Clare Brennan

Clare is a Lecturer in Visual Arts Practice at Abertay University, where she leads and co-delivers modules across all levels of the Computer Arts programme.

Clare brings her experience as an artist, curator and creative producer to the role to provide students with practice-based guidance and contextual awareness of creative industries, often seeking opportunities for students and staff to exhibit and advance their work through GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums) partnerships.

Clare's research is practice-based and explores the intersection between playful technology, performance and community engagement. Through exhibitions, interactive installations and community events, Clare seeks to create meaningful experiences for people, providing a space for connection, reflection and discussion. Often these projects explore sociocultural or sociopolitical topics, with a focus on wellbeing and self-expression.

These interdisciplinary projects often involve collaborations with performers, game designers, sound artists and other creative practitioners, and hold the player/visitor-experience at the centre.

Currently, Clare is working on projects that explores lived experience, nostalgia and cooperative games, bringing people together to listen and share their stories in playful, accessible ways.  

I am Lecturer of Visual Arts Practice delivering modules across all levels within the BA (Hons) Computer Arts programme, within the Faculty of Design, Informatics and Business. Teaching relates to visual enquiry through drawing, presentation, curation and professional practice explored via engagement with exhibitions, studio practice, and critical discourse with arts practitioners. 

Clare's research is practice-based and explores the intersection between playful technology, performance and community engagement. Through exhibitions, interactive installations and community events, Clare seeks to create meaningful experiences for people, providing a space for connection, reflection and discussion. Often these projects explore sociocultural or sociopolitical topics, with a focus on wellbeing and self-expression.

These interdisciplinary projects often involve collaborations with performers, game designers, sound artists and other creative practitioners, and hold the player/visitor-experience at the centre.

Currently, Clare is working on projects that explores lived experience, nostalgia and cooperative games, bringing people together to listen and share their stories in playful, accessible ways.  

BOARDS AND COMMITTEES 

Dundee Cultural Development Group (ongoing)

Cultural Agency Networks group (ongoing)

Festivals and Events Strategy Group (ongoing) 

NEoN Digital Arts Festival board (2010-2021)

Dundee City of Culture panel 2014

Dundee Arts Cafe committee (2011-2014)

Clare's practice-based research prioritises public engagement and community outreach, to ensure that the work of staff and students is informed by meaningful interaction with audiences. Through playtesting events, workshops, focus groups, and other engagment formats, Clare creates opportunities for her own research and the work of others, to imbed the voices of the communities they seek to connect with. Research is then disseminated and made accessible to the public, often through exhibitions, showcases and play parties, to share findings, seek feedback and inform further relfection, learning and iteration.  

Some recent examples include; 

V&A Dundee's Design, Dance, Play (exhibitor, creative producer): Design, Play, Dance 22 Feb - 27 April 2025

National Museum of Scotland's Game On exhibition (consultation role) and LATE event (curatorial role): Game On | National Museums Scotland (29 June - 3 November 2024)

Clare's practice has always centred community engagement. Significantly this has involved leading roles in;

NEoN Digital Arts Festival - Curator, Creative Producer. Home :: NEoN Digital Arts (2009 - 2021)

Weave: Creativity, Community, Collaboration - Creative Producer - Abertay's programme of cultural events across the city of Dundee, sharing local and global creativity. (2017-2020)

Hannah Maclure Centre - Curator - Abertay's on-campus cultural centre, delivering exhibitions and events that inform and disseminate University research. (2011 - 2016)