The Sainsbury Research Unit (SRU), based in the Sainsbury Centre at UEA, is a centre for the study of the arts and material culture of Africa, the Pacific region and the Americas.
It has six permanent academic faculty supported by library and administrative staff. Visiting fellows, research associates and postdoctoral researchers working on special projects also contribute to the academic life of the SRU.
It has its own teaching and study facilities and a specialist research library known as the Robert Sainsbury Library, all on hand in the Sainsbury Centre.
Our courses
The SRU offers MA and PhD degrees, with generous scholarships and funding support for students. MRes and MPhil options are available.
It also offers visiting fellowships for postdoctoral scholars and hosts regular conferences, symposia and other academic meetings.
The MA and PhD programmes are intended for those interested in careers in higher education, museums and galleries, publishing, journalism and development.
Our research and teaching
Combining anthropological, art-historical, archaeological and museological approaches, SRU research and teaching are focused on the distinctive cultures of the three regions.
It has a particular focus on how artworks and objects are made, used and circulated – in effect, how they matter to people, both in their original contexts and in the contexts of museums and exhibitions.
As part of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at UEA the SRU contributes to a substantial and lively scholarly community in the Sainsbury Centre.
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Events and News
Landscapes of Memory and Power in the Valle Chimo: Patrick Mullins
Read moreClick here to find more information on landscapes of memory and power in the valle chimo: patrick mullinsISLAND TO ISLAND : Exhibiting Oceans in the UK Today
Read moreClick here to find more information on island to island : exhibiting oceans in the uk todayA symposium on 1 December, 1.30pm-6pm : Sainsbury Centre Lecture Theatre, UEA, Norwich
Recent PhD graduate, Bolaji Owoseni, awarded a one-year Research Fellowship at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research in Cambridge
Read moreClick here to find more information on recent phd graduate, bolaji owoseni, awarded a one-year research fellowship at the mcdonald institute for archaeological research in cambridgeNew York Met curator Dr Maia Nuku wins supreme award for world class Kiwis
Read moreClick here to find more information on new york met curator dr maia nuku wins supreme award for world class kiwisSRU academic elected to Council of the British Academy
Read moreClick here to find more information on sru academic elected to council of the british academySacred Sovereigns: Art, Divinity & Rulership in the Ancient Americas symposium
Read moreClick here to find more information on sacred sovereigns: art, divinity & rulership in the ancient americas symposiumShowing of Etched in Bone, Wednesday 6 December, 11.15 - 12.45 pm
Read moreClick here to find more information on showing of etched in bone, wednesday 6 december, 11.15 - 12.45 pmTAG 2023, UEA Norwich 18-20 December 2023 Conference
Read moreClick here to find more information on tag 2023, uea norwich 18-20 december 2023 conferenceFieldwork Sketches: Blurring the Lines between Art and Anthropology - Friday 16 February 2024, 10:00 - 5:00pm
Read moreClick here to find more information on fieldwork sketches: blurring the lines between art and anthropology - friday 16 february 2024, 10:00 - 5:00pmDr Sanja Savkic Sebek; New Visiting Fellow
Read moreClick here to find more information on dr sanja savkic sebek; new visiting fellowStarted in January 2024 and will be with us for the next three months. She will be based in the Project Office on the mezzanine.
Brent Kerehona visit to SRU 17 January 2024
Read moreClick here to find more information on brent kerehona visit to sru 17 january 2024CfAAA Talk, 29 February 24; 5 - 6.30pm : Carrying the Burden, Caring for the Past Land, Body and Sensuous Knowledge in Contemporary Namibian Art
Read moreClick here to find more information on cfaaa talk, 29 february 24; 5 - 6.30pm : carrying the burden, caring for the past land, body and sensuous knowledge in contemporary namibian art