University of Regina – Regina Improvisation Studies Centre (RISC)

RISC Photo 2014-04-07

RISC Site Coordinator Rebecca Caines and IICSI Director Ajay Heble

Vision

The Regina Improvisation Studies Centre acts as a connective tissue linking and supporting artists and scholars interested in the social and cultural possibilities of improvisatory activity. We are new, but our plan is to create a database of improvising artists and organizations and network and share resources, develop community-based projects utilizing improvisation; and provide support for Saskatchewan students and Faculty at the University of Regina to research case studies in contemporary improvisation and to continue to connect with an international network of scholars and artists working in this area. We hope you can join us!

History

The Regina Improvisation Studies Centre started at the University of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada,  in response to a growing sense that critical studies in improvisation, and improvising art practices were both important areas of Saskatchewan cultural activity. Through participation in the Improvisation, Community, and Social Practice (ICASP) project (supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council), individual researchers from SK had begun connecting with an international body of scholars and artists looking to improvisation for new knowledge on identity, community, and expression.  The centre then joined ICASP scholars in building a proposal for a brand new International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation (IICSI) and in 2013,  SSHRC awarded a 2.5 million dollar grant to support this new institute. IICSI links six universities and institutions across Canada into a seven year partnership exploring improvisation across disciplines. RISC is delighted to be part of this important international partnership.

For more information, please see the RISC website at www.reginaimprovcentre.org.

Team Members

Researchers

Partners

CFI: ImprovLab Research Team (2017–present)

IICSI: A Partnered Institute Research Team (2013–2023)

Improvising Futures Research Team (2022–2027)

Partners (IICSI: 2013–2023)

Partners (Improvising Futures: 2022–2027)

Past Postdoctoral Fellows

Past Students