Harriet Purkis

Dr Harriet Purkis is Lecturer in event and leisure management in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management. She teaches on the undergraduate programmes and supervises MSc students. She is the study abroad coordinator for the Department. Harriet is a graduate of the University of Leicester where she completed a B.A. (Hons) in Economics and Economic History, and an M.A. in Museum Studies. She holds an M.A. in Tourism Management and a Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Development for Researchers from Ulster University. Harriet achieved the Master of Education in Higher Education Practice with Distinction and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She received her PhD from Ulster University with a Vice Chancellor’s Research Scholarship. This research demonstrated how museums can develop their role in collecting and displaying present day everyday life. Harriet is an Associate of the Museums Association. She is a former Chair of the Social History Curators Group. Her main research interests are in museum and arts management, with a focus on socially engaged events and exhibitions. Her research has a participatory methodology and a practical element of exhibition presentation. Recent virtual exhibitions include Living in Donegal - presenting mixed media portraits of 27 people from different cultures and ethnic backgrounds who live in Donegal, Ireland; and Brian Friel's Ballybeg - a virtual digital map of inspirations and places for Brian Friel's Ballybeg plays. She has published in books and journals. Harriet has worked extensively as a manager in museums, art centres and on festivals and events, in both local authorities and the private sector. She continues her practice as an exhibition curator, making exhibitions about people’s everyday lives and interpreting visual art through hands-on exhibits. Previous work has included the textile gallery, ‘Fibres, Fabrics and Fashion’ at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester; ‘Local People’ and ‘Contemporary Art for Children’ at The Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, and ‘Portrait of a City’ Community exhibitions and events for Derry/ Londonderry UK City of Culture.