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A view outside the Palatine Centre

Strengthening our cultural partnerships in the US

30 May 2024
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Delegation at the Smithsonian

We have cemented our developing partnership with the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in North America by signing an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) between Durham University's Centre for Nineteenth-Century Studies and the Museum.

Representatives from our Arts & Humanities, Science, and Social Sciences and Health faculties joined Professors Karen O’Brien, Vice-Chancellor and Warden, and Claire O’Malley, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global) on a delegation to the Museum recently, where they met with Anthea M. Hartig, the Elizabeth MacMillan Director of the National Museum of American History at the signing ceremony.   

Delegation at the Smithsonian2Durham and the Museum have been working together as part of the Centre for Nineteenth-Century Studies International (CNCSI), which was founded at Durham University by Professor Bennett Zon in 2015. This association is the first of its kind, bringing together organisations representing three sectors with academic and heritage-related interests, including universities, professional associations and GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives and museums). This institutional MoU is a result of a relationship between Durham’s INCSA and the Museum. 

 

As a mark of the progress made within the group, the inaugural conference of INCSA will take place at Durham University in July 2024. With over 35 countries represented, the conference will include over 300 papers, panels, lecture recitals, concerts and a nineteenth-century evensong in Durham Cathedral.  

The Centre for Nineteenth-Century Studies 

The Centre for Nineteenth-Century Studies is a locus for research into all aspects of the long nineteenth century (from 1760s to present-day neo-Victorianism), drawing from the widest possible range of disciplines and interdisciplinary approaches. 

The Centre generates new research and collaborative opportunities across the Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences and Sciences, bridging Durham University and regional, national and international research networks and organisations. 

North American partnerships 

This visit was part of a wider trip to North America, which included alumni engagement activity and partnership development in Toronto, New York, Washington DC and Boston. We have long-standing connections in North America.  

At Durham, our academic staff conduct innovative and impactful research to transform lives and make a difference, globally and locally: research to empower and inspire. Collaboration with a broad mix of partners is central to enhancing global knowledge and developing global citizenship. 

A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. We are in the World Top 100 - ranked 78th in the QS World University Rankings 2024. We value international collaboration as central to enhancing global knowledge and developing global citizenship. Our staff and students come from over 120 countries, creating an outward-looking, globally-minded and inclusive University. 

 

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