Art & Reconciliation: Conflict, Culture and Community is a research project that ran from 2017-2023 that investigated the concept and practice of reconciliation and the potential role of arts and artistic practices in reconciliation activities. This interdisciplinary project was a major collaborative effort involving King’s College London (War Studies), the London School of Economics (Government) and the University of the Arts in London (Photography and the Archive Centre, London College of Communication).

Based from 2017-2019 at Photography and the Archive Centre, University of the Arts, London with Professor Paul Lowe and from 2019 at the Department of War Studies, Kings College London with Professor Rachel Kerr my research examined the use of the arts in reconciliation initiatives and the potential of artistic practices to play a role in inter-communal conflict resolution, remembrance, forgetting and forgiving. The research involves the mapping of the contemporary field of arts and reconciliation practices, the design and delivery of a number of project commissions and the developing of evaluative tools and frameworks for arts and reconciliation. Partners include Post Conflict Research Centre and the History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Outputs range from academic publications, a traveling exhibition and films to an evaluation framework and policy briefs.

The research was funded through the Large Grant scheme of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) under the Conflict Theme of the Partnership for Conflict, Crime and Security Research (PaCCS) and through the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) and various follow on and impact grants.