After years away from academia, the MA in 2017 presented an opportunity to reinvestigate my concerns regarding place and space. As a result of this I am very excited by the prospect of opening my practice to more ‘artist led’ projects, and to pursue my interest in space and place through a concern with its presentation as lines on maps; I am delighted to be furthering this through PhD studies.
QUALIFICATIONS
| 2018 - | Queens University Belfast, PhD (AHRC funded). |
| 2016 - 17 | Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin, MA (distinction) Fine Art. |
| 1992 - 94 | Fine Art Academy, Budapest, Hungary, post-graduate Scholarship. |
| 1979 - 82 | Hull College of Higher Education, BA Hon's Fine Art. |
PUBLICATIONS
Rann, Karen and Robin S. Johnston. “Chasing the line: Hutton’s
contribution to the invention of contours.” Journal of Maps
(March, 2019)
https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2019.1582439.
Rann, Karen. The Great Lines Project: an exploration of the history of contour lines. Newcastle: self-published, 2016. ISBN 978-0-9933496-2-1.
SELECTED BOOK CHAPTERS & VISUAL MATERIAL
Field, Kenneth. Cartography: A compendium of design thinking for mapmakers. London: Esri Press, 2018. [Two images with text].
Rann, K. & N. White. “Brodick Castle and Country Park, Isle of Arran.” In Artistic Reflections: Year of Natural Scotland, edited by S. Christie, 39–44. Creative Scotland, Glasgow: Bain & Bain, 2017.
Rann, K. & V. M. Sturdza. “Imagination in Bukarest.” In Mapping Culture: Aspekte der Kulturvermittlung in Südosteuropa, edited by KulturKontakt, 101–114 Vienna: Erhard Löcker, 2012.
Rann, K. “Place.” In A Widening Field: Journeys in Body and Imagination, edited by M. Tuffnell & C. Crickmay, 167 & 225. Alton, Hampshire: Dance Books Ltd, 2004. [Two images with texts]
RECENT PRESENTATIONS
International Conference on the History of Cartography, Amsterdam. Paper: A line drawn: the tortuous progress of contours onto British Maps. July 2019.
International Cartography Conference, Tokyo. Paper: Reconstructing the lost contours of Charles Hutton. Karen Rann a, David Fairbairn b*, Ella Southern c. *Corresponding author. July 2019. https://www.abstr-int-cartogr-assoc.net/1/307/2019/ica-abs-1-307-2019.html
Durham and Newcastle Postgraduate Workshop “Authorial Voices across Time, Space and Cultures”. Paper: The Power of the Written Word in Ephemeral Art. May 2019.
Charles Close Society, Cambridge University Library. Talk: The Great Lines Project: Charles Hutton’s contribution to the invention of contours. October 2018.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre, “Lines of Attraction”. Talk: Exploring the invention of contours and other depictions of mountain on map. April 2018.
Cultural Significance of Place Research Group, Newcastle University. Paper: A History of the Invention of Contour Lines: the contenders. December 2017.
British Cartographic Society & Society of Cartographers, Conference: Maps for Changing Reality. Paper: The Great Lines. Redworth, Co. Durham. September 2017.
GeoConnect Conference. Paper: The Great Lines. ExCel, London. October 2017.
SELECTED OTHER ROLES
| 2017 – 18 | Facilitator, Art for the Brain Fine Studios, Fine House Farm. |
| 2016 – | Trustee for charity Visual Arts in Rural Communities (VARC). |
| 2010 – 15 | VARC, special schools project coordinator. |
| 2005 – | Freelance Artist at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. |
| 2005 – 11 | Creative Partnerships, Agent & Practitioner. |
| 2002 – 04 | Fine Art Department, Newcastle University, occasional projects for students: content via context (1/04), proportional representation (10/02), deep space (2-3/02). |
AWARDS
| 2018 - 19 | Arts Council England, Award for Dignitree project. |
| 2018 | Creative Scotland, Award for the Lines of Attraction project. |
| 2016 | Arts Council England, Award for Great Lines Project. |
| 2012 | Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Sunderland University, an AHRC-funded project mentoring and coaching ‘emerging’ artists on ‘good practice’. |
| 2011 | Artists in Creative Education (AiCE) mentoring international artists, devising a handbook, talks, workshops & related research. |
| 2007 | Arts Council England, Award for creation of space for Open Studio events. |
| 2007 | Tynedale Business Expansion Grant, Award (also for the above). |
| 2005 | Arts Council England, Award for ‘Traverser’ at Tynemouth Metro Station. |
| 2004 | Arts Council England, Cultural Business Venture Award for new equipment and website. |
| 2004 | Tynedale Business Expansion Grant for website. |
| 1991 | Richard Mills Travel Fellowship to research and set up an exchange between young people in Hull & Budapest. |
| 1990 | Henrietta Bowder Travel Bursary for travel and research in Eastern Europe. |