Michael Brown is Professor of Creative Industries in the Faculty of Business and Creative Arts at the University of South Wales and a Wales Conference Ambassador. He utilises ethnographic and participatory filmmaking practice to engage with marginalised, disadvantaged or declining people and their cultures, species, places and ecosystems, to promote dialogue in search of positive transformation. Professor Brown works locally and globally with communities, non-governmental organisations and social development organisations.
Tell us a little bit more about what you do and how long you have been in your role.
I located to Cardiff to take up my current position in 2023. My work is focused on ethnographic and documentary filmmaking and primarily involves research activities alongside teaching on the MA Documentary programme. I work locally with communities in Wales, and around the world. For example, I am currently engaged in a participatory film project with marginalised groups in Nepal, documenting the impacts of climate change on their lives and sharing mitigation strategies. I have also established an MoU with my university and the Nepalese Society of Wales, and we are currently appointing a fully-funded PhD candidate to explore the history and experiences of the Nepalese community in Wales, drawing out critical reflections that will contribute to the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
Why is Wales a good fit for the International Visual Sociology Association Annual Conference in 2027?
The University of South Wales, and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, are delighted to be hosting the International Visual Sociology Association Conference 2027. This is a major international event that has been held in Kenya, Mexico and South Korea for the last three conferences. It is great to add Wales to this list. The infrastructure of our university and experience in hosting major events, the travel accessibility of Cardiff, the compactness of the city centre, and the rich and distinct culture of Wales were all very attractive to the IVSA selection board who awarded the event to Cardiff.
What was involved in helping to win the event?
Securing this event for Cardiff was a collaborative effort between academic and events team colleagues at the University of South Wales and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Are you planning to incorporate some Welsh culture and heritage into the event schedule?
Welsh culture and heritage will be a major part of the conference. The conference title is A dance of Perception - The Symbiosis of Image and Sound. We are supporting a range of academic papers exploring this theme, from colleagues working in areas such as sound design and film soundscape composition. The conference opening evening at the RWCMD will be centred around a performance celebration of Welsh culture. The food throughout the conference will also reflect a Welsh menu. In addition, before and after the conference we are hosting day trips to St Fagan’s Museum, The Brecon railway, as well as an historical and architectural walking tour of Cardiff.
How would you describe the creative sector in Wales?
Cardiff is widely recognised as one of the largest and fastest-growing film and television production hubs in the UK outside of London, frequently cited as having the third-largest cluster after London and Manchester. Documentary film is very precious to the University of South Wales. A critical aspect of promoting and recruiting documentary at USW is our geographic and cultural environment:
• We are based in Wales, with a rich culture and language. We can enhance the use of Welsh language in documentary film, with subject matter that has relevance to Wales.
• Our landscape incorporates coastline, industrial centres and the beautiful Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons).
These are strong selling point for students. The wealth of subject matter to draw on in South Wales, offers potential for documentary filmmakers to engage with hugely diverse communities, landscapes and issues incorporating social and environmental themes of relevance today.
What drew you to become a Wales Conference Ambassador?
It is a pleasure to be a Wales Conference Ambassador, and to promote Wales and attract people from around the world. Being connected with the Ambassador scheme is important because it connects my university with the wider network of organisations working towards the same goal - to enhance awareness of Welsh culture and contribute to the socio-economic enhancement of Wales.
