid government talk of ‘low value’ university courses, you could be forgiven for thinking our economy doesn’t need the arts and humanities. Degrees including...
Rita Keegan: The Hands Series
I wanted to share this thought-provoking piece of work by Black American artist Rita Keegan - the third piece from the Women’s Art Library to be installed on...
Thinking local and global on Earth Day
Today is Earth Day, the annual event uniting people and leaders across the world to take action to protect our planet. This year’s ‘Restore our Earth’ theme...