Arts Matter Bristol
@uobartsmatter.bsky.social
What would a world be like without the Arts, Humanities and Languages? Sharing the reasons why we matter at the University of Bristol.
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts-law-social-sciences/research/
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts-law-social-sciences/research/
Pinned
Grief affects us all, and yet people often struggle to talk about death & dying. 🦋
@goodgrieffest.bsky.social is a social venture spinout at @bristoluni.bsky.social that brings people together to talk about death & grief, providing information, support & a sense of community
More 👉 brnw.ch/21wVqxR
@goodgrieffest.bsky.social is a social venture spinout at @bristoluni.bsky.social that brings people together to talk about death & grief, providing information, support & a sense of community
More 👉 brnw.ch/21wVqxR
Reposted by Arts Matter Bristol
📢 Upcoming event!
CultureQuest, a location-based, AI-driven game, turns Bristol Museum’s Egyptian Gallery into an interactive quest guided by the gods.
📆 9 February, 10:00 - 17:00
📍 Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
Find out more: tinyurl.com/c9h3hp4v
CultureQuest, a location-based, AI-driven game, turns Bristol Museum’s Egyptian Gallery into an interactive quest guided by the gods.
📆 9 February, 10:00 - 17:00
📍 Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
Find out more: tinyurl.com/c9h3hp4v
December 15, 2025 at 3:02 PM
📢 Upcoming event!
CultureQuest, a location-based, AI-driven game, turns Bristol Museum’s Egyptian Gallery into an interactive quest guided by the gods.
📆 9 February, 10:00 - 17:00
📍 Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
Find out more: tinyurl.com/c9h3hp4v
CultureQuest, a location-based, AI-driven game, turns Bristol Museum’s Egyptian Gallery into an interactive quest guided by the gods.
📆 9 February, 10:00 - 17:00
📍 Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
Find out more: tinyurl.com/c9h3hp4v
Reposted by Arts Matter Bristol
How monogamous are humans compared to other animals?
Check out this BBC interview with @kitopie.bsky.social to learn more!
Check out this BBC interview with @kitopie.bsky.social to learn more!
December 12, 2025 at 11:26 AM
How monogamous are humans compared to other animals?
Check out this BBC interview with @kitopie.bsky.social to learn more!
Check out this BBC interview with @kitopie.bsky.social to learn more!
Reposted by Arts Matter Bristol
My tasty take (pun intended) on the Bayeux Tapestry—a subject on which I had vowed never to publish. Available Open Access with @ihr.bsky.social. See what you make of it, and bon appetit! academic.oup.com/histres/adva...
Chewing over the Norman Conquest: the Bayeux Tapestry as monastic mealtime reading*
Abstract. This article offers a new contextualization of the Bayeux Tapestry by exploring its use as mealtime reading in a monastic refectory. This concept
academic.oup.com
December 15, 2025 at 10:59 AM
My tasty take (pun intended) on the Bayeux Tapestry—a subject on which I had vowed never to publish. Available Open Access with @ihr.bsky.social. See what you make of it, and bon appetit! academic.oup.com/histres/adva...
Reposted by Arts Matter Bristol
A press release from the University of Bristol about an exciting new article by @benpohl.bsky.social and published by Historical Research: www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2025/de...
December: Bayeux Tapestry could have been originally designed as mealtime reading for medi | News and features | University of Bristol
New research by an historian from the University of Bristol offers an intriguing suggestion about one of history’s biggest mysteries – the original purpose of the world-famous Bayeux Tapestry.
www.bristol.ac.uk
December 15, 2025 at 11:50 AM
A press release from the University of Bristol about an exciting new article by @benpohl.bsky.social and published by Historical Research: www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2025/de...
✍️ Dr Zeina Maasri (History of Art) introduces us to Decolonizing the Page, a digital archive & online exhibition of Arabic book arts (1950s-80s), a time when creative expression flourished
Read more about this incredible resource featuring 250+ books 👉 brnw.ch/21wYhgS
Read more about this incredible resource featuring 250+ books 👉 brnw.ch/21wYhgS
December 12, 2025 at 9:15 AM
✍️ Dr Zeina Maasri (History of Art) introduces us to Decolonizing the Page, a digital archive & online exhibition of Arabic book arts (1950s-80s), a time when creative expression flourished
Read more about this incredible resource featuring 250+ books 👉 brnw.ch/21wYhgS
Read more about this incredible resource featuring 250+ books 👉 brnw.ch/21wYhgS
Dr @charlottefaucher.bsky.social (@frenchatbristol.bsky.social) has published a new report which examines three decades of UK cultural diplomacy and offers insights for shaping future strategies
Read more about Charlotte's key recommendations on UK soft power 👇
www.bristol.ac.uk/sml/news/202...
Read more about Charlotte's key recommendations on UK soft power 👇
www.bristol.ac.uk/sml/news/202...
2025: Dr Charlotte Faucher makes policy recommendations | School of Modern Languages | University of Bristol
www.bristol.ac.uk
December 10, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Dr @charlottefaucher.bsky.social (@frenchatbristol.bsky.social) has published a new report which examines three decades of UK cultural diplomacy and offers insights for shaping future strategies
Read more about Charlotte's key recommendations on UK soft power 👇
www.bristol.ac.uk/sml/news/202...
Read more about Charlotte's key recommendations on UK soft power 👇
www.bristol.ac.uk/sml/news/202...
'Empire Without End is an accessible work that confronts the legacies of colonialism – it deserves to reach a wide, general audience.'
Prof Sumita Mukherjee (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) selects her favourite new history books of 2025 for @historytoday.com
www.historytoday.com/archive/revi...
Prof Sumita Mukherjee (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) selects her favourite new history books of 2025 for @historytoday.com
www.historytoday.com/archive/revi...
Books of the Year 2025: Part 2
www.historytoday.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:09 AM
'Empire Without End is an accessible work that confronts the legacies of colonialism – it deserves to reach a wide, general audience.'
Prof Sumita Mukherjee (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) selects her favourite new history books of 2025 for @historytoday.com
www.historytoday.com/archive/revi...
Prof Sumita Mukherjee (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) selects her favourite new history books of 2025 for @historytoday.com
www.historytoday.com/archive/revi...
Reposted by Arts Matter Bristol
We're launching a 3-week Hong Kong History Summer School in June-July 2026 for all of you interested in HK history! And you will have the opportunity to explore our Hong Kong collections too. Just how exciting is that? @uobartsmatter.bsky.social @uobrishistory.bsky.social #hongkonghistory
Join us for a three-weeks Hong Kong History Centre Accredited summer programmes in summer 2026!
More details please see:
www.bristol.ac.uk/centre-for-s...
More details please see:
www.bristol.ac.uk/centre-for-s...
December 8, 2025 at 8:54 AM
We're launching a 3-week Hong Kong History Summer School in June-July 2026 for all of you interested in HK history! And you will have the opportunity to explore our Hong Kong collections too. Just how exciting is that? @uobartsmatter.bsky.social @uobrishistory.bsky.social #hongkonghistory
Reposted by Arts Matter Bristol
Also open for application at @hongkonghistory.bsky.social at the moment is our Visiting Scholar Scheme for 2026/27, for colleagues/PGR students working on project(s) relating to the history of Hong Kong! #hkhist
@uobartsmatter.bsky.social @uobrishistory.bsky.social
@uobartsmatter.bsky.social @uobrishistory.bsky.social
𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔/𝟐𝟕
Two streams:
𝐚) 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.
𝐛) 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 (𝐏𝐆𝐑) 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭.
Details:
www.hkhistory.net/2025/11/24/v...
Two streams:
𝐚) 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.
𝐛) 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 (𝐏𝐆𝐑) 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭.
Details:
www.hkhistory.net/2025/11/24/v...
December 8, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Also open for application at @hongkonghistory.bsky.social at the moment is our Visiting Scholar Scheme for 2026/27, for colleagues/PGR students working on project(s) relating to the history of Hong Kong! #hkhist
@uobartsmatter.bsky.social @uobrishistory.bsky.social
@uobartsmatter.bsky.social @uobrishistory.bsky.social
Reposted by Arts Matter Bristol
We have now announced TWO full PhD studentships at Bristol's Hong Kong History Centre @uobrishistory.bsky.social @uobartsmatter.bsky.social! Please spread the word to anyone you know who are working towards/have a Master's degree, and are interested in pursuing further research in HK history.
Hong Kong History Centre Studentship
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Dept of Hist, University of Bristol
𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: UK and International (including EU)
𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠: Tuition Fees and stipend
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬: Sep 26 – Sep 30 (full-time)
Details:
www.hkhistory.net/2025/11/17/h...
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Dept of Hist, University of Bristol
𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: UK and International (including EU)
𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠: Tuition Fees and stipend
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬: Sep 26 – Sep 30 (full-time)
Details:
www.hkhistory.net/2025/11/17/h...
December 8, 2025 at 8:48 AM
We have now announced TWO full PhD studentships at Bristol's Hong Kong History Centre @uobrishistory.bsky.social @uobartsmatter.bsky.social! Please spread the word to anyone you know who are working towards/have a Master's degree, and are interested in pursuing further research in HK history.
Reposted by Arts Matter Bristol
…The campaign aims to enable the Malaysian public to explore their history through transregional and inclusive perspectives.’ Read more about Allan Pang’s public history research on the History blog!https://historiansatbristol.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/archives/944
Malaysia Unbound: A Public History Campaign | Historians at Bristol
historiansatbristol.blogs.bristol.ac.uk
December 5, 2025 at 7:23 AM
…The campaign aims to enable the Malaysian public to explore their history through transregional and inclusive perspectives.’ Read more about Allan Pang’s public history research on the History blog!https://historiansatbristol.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/archives/944
Reposted by Arts Matter Bristol
‘Since January 2025, I have collaborated with Imagined Malaysia, a Malaysia-based NGO, and started a public history campaign titled ‘Malaysia Unbound: Transregional Histories through Documents’…
December 5, 2025 at 7:23 AM
‘Since January 2025, I have collaborated with Imagined Malaysia, a Malaysia-based NGO, and started a public history campaign titled ‘Malaysia Unbound: Transregional Histories through Documents’…
#ICYMI: Dr @stevedehailes.bsky.social (@bristolunienglish.bsky.social) introduced us to his Medieval Mountain AHRC project which raises awareness of our historical relationship to mountains and our continued role in their preservation
Read more about Steve's research 👉 brnw.ch/21wXUsn
Read more about Steve's research 👉 brnw.ch/21wXUsn
December 5, 2025 at 9:14 AM
#ICYMI: Dr @stevedehailes.bsky.social (@bristolunienglish.bsky.social) introduced us to his Medieval Mountain AHRC project which raises awareness of our historical relationship to mountains and our continued role in their preservation
Read more about Steve's research 👉 brnw.ch/21wXUsn
Read more about Steve's research 👉 brnw.ch/21wXUsn
Reposted by Arts Matter Bristol
Recent research by @kitopie.bsky.social also discussed in The Archaeology Channel 👇🏽👏🏽
www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/...
@uobartsmatter.bsky.social
www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/...
@uobartsmatter.bsky.social
December 4, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Recent research by @kitopie.bsky.social also discussed in The Archaeology Channel 👇🏽👏🏽
www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/...
@uobartsmatter.bsky.social
www.archaeologychannel.org/audio-guide/...
@uobartsmatter.bsky.social
Reposted by Arts Matter Bristol
Interview (from 17.00) for the Briefing with Monocle_Radio
on State formation: grain, tax and writing - from research (with @quentinatkinson.bsky.social) @nathumbehav.nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41....
monocle.com/radio/shows/...
on State formation: grain, tax and writing - from research (with @quentinatkinson.bsky.social) @nathumbehav.nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41....
monocle.com/radio/shows/...
The Gulf states look towards a joint defensive strategy at the 46th GCC summit - Monocle
As Gulf leaders convene for the 46th GCC summit during a tense time for the region, we discuss what role...
monocle.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Interview (from 17.00) for the Briefing with Monocle_Radio
on State formation: grain, tax and writing - from research (with @quentinatkinson.bsky.social) @nathumbehav.nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41....
monocle.com/radio/shows/...
on State formation: grain, tax and writing - from research (with @quentinatkinson.bsky.social) @nathumbehav.nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41....
monocle.com/radio/shows/...
Reposted by Arts Matter Bristol
Nice to have heard Kit on the radio yesterday discussing his recent publication on @nathumbehav.nature.com!
Congrats on all the engagement 🙌 🎉
@uobartsmatter.bsky.social
Congrats on all the engagement 🙌 🎉
@uobartsmatter.bsky.social
Interview (from 17.00) for the Briefing with Monocle_Radio
on State formation: grain, tax and writing - from research (with @quentinatkinson.bsky.social) @nathumbehav.nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41....
monocle.com/radio/shows/...
on State formation: grain, tax and writing - from research (with @quentinatkinson.bsky.social) @nathumbehav.nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41....
monocle.com/radio/shows/...
The Gulf states look towards a joint defensive strategy at the 46th GCC summit - Monocle
As Gulf leaders convene for the 46th GCC summit during a tense time for the region, we discuss what role...
monocle.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Nice to have heard Kit on the radio yesterday discussing his recent publication on @nathumbehav.nature.com!
Congrats on all the engagement 🙌 🎉
@uobartsmatter.bsky.social
Congrats on all the engagement 🙌 🎉
@uobartsmatter.bsky.social
Congratulations to Dr Christophe Fricker (@germanatbristol.bsky.social) who has received the Zuger Anerkennungspreis, one of the most prestigious translation awards in the German-speaking world 🥳
Read more about the award presented at a ceremony in Switzerland 👇
www.bristol.ac.uk/sml/news/202...
Read more about the award presented at a ceremony in Switzerland 👇
www.bristol.ac.uk/sml/news/202...
2025: Dr Christophe Fricker awarded prestigious translation award | School of Modern Languages | University of Bristol
www.bristol.ac.uk
December 3, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Congratulations to Dr Christophe Fricker (@germanatbristol.bsky.social) who has received the Zuger Anerkennungspreis, one of the most prestigious translation awards in the German-speaking world 🥳
Read more about the award presented at a ceremony in Switzerland 👇
www.bristol.ac.uk/sml/news/202...
Read more about the award presented at a ceremony in Switzerland 👇
www.bristol.ac.uk/sml/news/202...
'It may feel worlds apart, but the challenges and choices facing states today have been playing out since the dawn of the earliest states, thousands of years ago.'
Dr @kitopie.bsky.social (@bristolantharch.bsky.social) writes in a new piece for The Conversation
theconversation.com/the-real-rea...
Dr @kitopie.bsky.social (@bristolantharch.bsky.social) writes in a new piece for The Conversation
theconversation.com/the-real-rea...
The real reason states first emerged thousands of years ago – new research
New findings add weight to the theory that states didn’t just spring up from any kind of farming – it had to be grain.
theconversation.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:07 AM
'It may feel worlds apart, but the challenges and choices facing states today have been playing out since the dawn of the earliest states, thousands of years ago.'
Dr @kitopie.bsky.social (@bristolantharch.bsky.social) writes in a new piece for The Conversation
theconversation.com/the-real-rea...
Dr @kitopie.bsky.social (@bristolantharch.bsky.social) writes in a new piece for The Conversation
theconversation.com/the-real-rea...
Reposted by Arts Matter Bristol
The invention of agriculture (around 9,000 years ago) spurred the rise of early states? NO. Our research www.nature.com/articles/s41... (with @drqueue.bsky.social) in @nathumbehav.nature.com supports an alternative theory that States almost invariably formed in societies that grew cereal grains.
State formation across cultures and the role of grain, intensive agriculture, taxation and writing - Nature Human Behaviour
Opie and Atkinson conduct a global phylogenetic analysis of 868 cultures and find evidence indicating that cereal grain cultivation, not agricultural surplus, drove state formation. Their findings als...
www.nature.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:11 AM
The invention of agriculture (around 9,000 years ago) spurred the rise of early states? NO. Our research www.nature.com/articles/s41... (with @drqueue.bsky.social) in @nathumbehav.nature.com supports an alternative theory that States almost invariably formed in societies that grew cereal grains.
Reposted by Arts Matter Bristol
We loved hearing all about our own Steve De Hailes' Medieval Mountain project! 🏔️ #medievalsky #skystorians
✍️🗻 Dr @stevedehailes.bsky.social (@bristolunienglish.bsky.social) tells us about his Medieval Mountain AHRC project which seeks to raise awareness of our historical relationship to mountains & our continued role in their preservation
Read more about the project 👉 brnw.ch/21wXUsn
Read more about the project 👉 brnw.ch/21wXUsn
December 1, 2025 at 4:30 PM
We loved hearing all about our own Steve De Hailes' Medieval Mountain project! 🏔️ #medievalsky #skystorians
Reposted by Arts Matter Bristol
This was a compelling biography of man at the helm of the UN in the turbulent 60s. Here I tried (in 750 words!) to give more context on the #afroasian world, its engagement with the UN, and Burma's decolonisation. Read it just for U Thant and Kruschev bobbing along together in the Black Sea.
December 1, 2025 at 11:04 AM
This was a compelling biography of man at the helm of the UN in the turbulent 60s. Here I tried (in 750 words!) to give more context on the #afroasian world, its engagement with the UN, and Burma's decolonisation. Read it just for U Thant and Kruschev bobbing along together in the Black Sea.
'He exuded a sense of Buddhist calm and tolerance, yet was at home among the international elite.'
Prof @sulinlewis.bsky.social (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) reviews a 'riveting new biography' of U Thant, former Secretary-General of the UN, in a new piece for The TLS
www.the-tls.com/history/twen...
Prof @sulinlewis.bsky.social (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) reviews a 'riveting new biography' of U Thant, former Secretary-General of the UN, in a new piece for The TLS
www.the-tls.com/history/twen...
Burmese days
In the same year, 1960, when Nikita Khrushchev famously banged his shoe on the desk at the UN, leaders of the decolonizing world – Castro, Sukarno, Nasser, Nkrumah, Nehru – took turns to lambast the o...
www.the-tls.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:39 AM
'He exuded a sense of Buddhist calm and tolerance, yet was at home among the international elite.'
Prof @sulinlewis.bsky.social (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) reviews a 'riveting new biography' of U Thant, former Secretary-General of the UN, in a new piece for The TLS
www.the-tls.com/history/twen...
Prof @sulinlewis.bsky.social (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) reviews a 'riveting new biography' of U Thant, former Secretary-General of the UN, in a new piece for The TLS
www.the-tls.com/history/twen...
✍️🗻 Dr @stevedehailes.bsky.social (@bristolunienglish.bsky.social) tells us about his Medieval Mountain AHRC project which seeks to raise awareness of our historical relationship to mountains & our continued role in their preservation
Read more about the project 👉 brnw.ch/21wXUsn
Read more about the project 👉 brnw.ch/21wXUsn
November 28, 2025 at 3:27 PM
✍️🗻 Dr @stevedehailes.bsky.social (@bristolunienglish.bsky.social) tells us about his Medieval Mountain AHRC project which seeks to raise awareness of our historical relationship to mountains & our continued role in their preservation
Read more about the project 👉 brnw.ch/21wXUsn
Read more about the project 👉 brnw.ch/21wXUsn
Reposted by Arts Matter Bristol
Curious about what a Bristol Medieval Studies Summer School might look like? Check out this wonderful video made by one of this year's summer school students! #medievalsky #skystorians
November 27, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Curious about what a Bristol Medieval Studies Summer School might look like? Check out this wonderful video made by one of this year's summer school students! #medievalsky #skystorians
Reposted by Arts Matter Bristol
🚨 Hwæt, medievalists: following its successful inauguration last year, the Bristol Medieval Studies Summer School will be running again in 2026! 🚨 Please share the good news or—even better—sign up yourself: www.bristol.ac.uk/centre-for-s... We're so proud of this course, and we'd love to see you! 🚨
November 27, 2025 at 8:15 AM
🚨 Hwæt, medievalists: following its successful inauguration last year, the Bristol Medieval Studies Summer School will be running again in 2026! 🚨 Please share the good news or—even better—sign up yourself: www.bristol.ac.uk/centre-for-s... We're so proud of this course, and we'd love to see you! 🚨