UEA lecturer is Norwich’s first Thinker in Residence
By: Communications
A University of East Anglia (UEA) lecturer has taken up a post with one of Norwich’s most historic organisations as their first ever Thinker in Residence.
Dr Karina Aveyard is spending six months with Norfolk & Norwich Festival at their home, the Guildhall - a Grade 1 listed building which has served as the city’s jail, magistrates court, a civic hall, and more recently the Caley’s cafe and an escape room.
And it is as part of this year’s festival that Dr Aveyard will consider how culture can better connect with communities across the region - culminating with a special event at Norwich Castle in May.
It is hoped that the new scheme, which has been funded by the Festival, will draw on the city’s rich history and strong tradition of fresh, original ideas.
Dr Aveyard, from UEA’s School of Media, Language and Communication Studies, said: “The new Thinker in Residence programme is an exciting opportunity to help shape future cultural events - so that they better reflect local needs across local neighbourhoods, schools and youth programmes.
“This residency is a unique chance for me to connect academic insight with public cultural and creative engagement.
“It opens up space for dialogue and exchange that can genuinely enrich the region’s cultural landscape.”
Daniel Brine, Chief Executive and Artistic Director at Norfolk & Norwich Festival, said: “We want to make sure that the festival is responsive, inclusive and closely connected to what local people want and need.
“That knowledge is invaluable as we continue developing programmes that amplify local voices and celebrate the cultural richness of our region.”
Dr Aveyard’s residency will culminate in a public event as part of this year’s Festival, which runs from 8 - 24 May.
The event, Culture, the Environment and Social Transformation, takes place on Thursday 21 May at Norwich Castle.
This unique evening will combine a public lecture delivered by former Director of the Tate Modern, Frances Morris CBE, with a first public reading of original poetry by an emerging Norfolk writer and a short film produced by Dr Aveyard using footage from the East Anglian Film Archive.
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