Westminster’s Professor Mykaell Riley, Director of the Black Music Research Unit (BMRU) and Lead Researcher for the Bass Culture project, delivered a keynote lecture on Black British heritage at Düsseldorf’s Peter Behrens School of Arts On/Off Design lecture series.
The On/Off Design lecture series is hosted by the Peter Behrens School of Arts, part of the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences, to provide students and visitors with a wide range of insights into interdisciplinary topics. The series aims to promote cross-discipline exchange and open up valuable perspectives on current issues and developments in the world of art and design.
Professor Riley was invited by Professor Mareike Foecking to provide his expertise in a lecture on 29 October titled Cultural Crossovers: Black British Heritage from Archive to Screen. The talk discussed his work on the Museums + Heritage Award-winning exhibition Beyond the Bassline and its relationship to the BBC Three Boarders soundtrack, which Professor Riley co-produced with Westminster students. Both examples showcased different approaches to storytelling and collaboration with students and professionals via academic studies.
Photo credit: Simon Fricke
Professor Riley is recognised for his contribution to the wider recognition of Black British music and support for music education. Earlier this year, he was awarded a Rockschool RSL Fellowship, which acknowledges practitioners who have made significant contributions to the development of their art form while inspiring RSL qualification students to achieve excellence. This recognition celebrates Professor Riley’s transformative influence on music education and the creative industries.
About the lecture Professor Riley said: “Although the distance between Germany, in this case Düsseldorf, hasn't changed, we've become more distant. The talk made it clear there's a huge enthusiasm and desire to collaborate, especially among students, and it's up to us as colleagues to make this happen.”
Professor Riley’s research and international engagement directly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4: Quality Education, 8: Reduced Inequalities and 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out more about the College of Design, Creative and Digital Industries at the University of Westminster.
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