Dr Kate Allen

Kate has research interests in:

• sculpture
• collaboration
• community/participatory art projects
• public art and engagement
• widening participation
• interactive sensory objects
• multidisciplinary performance
• digital technology and virtual environments.

Kate is the Principal Investigator of the award-winning Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) project, 'Interactive sensory objects made for and by people with learning disabilities', or Sensory Objects.

Sensory Objects creates multisensory interactive art works that respond to museum collections, alternative ideas for museum interpretation, developed through sensory art and electronics-based workshops by people with learning disabilities in collaboration with an interdisciplinary research team. Researchers from the University of Reading and RIX Research and Media at The University of East London have worked together with Mencap Liverpool Access to Heritage Group at Speke Hall, Reading College's Learners with learning difficulties and disabilities at the Museum of English Rural Life, and Tower Project London at The British Museum.

Kate also contributes to the Sensory Palaces project at Historic Royal Palaces London.

Kate works to commission undertaking public art projects working with community groups in collaborative artworks. Commissions examples include:

• Barton Oxford
• Alter' for the Lickey Hills Sculpture Trail in Birmingham
• The illuminated billboards at Snowsfield NCP car park Guy Street Park, London Bridge or the Sensory Trail at Speke Hall Liverpool.