The School welcomes a new Senior Visiting Research Fellow

Dr Nima Poovaya-Smith, the founder of cultural agency Alchemy, is joining the Centre for Critical Studies in Museums, Galleries and Heritage as a Senior Visiting Research Fellow.

Founded ten years ago, Alchemy connects people through the arts by challenging perceptions, opening doors to new ideas and ways of thinking through shared cultural experiences.

Nima Poovaya-Smith has written and curated on a wide range of subjects including contemporary art, Indian jewellery and textiles. Recent examples include Loretta Braganza: Clay Journeys (2015) and Silk: Bradford and the Subcontinent (2012). Nima has developed the concept of 'confluence' to explore the accounts of diasporic communities today as a way of engaging with postcolonial histories and the lived complexity of inter-cultural and trans-local flows of people, fictions, artistic practice and ideas.

Nima is joining the Centre and the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies to work specifically on developing the Alchemy Book Collection, to be hosted at The Leeds Library. This collection has a focus on publications relating to South Asian, African and Caribbean historical and contemporary arts and culture. Part of the wider project to support the Alchemy Book Collection will be a strand of working developing histories of curation associated with transcultural arts in the UK.

Helen Graham, Director for the Centre of Critical Studies in Museums, Galleries and Heritage, said:

'We are thrilled to have Nima join us in the School and Centre. Personally speaking, I have long been inspired by Nima's work since I first saw her speak in 2008 about the Connect galleries at Cartwright Hall. We are really excited to play a role in the crucial and timely project to develop histories of South Asian Arts in the UK, and to play a part in the Alchemy Book Collection project. Over the past two years, Nima has run fantastic sessions for our MA students and we look forward to developing our collaboration across research and teaching.'

Nima Poovaya-Smith said:

'It is wonderful to be part of a department with such a dynamic research and teaching culture. I have always been impressed by the range of research interests within the School and the un-stuffiness, creativity and intellectual generosity they embody. I am greatly looking forward to my interactions with the students and wider School community.'

Image credits from left:
Victoria Gowramma, 2014 by Jayashree Pathak ©Artist and Private Collection
Twelve Apostles, (Detail) 2015 by Loretta Braganza ©Artist
Huma, 2012 by William Dawson ©Artist and Private Collection