Aims and Goals

The aim of the project was to form new partnerships with science, electrical engineering and the humanities using optical imaging and hyperspectral imaging to interpret and reinterpret the work of the visual artist, the late Steven Campbell.

Steven Campbell demonstrated visionary intellect using references and motifs from literature, theatre, music, dance, psychology, sociology, archaeology, with his canvasses emerging from that interdisciplinary journey.

Engaging with interdisciplinary activities has been at the heart of this MUSE project for three years, involving staff (university and school) and young people (2^nd year and 3^rd year pupils) from the disciplines of science, drama, art & design, music, dance, photography and film. 

Developing Skills

Year One

Workshops using drama conventions, music, art & design and a range of online sources were developed, during which pupils considered the nature of inspiration, both in terms of what inspired them and who or what has inspired artists they admire. They created a repository of information and ideas then created a timeline collage that identified significant artists from theatre, music, dance, film and visual art who had an impact on them individually and as a group. 

The collage became the stimulus for the creation of an original piece of music and in turn the music was used as the inspiration for a dance performance.  Sixth year pupils keen to be involved created a film used as the backdrop for the dance and music performance.

Year Two

During the 2^nd year of the project the young people focussed on the work of Steven Campbell. They created a piece of contemporary dance highlighting Campbell’s artistic and personal journey and prepared a presentation and short lecture, which included examples of creative writing from pupils who were in their 2^nd year. These pupils were introduced to the term Ekphrasis where they used the stimulus of one of Campbell’s large canvasses, T’was Once and Architect’s Office in Wee Nook, producing poetry and short stories, two of which were read to the audiences who attended the performances. These creative writing pieces have recently been approved by the board of directors of The Steven Campbell Trust and will be placed on the Trust website.

Year Three

Aleatoric Music (2016) – One of the music staff took the lead on this project with pupils exploring the work of such composers as John Cage. The lead staff member in the Dance School of Scotland incorporated the work of the choreographer Michael Clarke with the art & design staff, supported by Marion Sheridan from the University, explored the performative visual art work of Allan Kaprow.

Project Outcomes

The project has had significant impact in different areas; teachers thought it was particularly useful in terms of exposing the young people to university and to research:

The project has allowed pupils an insight into the University environment and to present alongside students. This has given the young people from our school a real opportunity to show that they could do well at university. The first year of the project was very focused on the pupils developing their skills in how to research and also how to present it. The project has definitely raised aspirations. A lot of our young people had never thought about the possibility of university and this has given them a real opportunity to see what university level research is like. The project has allowed an opportunity for leadership of a project and the school has gained a strong partnership with the university.

Communication with School staff