Exhibition: We Listen to Understand...

22nd January 2026

The Boiler House, Newcastle University  

Opening and Performance 4pm-6pm (performance 4.15pm)   

An exhibition of creative work developed by artist Michele Allen in collaboration with the Wellcome Trust Reimagining Leadership project. Michele writes:  

“Since October 2024 I have been artist in residence with the project which uses participatory action research to reflect on psychological safety, leadership and inclusion within the university, through dialogue with a core group of staff from multiple job roles. I see my role as that of creative note-taker, both insider and outsider, responding to group discussions and reflecting on my experience of being precariously employed in the institution for five years as an associate lecturer.  

This event and exhibition will share work developed during the residency including moving image, photography, drawing and a performance featuring commentary from the group. The group operates under Chatham House Rule, meaning that ideas and experiences are shared in confidence. This emphasis on anonymity has been central to structuring the creative process which plays with visibility and invisibility, speaking and not speaking. The title is drawn from the ‘ground rules’ and ethos established for participatory action research undertaken by the group: We remember that ‘listening to understand’ is different to ‘listening to reply’. 

The exhibition aims to create a space for reflection and dialogue around power structures and psychological safety within the institution and to amplify the voices of people who are often marginalised within those structures.  

The exhibition will be open from 11am – 6pm and open to all.  

All students and colleagues are invited to join Michele and the participatory action research group for a reception from 4 – 6pm. At 4.15pm, there will be a performance ‘We listen to understand’ where the audience will be invited to join in with a collective reading of text drawn from discussions with the group, who will be collectively speaking each other’s words.” 

Please register here for the Performance and Reception by the 19th December. 

Image credit: ‘We Listen to Understand’ (film still). Michele Allen 2025. Artist-in-Residence on Reimagining Leadership project’

Last modified: Thu, 11 Dec 2025 12:09:43 GMT