Dr Lizzie Sykes - Bournemouth University Staff Profile Pages

Biography

Lizzie Sykes is a Senior Lecturer working with students on BA Film and MA Directing Film and Television. Lizzie is a screen artist, researcher and participatory filmmaker. In 2024 she completed her PhD entitled 'The Art of Screendance: revealing a site-centric methodology'. With an enduring involvement in somatic film art projects that include participatory elements, she has recently been working with Surface Area Dance Theatre at Roche Court Sculpture Park and exhibited at Sentient Performativities at Dartington Hall.

Research

Research interests relate to moving image arts, primarily site specific screendance. As well as working with dancers, Lizzie collaborates around site specificity with sculptors and composers. Her screendance works have toured internationally (Philadelphia 2016), in the UK (Edinburgh 2020, Dartington 2019 & 2022, Sadlers Wells 2014) and regionally (The Chapel at Tisbury 2023, Mottisfont 2015, Arts by the Sea Festival 2018). Lizzie is currently working on ongoing co-creational arts projects with Arts Disability Network and Flex cic, a new charity set up by Lizzie Sykes, Dr Cathy Seago and Dr Noyale Colin. At present she is researching a related paper about forms of co-creation.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person's work contributes towards the following SDGs:

Good health and well-being

"Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages"

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Reduced inequalities

"Reduce inequality within and among countries"

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Sustainable cities and communities

"Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable"

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Journal Articles

Seago, C. and Sykes, L., 2019. Rediscovering Time. Body, Space and Technology, 18 (1), 306-310.
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Conferences

Sykes, L., 2025. Co-creation: how are we being creative? In: Co-creation, Creative Health and Experimental Media 7 May 2025 Talbot Campus, BU.
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Sykes, L., 2024. The Art of Screendance: revealing a location-led methodology. In: EMERGE: Critical Epistemologies 30 May 2024 Talbot Campus, BU.
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Sykes, L., 2021. It's About Time: Site on film through somatic-digital approaches. In: BAFTSS Conference 7-9 April 2021 Southampton (online).
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Sykes, L., 2021. Site and Screendance. In: PGR Seminar 31 March 2021 Bournemouth University.
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Sykes, L., 2020. Screendance. In: 4th Annual FMC PGR conference 24 November 2020 Bournemouth University.
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Sykes, L., 2020. Are You There: Material and Immaterial. In: Screen.dance Festival 5-8 June 2020 Edinburgh. Online.
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Sykes, L., 2020. Rediscovering Time Through Co-creation. In: Evolving the Forest 19-21 June 2019 Dartington Hall.
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Sykes, L. and Seago, C., 2019. Rediscovering Time. In: Dance and Academia 1 November 2018 Oxford.
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Sykes, L., 2016. Are You There: the relationship between film and screen. In: British Human Computer Interaction Conference 2016 11-15 July 2016 Bournemouth, UK. BCS eWic and ACM Digital Library.
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Sykes, L., 2016. A Case Study - Stories and Spaces: moving image education in a non traditional environment. In: NAHEMI 29 June 2016 University of Westminster.
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Sykes, L., 2015. Connecting and Collaborating: Co-creational Discovery of Place. In: JMP/MECCSA Symposium 13 June 2015 Aberystwyth University.
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Sykes, L., 2011. Digital Futures In Dance Conference, Pavilion Dance. In: Digital Futures In Dance 8-10 September 2011 Pavilion Dance, Westover Road, Bournemouth, Dorset.
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Sykes, L., 2011. Screendance Symposium 2011, Brighton University. In: Screendance Symposium 2011 4 February 2011 Sallis Benney Theatre, Grand Parade, University of Brighton, BN2 0J, UK.
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Theses

Sykes, E., 2023. The Art of Screendance: revealing a location led methodology. PhD Thesis. Bournemouth University, Faculty of Media and Communication.
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Exhibitions

Sykes, L., 2023. The Greeting at Congregation, The Chapel, Tisbury. Film. Congregation. The Chapel, Tuckingmill, Tisbury. 24-26 March 2023.
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Sykes, L., 2022. Are You There. Film. Sentient Performativities. Dartington Hall. 26-29 June 2022.
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Sykes, L., 2019. The Greeting at Evolving The Forest. .mov. Evolving The Forest. Dartington Hall, Devon. 19-21 June 2019.
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Sykes, L., 2019. Miniscule 2. 3D. Miniscule. Cross Lane Projects. 23 March-18 May 2019.
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Sykes, L., 2016. British Human Computing Interaction Conference 2016. Bournemouth University. 11-15 July 2016.
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Sykes, L., 2016. ArtSpace Studio: part of Dorset Arts Weeks. video, sculpture, printed fabric. Bournemouth. 10-12 June 2016.
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Sykes, L., 2016. Trans(m)it International Film Festival. Philadelphia and online. 23-29 May 2016.
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Sykes, L., 2016. Exhibition of Research Photography Competition. Atrium Gallery, Bournemouth University. 4 February-4 March 2016.
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Sykes, L., 2016. Interdisciplinary Research Week at Bournemouth University. Bournemouth University. 25-29 January 2016.
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Sykes, L., 2015. Arborealists: the art of trees. video. Mottisfont, Hampshire. 19 September-15 November 2015.
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Sykes, L., 2015. Co-curate Showcase: Beauty in Imperfection. video. Asylum Chapel Asylum Road Peckham London SE15 2SQ. 22 June 2015.
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Sykes, L., 2015. Art Park Space. various locations. 6 May 2015.
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Sykes, L., 2015. Mottisfont Solo Exhibition. Mottisfont, Hampshire. 5 May-5 August 2015.
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Sykes, L., 2015. The Box at Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 19 January-16 March 2015.
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Sykes, L., 2014. The Elixir Festival, Sadlers Wells. Sadlers Wells, London. 12-15 September 2014.
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Sykes, L., 2013. C The Film at Edinburgh Festival. video. C The Film. Victoria Street, Edinburgh. 27 July-27 August 2013.
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Sykes, L., 2013. Burgundy International Video Dance Festival. The National Theatre, Mediatheque, and the Cinéma Le Morvan, Le Creusot. April-May 2013.
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Sykes, L., 2013. DanseDag Dancefilm Festival. video. Denmark & online. 16 March-16 June 2013.
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Sykes, L., 2013. Pop Up Art Exhibition, The Year of the Snake. Newport Place, Soho, London WC2. 10 February 2013.
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Sykes, L., 2012. C The Film at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Video. C Nova, Edinburgh. 4-30 August 2012.
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Sykes, L., 2012. Loop, Barcelona. Espacio de Proyectos Sant Pere, Barcelona. 17 May-2 June 2012.
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Sykes, L., 2012. Movement in Location, Ruskin Gallery, Cambridge. Moving Image Installation. Ruskin Gallery, Cambridge. 9-24 May 2012.
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Sykes, L., 2011. C The Film at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. C the Film. Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 233 Cowgate, Edinburgh. 29 July-29 August 2011.
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Sykes, L., 2011. Slice: Hengest to Alnick - A Coastal Sequence. Slice: Hengest to Alnick - A Coastal Sequence. New Greenham Arts Gallery 113 Lindenmuth Way New Greenham Park ,RG19 6HN. 9 June-7 July 2011.
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Sykes, L., 2011. Screening of 'Note' at Bangkok Fringe Festival 2011, part of Asia-Europe Foundation dance camera project.. Note. Patravati Theatre, Bangkok Fringe Festival, Thailand. 12 March 2011.
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Sykes, L., 2009. Birdland - An Artist's Imaginary Aviary. Salisbury Arts Centre. 31 July-18 October 2009.
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Sykes, L., 2008. Salon Exhibition, Kube Gallery. Video, live performance. Kube Gallery, Poole, Dorset. 3-8 November 2008.
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Sykes, L., 2008. Screening at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. performance art. Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 21 August 2008.
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Sykes, L., 2008. Tiago's Sequence at Cinedas, Amsterdam.. Video. Cinedans, Amsterdam. 3-10 July 2008.
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Sykes, L., 2008. 'Tiago's Sequence' ReelDance tour of Australia and New Zealand.. Reeldance Tour. Melbourne Campbeltown Sydney Hobart, Perth, Noosa, Byron Bay, Adelaide, Christchurch. 1 May-12 October 2008.
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Sykes, L., 2008. Multichannel, Millais Gallery, Southampton. Video. ArtSway and Millais Galleries. 18 April-31 May 2008.
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Sykes, L., 2008. Tiago's Sequence at Krasnoyarsk Centre of Modern Dance, Russia. Video. Krasnoyarsk Centre of Modern Dance, Russia. April 2008.
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Sykes, L., 2008. Dance In Motion Festival, Wiltshire Dance. Video. The Arc, Trowbridge. 15-16 February 2008.
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Films

Surface Area Dance Theatre at Roche Court, 2022. Video.
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Cypher, 2022. Video.
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Pyro, 2021. Video.
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Synthetica, 2018. Video.
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Nelken-Line Gold Hill, 2018. Video.
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Nelken-Line, Bournemouth, Dorset, 2017. Video.
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Holton Lee participatory film project, 2016. Video.
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Allusion, 2016. Film.
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The Greeting, 2015. Video.
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The Greeting: A Dance Film Documentary, 2015. Video.
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Are You There?, 2015. Video.
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Movement In Location, Screendance Piece, 2011. Film.
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Note. Screendance triptych, 2010. Video.
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Penpynfarch, dancefilm, 2008. Film.
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Performances

Sykes, L.. Slice, performed with live composition. looped .mov. Inside Art, Bournemouth. 28 October 2017.
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Sykes, L.. Signal. Inside Art, Bournemouth. 28 September 2017.
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Sykes, L.. The Secret Ballet. Dance. Mottisfont House and Gardens, Hampshire. 5 May 2015.
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Sykes, L.. Note. Performed at Walford Mill.. Video, live music. Walford Mill, Wimborne, Dorset. 5 June 2010.
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Sykes, L.. Looking Glass, Kube Gallery, Dorset. Live performance incorporating lens based media. Kube Gallery, Poole, Dorset. April-October 2009.
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Sykes, L.. 'Compass' performance at the Salon Exhibition, Kube Gallery. Live dance performance incorporating lens based media. Kube Gallery, Poole, Dorset. 4 November 2008.
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Others

Noyale, C., 2025. Dancing. Leeds, UK: Emerald Publishing. Published.
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National Trust, 2019. Trust New Art: Celebrating 10 years of contemporary arts at National Trust places. Wiltshire: National Trust (Enterprises) Ltd. Published.
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Boulegue, F., 2015. Art in Motion: current research in screendance. Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Published.
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Sykes, L., 2010. Guide to Creating Film Projects in the Community. Bournemouth University. Published.
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PhD Students

Martin Sharp. Enacted emotionality: a missing concept for directing affective screen acting?, (In progress)

Profile of Teaching PG

MA Media Production Framework: Developing a Directorial Vision

Profile of Teaching UG

Project Development for Film (BAF/6)
Graduate Film Project (BAF/6)
Understanding Experimental Film (BAF 4)
Media Perspectives (BAF, BAMP, BATV, BAP L5)

Invited Lectures

Process and the PhD, Fusion, 19 Feb 2025 more

About undertaking a PhD and some are more specifically about a PhD by Publication.
Discussion with Dame Siobhan Davies about her film 'All This Can Happen', more

External Responsibilities

London College of Communication: University of the Arts London, External Examiner, MA Film (2018-2021), https://www.arts.ac.uk/subjects/animation-interactive-film-and-sound/postgraduate/ma-film-lcc
University for the Creative Arts Farnham, External Panel Member validation MA Digital Media (2018), https://www.uca.ac.uk/study/courses/ma-digital-media/
London College of Communication, Univ. of the Arts, London, External Examiner (2016-2019), http://www.arts.ac.uk/lcc/courses/postgraduate/ma-television/
University of East Anglia, External Examiner for a Practice Based PhD (2015-2016)
London College of Communication: University of the Arts London, External Academic Panel Member: Revalidation (2014-2015), http://www.arts.ac.uk/lcc/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-film-and-television/
London College of Communication: University of the Arts London, External Academic Panel Member, MA Factual TV (2014-2015)
Anglia Ruskin University, External Examiner (2011-2014), http://www.anglia.ac.uk/ruskin/en/home/prospectus/pg/film_and_television_production.html
London Metropolitan University, External Examiner (2011-2015), http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/ug-prospectus/courses-12-13/media-practice-film-broadcast.cfm
Hull College, Panel Member, Validation (2011-2012), http://www.hull-college.ac.uk/courses/course/ba-hons-television-and-film-design

Public Engagement & Outreach Activities

Flex site-centred dance and film workshop at Spud, Hampshire (09 Jul 2025)
Arts Disability Network 'We Are Artists' ongoing series of workshops (01 Nov 2024-01 Nov 2028)
Arts Disability Network ongoing online 'Making Space' workshops (01 Sep 2024-01 Sep 2028)
Co-director of Flex, c.i.c. (01 Jul 2024-01 Jul 2028)
New Art Centre Sculpture Park and Gallery at Roche Court dance and film project (01 May 2022)
Synthetica. music & plastic arts project (01 May 2018-01 May 2020)
Live Landscapes: site specific media, art and health project (01 Sep 2016)
Holton Lee: participatory media arts project (02 May 2016)
Screening: Interdisciplinary Research Week (25 Jan 2016)

Attended Training

Supervisory Development Training for new Supervisors, 15 May 2024

Qualifications
Memberships

Qualifications

PhD by Publication in The Art of Screendance (Bournemouth University, 2024)
PGCE in Academic Practice (Bournemouth University, 2010)
BA (Hons) in Communications (Film & Art, Theory & Practice) (Sir John Cass School of Art, London Guildhall University, now London Metropolitan University, 1993)

Memberships

Ecoartspace, Member (2023-), https://ecoartspace.org/
British Association of Film, Television and Screen Studies, Member (2020-), https://www.baftss.org/
NAHEMI (National Association for Higher Education in the Moving Image), Member (2014-),
Higher Education Academy, Fellow (2011-), http://heacademy.ac.uk/