The Invisible College

Kilmahew / St Peters

Ongoing

First referenced in the 17th century by the natural philosopher and scientist Robert Boyle, the concept of The Invisible College was initiated by a group of intellectuals dedicated to furthering knowledge through experimental investigation. It was described as an “institution without walls” with no fixed home or declared identity.

Nearly four centuries later, the idea of the college will be given a new twist with the formation of a research network that will connect academics, educationalists, contemporary artists and a wide range of individuals. It will use the woodlands and the partially ruined form of St Peter’s Seminary as a new centre of learning that is fluid and adaptive in its structure and programme. Live research will be led by different arts & humanities disciplines each year including geography, history, social anthropology, environmental art, landscape architecture, architecture and philosophy.

The Invisible College will create an inspiring programme of seminars, talks, research projects, debates and creative commissions. Operating as a flexible learning system, it will build creative connections between diverse communities (academic, artistic, local, national and international). Breaking away from traditional higher education models, research will be undertaken with individuals from the across the academic spectrum, from professorial academics to local primary school children.

Each summer the public will be able to take part in cultural activities that bring the previous season’s research to life through events, installations, performance, concerts, exhibitions and publications. The Invisible College will open its findings to a wide audience, demystifying the academic world and revealing dynamic new thinking that refreshes our understanding of and insight into the world around us.

2012 Research programme

This year’s research programme is built around three themed research workshops. Each workshop will culminate in an open public talk which will share the research findings so far and have invited guest speakers relevant to the theme vbeing explored. Integral to the programme will be the online community, formed organically by written and visual research and reflections from each workshop and made freely available to all.

Public Talk 1: Site Mapping. Friday 23 March 2012

Public Talk 2: Routes to Site. Saturday 9 June 2012

Public Talk 3: tbc. Saturday 8 September 2012

Our programme launches on Friday the 23 March with a public talk hosted at Geilston Hall, Cardross, focusing on different elements from the site of Kilmahew Woodlands and St Peter’s Seminary. Material will be presented that has been generated by this inaugural research day, along with lively talks by landscape architect Tilman Latz (co- creator of Duisberg Nord, Germany) and Tim Edensor (academic and a great writer on modern ruins). Refreshments will be served and there will be time to chat and find out more about the themes and background.

Sponsors