The RUN! RUN! RUN! International Body For Research pulls together the work of a few of the forerunners in the field of scholars and artists who study running as an arts and humanities subject. Kai has researched running since 2009 (and movement since 1994), while Alan has done so since running since 2007. While a spanking new institute, the work of RUN! RUN! RUN! is garnering attention from the art and academic worlds. Its dynamic programme is contributing to and leading the emerging area of study that explores running beyond its traditional fields.

• March-September 2015: Partnership with Leeds Art Gallery for monthly RUN! RUN! RUN! LEEDS programme in Leeds.
• June 2014: The Guardian gave a thumbs-up to the inaugural RUN! RUN! RUN! activity, the International Festival of Running. Held at the Slade Research Centre on 26 June 2014, this conference was cross-discipinary and not run-of-the-(tread)mill (apologies to Dr Dave Hindley, who also wrote a glowing review of the gig). Feedback include:

‘After going to this kind of event I’ll find it even more difficult to summon up the enthusiasm for a more conventional academic conference’. – Dr Derek McCormack, Oxford Geography, 2014

‘I really enjoyed it, and have come away very inspired.’ – Mr Devashishu Torpy, Sri Chimnoy Centre, 2014

‘Possibly the best conference ever?’ – Sarah Pett on Twitter, SOAS, 2014.

• July 2014: a residency-cum-TV proposal created for the prestigious Artangel Open was shortlisted as Artangel’s 100 favourite proposals, in what it calls its Open 100, out of 700 entries. Over the years, Artangel has commissioned some of the most complex, radical and moving art works and experiences that complicate what we (think we) know about art (and politics, community and life, and beyond). (A favourite has been Ryan Gander’s terrifying and sublime Locked Room Scenario).
• August 2014: A film proposal was shortlisted for the Great North Run Moving Image Commission 2015. Organised by Great North Run Culture, this commission ‘awards an experienced artist or film-maker £30,000 to create a new work which responds to and captures the spirit of one of the world’s top sporting events. The new work is premiered in the North East in September ever year as part of our Great North Run Culture programme, with an extract screened on the BBC during their live coverage of the Run’. 
• August 2014: Another proposal was shortlisted for the UCL Centre for Humanities Interdisciplinary Research Projects (CHIRP, which is directed by Professor Lisa Jardine).
• Prior to these efforts, Kai’s running-centred PhD art research had been showcased in 63 shows over the years 2009-2013, including dOCUMENTA 13 in Kassel (2012), Upgrade! Soft Borders at Sao Paolo, and as headline act at the ArtSingapore exhibition.      

→ Read the proposal submitted for Artangel Open here.

→ Read about the debut of Running-Discourse at dOCUMENTA 13 in Kassel (2012) here

→ Read PDF (18.7MB) about the exhibitions and publications that Kai’s PhD work has been shared (2009-2013) here (pages 40-68, opens in a new window)

→ Read about the impact generated by Kai’s previous art movements of swimming, skipping, islandhopping and drowning (1994-2009) here.