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DURA Launch Success

DURA, the new online arts review magazine, was launched at the English postgraduate party on Wednesday 19 September.

The launch was attended by the Principal, Professor Pete Downes, who spoke in favour of ventures such as DURA that involved collaboration across different disciplines, and actively sought to engage with partnerships within and beyond the University. Professor Downes emphasised the need for Universities to be outward facing, and for their work to make an impact on the wider world.

Professor Downes
Professor Downes speaking at the DURA launch
Dr Gail Low
Dr Gail Low introducing DURA

In introducing DURA, Dr Gail Low said, "The idea for Dundee Review of the Arts emerged from a conversation that took place at a seminar on independent publishing last summer when publishers were complaining about how difficult it was to keep afloat and to find audiences for their books." After listening to publishers, writers, book promoters, readers, educationalists, arts council staff and librarians discuss what was required to create a thriving book culture, she had an idea that Universities could do more to help. That idea of creating a book review magazine also grew to embrace other art forms.  Dr Low said "DURA is a response to the exhortation to keep reading, teaching and talking about the arts. DURA is keen to promote the diversity of artists and art forms, and to support independent film and independent publishing as well as local and regional arts and institutions."

Members of the DURA editorial collective, Gordon Spark, Eddie Small and Louisa Cross, and website designers, Sian MacFarlane and Andrew Smith were also in attendance.

The first issue of DURA contains reviews of summer exhibitions at the DCA (Dundee Contemporary Arts), Dundee Rep’s "The Mill Lavvies" and "SheTown", films screened at the DCA and books by independent publishers such as flipped eye publishing, Waterloo Press, Polygon, Peepal Tree Press and Faber. An interview with well-known Egyptian writer, Ahdaf Soueif also features.

DURA can be viewed online at www.dura-dundee.org.uk.

DURA's editorial team are drawn from staff and students. Any student or staff at the University with a passion for the arts and a desire to write can contact submissions@dura-dundee.org.uk if they want to be considered as a reviewer.


Dr Aliki Varvogli
Dr Aliki Varvogli introducing the English postgraduate programmes
Original art work by Sian MacFarlane
Original art work by Sian MacFarlane for the DURA website
At the Launch
Background: Alice Black, Head of Film at the DCA speaking with
Creative Writing Lecturer, Dr Jim Stewart; foreground:
Jane Prior (staff) and Luke Brady (English postgraduate)
Professor Peter Downes with English programme convenor
Professor Peter Downes with English programme convenor,
Dr Chris Murray, Creative Writing Lecturer, Dr Jim Stewart
and Art and Contemporary Practice final year student, Daniel Shay
Staff and Students at the English postgraduate party
Staff and students at the English postgraduate party and
DURA launch
DURA editors Dr Gordon Spark and Eddie Small
DURA editors Dr Gordon Spark and Eddie Small sharing a joke
with Humanities postgraduate officer,  Daria Wall
Dr Gail Low speaking with contributors
Dr Gail Low speaking with contributors to the inaugural online
issue of DURA, Sharifa Alamri and Eddie Small and a current
postgraduate English student Zahra Alamri
Postgraduate DURA reviewer Golda Walker
Postgraduate DURA reviewer Golda Walker with staff and
students at the launch party

Photographs: © Sian MacFarlane

 

Posted: 25 September 2012

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