The new Washington State University Working Group on Arts & Humanities is bringing together faculty from across the system to enhance research, scholarship, and creative activity.
On April 10, the Working Group on Arts & Humanities will host a Spring Arts and Humanities Showcase from 5–7 p.m. in the Lewis Alumni Center and via Zoom. The event is open to all WSU community members and will highlight the research, scholarship, and creative production of WSU faculty. During the event, students in the Digital Technology and Culture major will show short videos that feature faculty’s community-engaged work. Participants will also be able to watch flash talks by the spring Arts and & Humanities Process Award winners. Refreshments will be provided. RSVP to attend.
“We encourage everyone to attend the showcase. This will be a great opportunity to learn from the work conducted by your colleagues while providing an opportunity for networking with faculty across the system,” said Kim Christen, associate vice president for Research Advancement and Partnerships.
Hosted by the Office of Research, the Working Group on Arts & Humanities has developed several initiatives to encourage multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The working group launched new Arts & Humanities Process Grants this spring to support faculty initiatives and projects with up to $2,500 in funding. The grants are offered twice a year and open to all faculty engaged in work based in the arts and humanities, regardless of track, campus, or unit. The funding is intended to support crucial items, such as materials, printing, tools, software, permissions, services, event support, marketing, participant stipends, and more.
“Today’s greatest challenges are not only scientific and technical but also cultural, social, historical, and artistic,” said Todd Butler, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “These new programs will further WSU’s capacity to sustain creativity and scholarship in the arts and humanities and ensure that expertise supports the communities we serve.”
Recipients of the spring 2024 Process Grant Awards are:
- Peter Christenson, WSU Tri-Cities
Associate professor in the Department of Art
Christenson will work with disabled activists and creatives to produce multimedia artworks and experimental films showcasing the experiences of people with disabilities.
- Jeannie Shinozuka, WSU Pullman
Assistant professor in the School of Languages, Cultures, and Race
Shinozuka will excavate materials at the National Archives of Japan and the National Diet Library in Tokyo to consider the interrelationship of invasive biota and racial formations.
- Kevin Haas, WSU Pullman
Professor in the Department of Art
Haas will research and produce materials and equipment needed for printmaking studios and fabricate a prototype for a screen-printing vacuum table.
“The Office of Research is excited to be able to support the work of our researchers in the arts and humanities. Their research, scholarship, and creative activities will have a lasting impact on society,” said Michael Wolcott, Regents Professor and interim vice president for research at WSU.
Earlier this spring, the working group also hosted a series of interdisciplinary dialogues around a common theme across units. In February, three presenters from different areas briefly shared their approach to research, scholarship, and/or creative activity on the theme “Decay and Resilience.” An informal conversation with audience members about their related work and interests followed the presentation. The second dialogue was held in March and focused on “Borders and Bridges.”
“We are excited to be able to bring researchers together to explore common themes that impact society. We hope these dialogues will inspire our researchers to think about their approach to research, scholarship, and/or creativity activity and may establish networking opportunities that could result in collaboration,” said Christen.
More dialogue events are planned for the fall semester and proposals for the fall process grants are due Sept. 20. For questions about the Arts & Humanities Process Grants, email or.orap.servicedesk@wsu.edu.
