The Tangled Roots of Creative Research and Social Justice. Exploring the Social, Critical and Theoretical Roots of Creative Research Practice, and Disjuncture within Everyday Practice
A BSA Postgraduate Forum Regional Event
3 June 2026 (10.00am-5.00pm BST)
Howard House, University of Bristol, Queen's Avenue, Bristol, City of Bristol, BS8 1SD
About the Event
In alignment with broader sociological scholarship and its forerunners, the roots of creative research method/ologies lie entangled with social justice values and aims. To disrupt hegemonic knowledge and practices, to bring different perspectives, voices, and ways of knowing and thinking into academia. From feminist to decolonial and critical scholars there is a rich lineage of creative theory, practice and scholar activism. This is interwoven with creative interventions across the community and art spheres from socially engaged practice to ‘artivism’, and cross-pollinated through transdisciplinary collaborations between scholars and artists.
Creative research method/ologies have gained popularity across disciplines. But what roots are our/these creative method practices grounded in? (i.e. cultural, social, critical and/or theoretical). What connection to their roots remain as the tide swells? What creative or destabilising points of disjuncture are occurring? Are there risks to be addressed? What does this mean for their emancipatory potential?
This one-day event will be a transdisciplinary collective inquiry aiming to bring together scholars, artists and community practitioners using creative methods to forward social justice aims within and beyond sociology. We invite you to come, think, discuss and create with us to explore the themes at hand.
We are inviting contributions as a mix of short presentations/ provocations, interactive activities, and exhibits or posters. The exact agenda will be linked here once finalised. We aim to capture the learning from the session into a public output and will invite attendees to co-create this with us.
Registration
This event is free to attend but registration is required.