Art, academy and critical heritage
The research team Art, Academy and Critical Heritage connects theory, practice and grass-roots approaches to explore and promote excluded and devalued forms of expression.
Mobilizing activist ideas from Sven Lindqvist’s critical heritage classic Dig Where You Stand (1978, in English 2023), we aim to develop new critical heritage methodologies and change art and heritage historiographies. Bringing together art, research and practice in and beyond the academy we explore downplayed art forms and heritage to enable people to think about themselves, their communities, their environment, their pasts, their aspirations, and their futures in new and transformative ways.
The team is jointly coordinated by Andrew Flinn at UCL and Astrid von Rosen at UGOT. Research contributors include Julianne Nyhan, Alda Terracciano, Susan Croft, Helena Holgersson, and Fia Adler Sandblad. In particular, the team draws on recent theoretical developments within archival science, the arts, critical historiography and digital humanities, DIY cultures, heritage activism, and international networks. Furthering the work conducted within the team’s major research projects, it welcomes new cross-border initiatives.
The theme produces Scenography Journal, Sweden’s first journal on scenographys as art, practice and heritage. https://www.scenography.se/
Journals
Scenography Journal https://www.scenography.se/
Chapters
Astrid von Rosen (2025), “Frying Bacon and Eggs: Scenographic Approaches to Alda Terracciano's Activist and Experimental Performances “ in Women experimenting in theatre : early modern to contemporary / Kate Aughterson, Deborah Philips (eds.).
An Introduction to the Long-awaited English Translation of Dig Where You Stand (2023) in Dig Where You Stand How to Research a Job. Repeater Books. Co-authors Flinn A, von Rosen A
Books
En båge genom tiden - ritualer kring en göteborgshistoria. Om Flickläroverket i Artisten (2024) av Monica Sand, Astrid von Rosen, Ola Sigurdson, Gun Lund, Mats Nilsson, Ulla Eckersjö, Louisa Palmi, Emanuel Cederqvist, Ami Skånberg Dahlstedt, Julya Hedblom, Emma Johanssen et al.
Dig Where You Stand How to Research a Job (2023). Repeater Books. Co-authors Lindqvist S, Flinn A (Editor), von Rosen A (Editor)
Passion och protest: Den svarta danskonstnären Claude Marchants liv och verk (2024). Makadam. Co-authors von Rosen A, Westerholm B.
Podcasts
The Practice of History https://www.historyworkshop.org.uk/podcast/dig-where-you-stand/
Can Workers Take Back The World They Made Under Capitalism?: Dig Where You Stand https://podcasts.apple.com/dk/podcast/can-workers-take-back-the-world-they-made-under/id1610757633?i=1000625143014
Scenografiska köket: https://astridvonrosen.podbean.com/
Events
Atmos & Spharia: Atmosfärer i teori och konstnärlig praktik (samarrangemang med Jonseredsseminariet) https://www.gu.se/evenemang/atmos-spharia-atmosfarer-i-teori-och-konstnarlig-praktik
Research projects
Expansion and Diversity https://www.digarv.se/en/participating-research-projects/expansion-och-mangfald/
AHRC Towards a National Collection (TaNC) Discovery project - The Sloane Lab: Looking back to build future shared collections https://sloanelab.org/
AHRC - DFG funded - MeDoraH: Mixed-methods Digital Oral History: Enfolding semantic web technologies and historical-interpretative analysis https://www.ucl.ac.uk/information-studies/news/2023/dec/medorah-multidisciplinary-project-introducing-digital-turn-oral-history-research
Contacts
Dr Andrew Flinn , a.flinn@ucl.ac.uk
Reader in Archival Studies & Oral History, Vice Dean for Postgraduate Research and Faculty Graduate Tutor, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Department of Information Studies, UCL
Dr Astrid von Rosen, astrid.von.rosen@arthist.gu.se
Professor, Art history and Visual Studies, Director Centre for Critical Heritage Studies, UGOT, Department of Cultural Sciences, University of Gothenburg
