What is Research Now? presents a full year of programming around interconnected strands that ask us to think more curiously, critically and open-endedly about the role and practice of the arts.  

The theme is led by the question: Can research in the arts enable us to live and better inhabit the world together? It will bring artists, curators, writers, scholars, and thinkers from a range of different backgrounds to think together through lectures, performances, conversations, and hands-on workshops at the Paul Mellon Centre in London.

In July, we will explore three interconnected strands:  

Artists on Research features a series of conversations with artists reflecting on research-based practice.
Seeing in the Dark asks how the acts of seeing and looking must go beyond the visible world as we grapple with our entangled colonial and capitalist presents.  
Artificial Futures is about art and AI in relation to how we work, our relationship with alterable histories and realities, and the ethics (environmental, social, emotional) of our collective artificial futures.

Join us for talks, conversations, and performances by: Ekow Eshun (writer and curator), Shiraz Bayjoo (artist), Alberta Whittle (artist), Sria Chatterjee (Paul Mellon Centre), Grace Ndiritu (artist, filmmaker and writer), Sophia Yadong Hao (Cooper Gallery), Emilija Škarnulytė (artist and filmaker), Anne Barlow (Tate St Ives), Nora Khan (critic, essayist, curator and educator), Nick Mirzoeff (New York University), Ayesha Hameed (Goldsmiths, University of London), Maya Indira Ganesh (University of Cambridge), Sam Lavigne (artist and educator), Wesley Goatley (artist and researcher), Pedro Oliveira (artist and researcher) and Nora Al Badri (artist).   

Programme.

2 July 2025: Artists on Research.
16.00 – 20.45, Paul Mellon Centre and Online.

16.00–16.15 – Welcome and introduction by Sria Chatterjee (Paul Mellon Centre).
16.15–16.50 – Trauma, Land, and Reparations, Shiraz Bayjoo (Multidisciplinary Artist) in conversation with Ekow Eshun (Writer and Curator).

16.50–17.05 – Q&As.

17.05–17.20 – Comfort break.

17.20–17.55 – Feeling the Way (Breaking and Unbreaking Practices in Resistance)”, Alberta Whittle (Multidisciplinary Artist) in conversation Sria Chatterjee (Paul Mellon Centre).

17.55–18.10 – Q&As.

18.10–19.10 – Refreshments  and light dinner provided.

19.10–19.45 – Being Together: A Manual For Living, Grace Ndiritu (Visual Artist, Filmmaker and Writer) in conversation with Sophia Yadong Hao (Cooper Gallery).

19.45–20.00 – Q&As.

20.00–20.45 – Drinks reception.

3 July 2025: Seeing in the Dark.
16.00 – 21.00, Paul Mellon Centre and Online.

16.00–16.05 – Welcome and introduction 16.05–16.40 – Emilija Škarnulytė (Artist and Filmaker) in conversation with Anne Barlow (Tate St Ives).

16.40–16.55 – Q&As.

16.55–17.10 – Comfort break.

17.10–17.55 – On Discernment with Nora Khan (Independent Critic, Essayist, Curator, and Educator).

17.55–18.10 – Q&As.

18.10–19.10 – Refreshments and a light dinner provided.

19.10–19.55 – Autopsy: To See the Self and the Social in the Dark, Nick Mirzoeff (New York University). Respondent: Ayesha Hameed (Goldsmiths, University of London) (In-person only event).

19.55–20.10 – Q&As.

20.10–21.00 – Drinks reception.  

4 July 2025: Artificial Futures.
14.00 – 19.30, Paul Mellon Centre and Online.
 
12.00–13.00 – Generative: Practising Collective Criticism, a writing workshop led by Nora Khan (Independent Critic, Essayist, Curator, and Educator). Separate ticket required (20 people max.).

14.00–14.05 – Welcome and introduction.

14.05–14.50 – The Minor Feelings of AI (A Satire), Maya Indira Ganesh (University of Cambridge).

14.50–15.05 – Q&As.

15.05–15.20 – Comfort break.

15.20–16.05 – Sam Lavigne, title tbc.

16.05–16.20 – Q&As.

16.20–16.50 – Comfort break and refreshments.

16.50–17.35 – Towards Anti-Capitalist AI Art and Post-Abundance Computational Practices, Wesley Goatley (Critical Digital Artist and Researcher). Respondent: Pedro Oliveira (Artist and Researcher).

17.35–17.50 – Q&As.

17.50–18.25 – The Post-Truth Museum, Nora Al Badri (Conceptual Media Artist) in conversation with Maya Indira Ganesh (University of Cambridge).  

18.25–18.40 – Q&As.

18.40–19.30 – Drinks reception.

All day events: 
Drop in to visit: The Horizon, Installation by Wesley Goatley (Critical Artist and Researcher).
What is Research Now? Reading Room: A space to sit, read, reflect, talk.

Book tickets on our website now: https://www.paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk/whats-on/forthcoming/event-category/festival