Deakin Public Exchange Bureau
Showcasing innovative research to inspire and engage the public
Our research drives connections with community
The Deakin Public Exchange Bureau explores how academia can enhance public discourse on contemporary challenges. We employ innovative research methods to tackle social, environmental and cultural issues in the public sphere – with a focus on resilience, wellbeing, aesthetic innovation and diversity in south east Melbourne and Western Victoria.
Our research areas
Led by a team of researchers from the School of Communication and Creative Arts, our research spans across four research streams.
Public art
We examine curatorial practices in public art, including the commissioning of innovative temporary and permanent works, as well as consultancy on public art policies and commissioning protocols.
Place and community
We investigate place-based storytelling, explore deep time through creative digital technologies and foster intercultural understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
Design and place
Our research enhances communities' interactions with their environments through design for social good, focusing on experiences that foster connections between people and places.
Performance and social context
Our work investigates improvised dance in a place-responsive context, fostering community cohesion, resilience, health, wellbeing and collaboration through performance practice.
Help us explore eco-political challenges
Collaborate with our renowned researchers and stakeholders from government, industry, and the non-profit sector on impactful, socially engaged research.
Our researchers
The Deakin Public Exchange Bureau hosts a network of distinguished researchers from diverse creative disciplines, including art, photography, design, performance, film and creative writing.
Associate Professor Cameron Bishop is the Associate Professor in Art and Performance at Deakin University. As a curator, artist and writer working in the public realm he has been acknowledged for his community-focused approach to public art in the numerous grants, awards and commissions he has received.
Dr Katie Lee is a lecturer in creative arts and expanded performance in in the School of Communication and Creative Arts at Deakin University. Her research explores how meaning is constructed and becomes embedded within forms, habits and social constructs.
Maria Bates, Lecturer, Design
Associate Professor Cameron Bishop, Associate Professor, Art and Performance
Professor David Cross, Professor of Visual Arts
Dr Simon Grennan, Lecturer, Art and Performance
Jacinta Kay, Associate Lecturer, Art and Design
Dr Katie Lee, Lecturer, Art and Performance
Dr Sean Loughrey, Lecturer, Art and Performance
Dr Tonya Meyrick, Senior Lecturer, Screen and Design
Dr Olivia Millard, Associate Head of School, Teaching and Learning
Associate Professor Antonia Pont, Associate Professor, Writing and Literature
Associate Professor Martin Potter, Associate Professor
Colin Trechter, Teaching Scholar, Design
Dr Anne Wilson, Senior Lecturer, Art and Performance
Featured projects
Our partnerships with government, community and industry allow us to deliver research with impact. We lead bold initiatives that seek solutions beyond traditional research and organisational boundaries.
Front Beach, Back Beach
The Front Beach, Back Beach was a temporary public art initiative located on the Mornington Peninsula. Featuring the work of 18 local and national artists, the project aimed to create new opportunities for community engagement through diverse artistic expressions.
Treatment III
The third instalment of the ongoing Treatment art projects includes a mini festival showcasing innovative contemporary artworks at the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee. The project aims to engage the public with the often-overlooked aspects of wastewater management and its impact on the environment and community.
Our partnerships
We collaborate with community groups, art festivals, institutions, creative practitioners and venues both nationally and internationally. Our members actively engage in workshops, symposia, exhibitions and publications to share our research findings in various contexts.
Contact us
Our team is here to connect with you and help you learn more about the Deakin Public Exchange Bureau.
