"The Arts and Humanities at Oxford are a cultural powerhouse": Interview with Professor Dan Grimley
Professor Dan Grimley, Head of the Humanities Division and Professor of Music at Oxford University, is profiled on the University website this week.
In the interview, he spoke about the importance of the humanities in confronting the major issues of today – particularly as society rebuilds from the devastating impacts of the pandemic. ‘We have a responsibility to lead discussion and debate,’ he said. ‘The Arts and Humanities at Oxford are a cultural powerhouse, ready to resurface after Covid. The Humanities make the world worth living.’
‘Such discussions cannot take place in a vacuum,’ he added. ‘We really want to push the envelope with Humanities. ‘We need to look at climate change through a historical lens and understand environmental processes in all their cultural dimensions.’
He made clear that equality, diversity and inclusion are priorities under his leadership, and stressed about the importance of modernising the curriculum. ‘We have to deliver on the curriculum,’ he said. ‘We have been through a really dynamic two years and we need to show we are listening and be prepared to change.’ Professor Grimley emphasised this is a positive move, which will not undermine the strengths of Oxford Humanities – but enhance them.
He also emphasised the exciting possibilities for the new Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, which will bring together seven of the division’s faculties into the same building for the first time. He called the Centre a ‘transformational landmark gift’, which will generate ‘interdisciplinary sparks’ for research and teaching at Oxford. ‘It will be critical and creative’ he said. ‘It will challenge boundaries and encourage new forms of performance and research.’
In the profile, Professor Grimley encouraged those from a non-traditional background to consider applying to Oxford, and admits to having felt ‘imposter syndrome’ himself. After going to a comprehensive school in East Kent, he won a place to study music at King’s College, Cambridge. ‘I was lucky: I had a brilliant music teacher at school, a man called Cyril Wade,’ he said. ‘It was life-changing.’
Finally, he spoke of his love for – and the great value of – music. ‘Music is so complex, rich, diverse and global. It is a fundamental part of the human experience,’ he said. ‘It is about processing large amounts of complex, abstract non-linguistic data, developing high-level communication skills and listening intensively – those are key tools, which underpin many disciplines. And that is before you even think about creativity...a music degree is hard and demanding, but it’s so rewarding.’
You can read the full interview on the University website: https://www.ox.ac.uk/news-and-events/oxford-people/Dan-Grimley
