About the Centre for Contemporary Art & Politics

The Centre for Contemporary Art & Politics is a research centre of The University of New South Wales, based at the College of Fine Arts. The Centre was formed in 2003 to promote research by art and cultural theorists, artists and curators into the contribution of visual culture to debates on current political themes and issues.

The global political climate is rapidly changing, shaped by phenomena such as globalism, terrorism, and violence, migration, displacement and postcoloniality. Researchers at the CCAP are investigating cultural responses to each of these issues, identifying in particular the new forms of visual art emerging in this global context. The CCAP encourages research in both the theory and practice of art, and it runs a program of exhibitions, conferences and publications addressing diverse forms of political and social engagement.

The Centre facilitates the formation of research clusters, comprising staff and postgraduate students, and of national and international networks that bring together those working at the cutting edge of art and politics. The CCAP has links with a number of international institutions and its members are currently working on collaborative research projects with scholars in South Africa, China, Germany and the Netherlands.