Spotlight on Claire Kayes
3 December 2024
Claire Kayes is an early career researcher with a unique academic and professional background in art and inclusive education. Combined with her dynamic, evolving practice, this makes her an invaluable asset to The Box's research initiatives. Claire brings a fresh perspective on how language shapes inclusion - and exclusion - within the cultural sector.
Challenging the creation of labelling and othering
At the heart of Claire's practice lies a critical exploration of how language, particularly the terminology used in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) contexts, can produce labels that divide and separate rather than unite. By applying theoretical concepts to the vast moving image archive housed at The Box, Claire aims to interrogate the evolution of EDI language and delve into how it has shaped perceptions and access within historical and contemporary narratives.
Reimagining the Film Archive: A transformative programme
Claire's research is part of Reimaging the Film Archive, a transformative three-year programme that seeks to challenge traditional approaches to archival preservation and redefine the role of film archives. The initiative aligns with The Box’s broader mission of reshaping history through a more inclusive lens: highlighting diverse perspectives and advocating for underrepresented communities and the global majority.
Looking ahead: The journey of decolonisation
Claire’s appointment is part of The Box’s broader journey of decolonisation, which aims to uncover and share diverse stories that reflect the rich cultural tapestry of our communities. By rethinking the way we approach language and archival content, we hope to create a future where all histories are equally valued and represented.
Stay tuned for more updates as Claire’s research progresses.
Discover more
- Find out more about Reimagining the Film Archive, our three-year programme (2023–2026) supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the BFI Screen Heritage Fund.
- Don't miss our spotlight on Tariq Ali, the recipient of our other 2025 Researcher Commission. His work, which is also part of the RtFA programme, is crucial to our ongoing work to rethink how we record, categorise and interpret the stories within The Box's film archives.