University of Glasgow

Instituting the Radical and Radicalising the Institution: Performance Producing Collectives in times of Austerity

Research Interests

Live Art, collectives, collaboration, queer theory & performance, socially engaged practices, austerity politics and economics, labour, artistic production, networks, autonomous organisation and pedagogy, performance festivals, neoliberalism, cultural policy, and democracy.

My research explores performance collectives and cooperative arts practice, largely in the field of UK based Live Art, in the context of austerity politics and neoliberal capitalism. Collective and cooperative work in the arts is made more difficult by the precarious working conditions and competition for resources ushered in by neoliberalism and intensified by austerity politics. At the same time, collective work can help spread risk, share opportunities, and allow artists to become more supported and resilient. I am interested in radical practices and organisational structures which resist market logic and processes, and prefigure alternative models for performing, working and being together.

My research will begin by considering the history of performance collectives in the UK, before going on to consider the more recent histories and practices of key contemporary collectives, radical organisations and festivals. My research will end with an in-depth study of the impacts of these collectives, and suggestions for their future support.

Academic History:

Present: PhD Theatre Studies, University of Glasgow

September 2014 - September 2015: MA Performance and Culture: Interdisciplinary Perspectives, Goldsmiths College, University of London

September 2007 - July 2010: BA (Hons) English Studies, University of Nottingham

Supervisors:

Dr Stephen Greer

Professor Deirdre Heddon

Research Interests:

• Live art
• Collectives
• Collaboration
• Queer theory and performance
• Socially engaged practices
• Austerity politics and economics
• Labour
• Artistic production
• Networks
• Autonomous organisation and pedagogy
• Performance festivals
• Neoliberalism
• Cultural policy
• Democracy

Previous Research Projects:

Queer Futurity in Times of Straight Austerity: Finding hope in the disappearing queer performance spaces of London (MA Dissertation)

Scholarships:

AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership Scotland Studentship

Awards:

Producer Development Bursary: Chisenhale Dance Space

Contact Details:

Address: College of Arts Graduate School: Theatre Studies, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ

Email: s.holton.1@research.gla.ac.uk

First published: 25 September 2017