Gregory Sporton MA PhD

 

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Sporton on the Moskva River

Director, Visualisation Research Unit
School of Art
Birmingham Institute of Art & Design
Birmingham City University
Margaret Street
Birmingham B3 3BX

+44 (0)121 3315978
gregory.sporton@bcu.ac.uk
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Currently… Previously… Training & Education Gallery Research & Publications

Currently...-----------------------------Top  

Since January 2004: Director, Visualisation Research Unit, School of Art, Birmingham Institute of Art & Design, Birmingham City University.

My work as Director of the VRU involves the support and application of new technologies in the visual and performing arts. During my period as founding Director, I have been responsible for the development of research facilities, research staff, securing funding and linking the work of the VRU to the University’s research strategy, as well as pursuing my own research interests. Included in this has been the development of the MA Digital Arts in Performance , a programme that has attracted UK and international students.




In 2008, as part of a collaboration with the Arts Council, I became Chair of STATE, now an RFO of the Arts Council. STATE operates the acclaimed Eastside Projects gallery space and the VRUdio, an HD video, animation and sound facility designed to provide research infrastructure for local arts companies as well as commercial hire, on behalf of BCU. It is one only a handful of HEI/Arts Council England jointly funded permanent projects.

With my research assistant Jonathan Green, I have been securing a patent for a motion capture/HCI device, MotivePro that is shortly to be completed, with grants from the regional development agency to acquire the patent and to exploit the opportunities in the arts, health and technology sectors for its application.

My research publications are based around my work with the VRU, but also include articles about dance, a subject to which I invariably find myself returning given my background, and I still occasionally perform, though usually now in relation to VRU research.


Institutional Roles and External Responsibilities.

Chair of COSMOS COSMOS is the group planning and coordinating the use of space within the School of Art at its Margaret Street and Bournville sites.

Course Director, MA Digital Arts in Performance.Collaborative programme with the Birmingham Conservatoire in the application of digital technologies in performance contexts.

Nominated Member, BCU Research Strategy and Policy Committee, which deals with the University’s overall Research Strategy towards improving its research profile.

Background to Current Post Recruited to University of Central England (now BCU) in 2002 as Head of School, Performance & Moving Image, Department of Visual Communications, Birmingham Institute of Art & Design. This School included Theatre Design, Moving Image & Multimedia Design, as well as MA Scenography. During four years in the Visual Communications Department my role was regularly extended to include areas like research, quality assurance, new course development and overseas course development.

2009-Present, External Examiner, MA Digital Culture and Technology, Kings College London.
2009-Present, External Examiner, BA (Hons) Multimedia Design, Nottingham Trent University.
2007- Selected as Innovation Mentor, Service by Design Project, BCU
2006-present, Member of the Management Team, Department of Art, BIAD
2004-2007, Consultant, Animazoo Motion Capture, on development of new products, corporate spokesman and accessing new markets.
2003- 2007, Board Member, VIVID, Birmingham, representing commercial development opportunities in the Arts sector.
1993-2000 Birmingham Royal Ballet, Education Advisory Committee.

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Previous Employment -----------------------Top  


1999–2001 Head of Research & Graduate Studies, Laban Centre London I oversaw the reform and redevelopment of the Graduate School, to focus on new institutional priorities determined by a new building programme. This meant a thorough review and reorientation of the provision with a practical focus, where I successfully validated M level programmes in Choreography, Performance and Dance Science, the latter two the first of their type in the UK, that have proven very durable. During this period I also rationalised and revalidated its Research Degrees programme, creating the platform for many students to go on to practice-led research degrees. I have fairly extensive experience of PhD supervision, including contributions to health science-based doctorates.


with Suzanne Adair at Human Veins Dance Theatre


1996-1999 Dance Studies Subject Leader University of Wolverhampton. Founded the Dance Studies department and developed to a full honours programme, attracting 90 students per year. Seconded onto the Steering Group for the development of a new faculty for the University, now the very successful School of Sports, Performing Arts and Leisure (SPAL), and acted as its Associate Dean during the period of selecting and appointing an inaugural Dean. This included negotiating demerger of subject areas, staff and students from existing structures, the establishment of a management team, chairing Quality Assurance Committee, and developing new programmes for the new School.

1992-1995 Lecturer in Dance, Coventry Centre for the Performing Arts, Coventry, U.K., entry level position teaching dance technique, choreography, community dance and anatomy.

1985-1994 Professional dance career performing with companies and in independent projects across a large variety of forms and contexts. Work included spells with English National Opera, Nexus Dance Company, Human Veins Dance Theatre, Het Muziektheater, Opera Restor’d, Small Axe Dance Company and more.

Training & Education -------------------------------Top  

PhD University of Sheffield 1999
MA Arts Education & Cultural Studies, University of Warwick 1996
BA (Dance), Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne, Australia 1985
Medici Fellow, Creating Enterprise in Universities 2004-05
Diploma in Russian Language, Moscow State University 2006

Arts & Business Creative Training & Development Programme, 2006.
Prince 2 Project Management Foundation Level, 2008.

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