Dr. Judith Marcuse

Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Education
Founder and Co-Director, International Centre of Art for Social Change

I am an artist (dancer, choreographer, director, producer) whose creative projects drew me increasingly to the emerging field of art for social change. Early choreographic work often explored social issues (e.g., women and feminism, social roles, consumerism). Later projects more explicitly explored similar issues: teen suicide (ICE: beyond cool); bullying and homophobia (Fire…Where’s there’s Smoke); and environmental issues (EARTH=home). The far-reaching social dimensions – and responsibilities – of this work brought me into contact and collaboration with a range of community groups, non-governmental organizations and educational institutions in Canada and abroad. This led, in 2007, to a partnership between SFU and Judith Marcuse Projects and the establishment of the International Centre of Art for Social Change. Currently, I am the Principal Investigator of a five-year (2013-18), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council-funded national research project, The first study of its kind in Canada, this SSHRC Partnership Grant is hosted by SFU and involves 25 researchers, six universities and 15 community partners.

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