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The case study focuses on exhibitions and artistic collaborations undertaken by the Centre for the Study of Surrealism and its Legacies. It demonstrates an impact on cultural life arising from the presentation of cultural heritage, as well as influence on creative practice. The exhibitions, co-curated by David Lomas (Centre Director), drew upon the Centre's academic research to enrich public understanding of surrealist art and ideas. Both exhibitions exceeded their attendance targets and elicited a strongly positive public reaction; they have also had a lasting impact on the galleries' approach to exhibition making. Collaboration generated new ideas and directions for the artists concerned.
The case study discusses the impact of Dr Patricia Allmer's major exhibition and catalogue project Angels of Anarchy: Women Artists and Surrealism held at Manchester Art Gallery between September 2009 and January 2010. The exhibition had a significant social, cultural and economic impact attracting over 9,600 visitors and winning awards for being Manchester's "tourism experience of the year" (described as "one of the most successful cultural tourist campaigns that Manchester has ever run" by Renaissance Northwest). A full programme of events ran alongside the exhibition including schools' workshops, short courses, cinema screenings and the development of a significant online resource all of which has contributed to a re-examination of the place of women artists in the Surrealist canon.
Ramona Fotiade helped shape an exhibition on Surrealism that attracted 42,500 visitors to the Barbican Centre, London, and secured extensive positive media coverage. Fotiade was one of four high-profile international special advisors contributing to The Surreal House exhibition, which ran from June to September 2010 at the Barbican, Europe's largest multi-arts centre. Fotiade contributed four essays — Antonio Gaudi, Le Facteur Cheval, the Villa Malaparte, Maya Deren and Andrei Tarkovsky — on the interaction between Surrealism and visual arts to the exhibition catalogue, which sold more than 5,000 copies, and she curated the exhibition's film programme which was judged "central to the success of the exhibition" by the Barbican's senior curator. Fotiade's contribution enhanced public engagement with the avant-garde, enriching the experience of visitors to the gallery.
Art history at Essex has a long tradition of research in Latin American art. Since 1993 this research activity has included academic publications, exhibition curating and catalogue production, and the development of the Essex Collection of Latin American Art (ESCALA). This research has informed the work that Essex art historians have undertaken to raise the profile of the history of Latin American art. The impact of this research has been achieved through collaboration with major art institutions including Tate and Pinta and through exhibitions of work collected by ESCALA. Through these activities Essex art historians have influenced Tate's collections and exhibitions, introduced Latin American artists to the global art market, and taught regional, national, and international publics about the significance of Latin American art.