Main menu
Staff & students

Goldsmiths renames academic building after Professor Stuart Hall

Primary page content

Last week (24-28 November 2014) Professor Stuart Hall was remembered at Goldsmiths, as a leader in the field of cultural studies, cultural analyst, public intellectual and a uniquely gifted teacher.

The New Academic Building was renamed on Friday 28 November, as the Professor Stuart Hall building(PSH).

Patrick Loughrey, Warden said, “Professor Stuart Hall was a public intellectual who held the highest values of integrity, creativity and criticality, values which Goldsmiths embodies today.

 “Stuart Hall has been a crucial influence on our work at Goldsmiths and we are deeply honoured to dedicate this state-of-the-art facility to his legacy.”

During the renaming ceremony, Professor Catherine Hall, Stuart’s widow unveiled a specially commission light sculpture and plaque.

The light installation titled, ‘Refracted Prisms’ was created by Goldsmiths alumni Tearlach Byford-Flockhart, Liberty Dent and Hannah Fasching.

Liberty Dent, a Goldsmiths alumna said: "We were extremely proud and honoured to have been chosen to produce a design that pays homage to such a leading figure within the field of cultural studies. 

“We chose this design as it is ever-changing much like Stuart's critical practice and a design that would incorporate the original fabric of the building."

Series of events

Led by the Department of Media and Communications, a series of events took place around campus throughout the week, and finished with the renaming ceremony on Friday.

Academics and industry leaders debated contemporary cultural studies and discussed Stuart’s texts and influence on generations of artists, film makers and critics.

Jess Hall, Stuart’s son gave an enlightening lecture on cinematography and showcased decades of his work, including his work on Transcendence (2014).

John Akomfrah showed his three-screen documentary, the ‘Unfinished Conversation’ in the St James Hatcham Building.

Eminent political activist and scholar Professor Angela Davis delivered the keynote speech in the newly renamed Professor Stuart Hall building, to conclude a week of events.

At the renaming ceremony, Angela Davis said: "I came to Goldsmiths to find Stuart and I did through Richard Hoggart. Now Stuart has his own building at Goldsmiths, and I hope his spirit lives on; through theories, lives and movements."

Stuart Hall Foundation

On Saturday 30 November, The Stuart Hall Foundation was announced at a family and friends event.

The Foundation has been established in memory of Stuart and to continue his life’s work. The Foundation’s principal activity will be to fund one or more annual Stuart Hall Fellowships and to support and encourage creative and scholarly works that develop and take inspiration from Stuart’s legacy.

The founding Trustees will be Sue Woodford-Hollick (Chair), Catherine Hall, Becky Hall, Michael Rustin, Susanna Rustin, David A Bailey Gilane Tawadros and Julian Henriques, from the Department of Media and Communications at Goldsmiths. Patrons of the Foundation will include Angela Davis, Isaac Julien and Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Find out more