MONTREAL/July 27, 2006—
Concordia University has been awarded a new Tier-2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Inter-X Art Practice and Theory, for Sandeep Bhagwati, in the Departments of Music and Theatre, in the Faculty of Fine Arts. Tier-2 chairs are for exceptional emerging researchers, acknowledged by their peers as having the potential to lead their field. For each Tier 2 Chair, the university receives $100,000 annually for five years.
In addition to the CRC recognition and funding, Prof. Bhagwati has also been awarded another $50 000 in funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation for his MATRA ((Movement/Media/Music) (Art) (Theatre/Theory) (Research) (Agency)) project.
The announcement was made by the Honorable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Canada Resarch Chairs Program. ìThe scientific achievements of Canada Research Chairs do more than improve Canadians' quality of life.î said Minister Bernier. ìThey address major social and economic issues, and they make our country more competitive on the international scene.î
Concordia's President Claude Lajeunesse welcomed the announcement saying ìthis recognition confirms the strong international reputation of Concordia's Faculty of Fine Arts. We are very proud to welcome Prof. Bhagwati to our university.î
Prof. Bhagwati will arrive at Concordia in August, 2006 from Musikhochschule Karlsruhe in Germany, where he teaches multimedia composition. At Concordia, he will use interdisciplinary art practices to bridge the gap between emerging art forms and their aesthetic reflection. The aim of his research is to establish a practical and theoretical framework for the creation and evaluation of inter-disciplinary, inter-cultural, inter-media and inter-active art.
Art today is not contained within any one culture, discipline or medium. Creative practice constantly evolves: composers make films, actors use wearable computers, artists design miming robots and traditional dancers compose real-time electronic music. Prof. Bhagwati studies and designs complex, pioneering art forms and strives to make them accessible to everyone.
The Canada Research Chairs program was launched in 2000 and helps universities attract and retain the best researchers and achieve excellence in the natural sciences and engineering, health services, social sciences and the humanities.
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Source :
Tanya Churchmuch
Senior Media Relations Advisor
Concordia University
