Prof Simon Piasecki

Simon has enjoyed a connective career as an academic, as well as a researcher, illustrator, performer and writer. His Phd considered cartography, Self and Other in performance, examining identity and place. He has exhibited, directed and performed in international contexts for 30 years, as a painter and performer, making short films, photographs, installations and transporting audiences over mountains at night with performance and music. Recent publications explore the efficacy of pain and suffering in pilgrimage, in addition to the mind/body experience, published in The Performances of Sacred Places: Crossing, Breathing, Resisting, Silvia Battista (Ed.), Intellect) as well as an Audio-Paper published online for Walk-Listen-Create, ‘the home of walking artists’ (walklistencreate.org ) and a journal article in Performance Research looking at the Kailas Pilgrimage, A Mountain as Multiverse : Circumnavigating the realities and meta-realities of a Kailas pilgrim (On Mountains - Volume 24 Issue 2 pp. 16-23). Simon is a dedicated Scout Leader teaching outdoor skills to young people, recently returned from the World Scout Jamboree in South Korea, and a trained Lowland Leader, having also been a DofE Award Manager. He was awarded a County Sheriff's Award for his work looking after young people in difficult climactic conditions encountered in South Korea and a Medal of Merit for his service to Scouting. He currently volunteers for Macclesfield Ukrainian Aid as a convoy driver and has completed four trips. Professor of Interdisciplinary Arts Practice and Head of Subject for Drama, Musical Theatre. Performance and Production and MA Cities, Simon co-leads City Lab in the Institute of Art and Technology. As a late diagnosed Autistic person, Simon is working to expand his support and mentorship of young people and students in the field of Neurodivergence and Arts practice.

Languages

German

Degrees

2012, University of Roehampton, United Kingdom, PhD, Identity and belonging, human movement, migration and performance studies.
1994, Birmingham City University, United Kingdom, Master of Arts, Illustration
1989, Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom, BA Hons Creative Arts, Painting and Performance