Centre for Studies in Arts and Culture
Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts
The Research Centre in Interdisciplinary Arts and Creative Culture facilitated the implementation of interdisciplinary methodologies in cooperative projects in the creative arts by establishing networks of researchers and creators across faculties at Brock and beyond the University.
In this context, creative arts covered a broad range of expressions, including but not limited to visual arts and culture, dramatic arts, music and the culture of noise, literary and creative writing (in English, French or other languages), creative translation and narrative, book and graphic design, cultural heritage and curating, photography across the disciplines, etc.
Fostering book culture, the Research Centre explored the relationships of text and image, form and content. In examining the concept of the book and its many formats, be they printed or digital, illustrated, bound or loose leaf, participatory, spoken word or animated, the Research Centre in Interdisciplinary Arts and Creative Culture also aimed to disseminate outstanding projects thanks to publications by the Small Walker Press, members’ symposia, local outreach events (workshops, exhibitions, book launches, talks, creative events, etc.) as well as various multimodal activities (digital, visual, interactive, etc.) which the Centre affiliates may have wished to explore.
As part of the Centre for Studies in Arts and Culture, the Research Centre in Interdisciplinary Arts and Creative Culture benefited from the rich tradition of interdisciplinary practice and experience of this teaching centre. The Small Walker Press, which is still functional, served the Research Centre and offered the possibility of publishing the best and most innovative projects with the assistance of experts in book publishing. Interdisciplinary work across disciplines in the humanities and beyond are fostered through shared ideas that resound most practically in the relationship between text and image.
All Research Centre works and creations will be archived on the university’s Library site. Details will be posted on this page once available.
The Small Walker Press is still functional.
The Small Walker Press addresses the research and creative interests of faculty members at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts at Brock University, and engages with authors, artists and academics alike to produce small, innovative publications. The Editors and Managers of the Small Walker Press shall consider all projects submitted and enjoy full independence in decisions related to the press.
Some examples:
Derek Knight: PLACES
Toronto Walk Project 1
Geoff Farnsworth: Blurs and Vagueness
LIST OF AFFILIATES (until Spring 2026)
Natalee Caple / English Language and Literature
Alexander Christie / Department of Digital Humanities, Interactive Arts and Science
Adam Dickinson / English Language and Literature
Geoff Farnsworth, Independent artist
Tamara El-Hoss, French Studies, Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures
Julie Gemuend, Graduate Student
Nicholas Hauck / French Studies, Modern Languages, Literatures and Culture
Derek Knight / Visual Arts
Erin Knight, Independent author
Peter Landey / Music
Troy Ouellette / Visual Arts
Catherine Parayre / Studies in Arts and Culture, French Studies, Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Comparative Literatures and Arts
Jennifer Roberts-Smith / Dramatic Arts
Shawn Serfas / Visual Arts, University of British Columbia
Donna Szőke / Visual Arts
David Vivian / Dramatic Arts
Kari-Lynn Winters / Educational Studies
DIRECTOR (2019-Spring 2026)
Catherine Parayre
ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS
Troy Ouellette (2025-Spring 2026)
Nicholas Hauck (2022-2025)
Derek Knight (2019-2022)
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (2019-Spring 2026)
Adam Dickinson
Nicholas Hauck
Derek Knight
Catherine Parayre
Shawn Serfas
David Vivian
ADVISORY COMMITTEE (2020-2025)
Marcie Bronson / Independent Curator
Bernhard Cella, Salon für Kunstbuch, Vienna, Austria
Candace Couse / School of Creative Arts, University of the Fraser Valley, BC
Alexandra Fraser, Independent Curator
Shauna MacLeod, Willow Arts Community, St. Catharines
Marina Gržinić, Akademie der bildenden Künste / Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna, Austria
Dr. Linda Carreiro, Associate Dean, Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts.
The Executive Committee (voting members) served as the decision-making body of the Centre and is comprised of all STAC full-time members including current and former directors, the Editors of the Small Walker Press, as well as two non-STAC research affiliates who are elected every five years.
This committee was assisted in its decision-making by a non-voting Advisory Committee comprised of the following invited members: the Director of the MIWSFPA, one STAC part-time instructor, one graduate student and two external members.