Research Profile

Jools Gilson

Biography

Jools Gilson is an artist, writer and educator. She directed the dance theatre company half/angel from 1995 to 2006, and since 2010 has made creative radio for RTÉ and the BBC. Her texts, choreography and installation have been performed and exhibited internationally, and have received awards from The Arts Councils of Ireland and England, Culture Ireland, The Banff Centre for the Arts (Canada), ResCen (Centre for Research into Creation in the Performing Arts, UK) and others. She holds a practice-based PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies from the University of Surrey, and taught performance at the University of Hull and Dartington College of Arts (UK) before coming to Ireland.

Jools is also an award-winning radio broadcaster. Her radio documentary Los Preciosos (RTÉ Radio 1), received the Gold Award for Best Narration at the 2011 New York Festivals, and has been broadcast by CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) in 2012 and by ABC National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) in 2013. Her feature Oisin’s Story (also for RTÉ Radio 1) was nominated for the GlaxoSmithKline Irish Medical Media Awards in 2012. Her creative documentary Chrysanthemum was broadcast by BBC Radio 4 in April 2014, and selected for Pick of the Week, and then Pick of the Year, broadcast on Christmas Day 2014. Her radio drama Spinstren, also broadcast in 2014, was the first binaural (3D stereo sound) drama produced by RTÉ Radio in 30 years. 
The Rain Box (2017) for Lyric FM, made in collaboration with composer Sebastian Adams, was nominated for a New York Festivals Award for Sound Art in 2018.  She taught in the School of English at UCC from 1996 – 2016, where she was Associate Director of the MA in Creative Writing from 2013. She was appointed Professor of Creative Practice in 2016 and was Head of the School of Film, Music & Theatre from 2016 - 2020.

Research Interests

Jools Gilson's research interests cross boundaries between traditional academic scholarship and arts / broadcast practice. She has been a professional choreographer, an installation artist, a broadcaster, a critic and always a writer. She was the Director of the performance production company half/angel for more than 10 years, during which time she collaborated with the composer / digital artist Richard Povall to make dance theatre and  installation works known for their poetic sensibility and digital innovation. More recently, Jools has developed documentary and drama work in broadcast radio. The sensibility of her work continues to focus on making provocative & haunting poetic spaces across difference forms of practice.  Alongside this, she publishes in the fields of Feminist Theory, Visual Culture, Gender and Sexuality, Performance Studies, Performative Writing, Somatics and Affect Studies. 

Research Grants

 ProjectFunding
Body
Start DateEnd DateAward
Tempestries: Textiles, Tactility & the Climate EmergencyFulbright Ireland26-AUG-2118-DEC-21€12,130.00
Mapping Climate Change: The Knitting Map and The Tempestry ProjectCulture Ireland11-JUN-2130-NOV-21€8,000.00
Visioning the Future: Artistic Doctorates in Ireland.Higher Education Authority (HEA)01-FEB-2031-JAN-21€40,000.00
Visioning the Future II: Doctoral Education in the School of Film, Music & Theatre at UCCHigher Education Authority (HEA)01-MAR-2131-DEC-21€20,000.00
Dancing About Architecture: A Performative Interdisciplinary Workshop on Dance/Somatic Practices & Architecture/Engineering.Irish Research Council01-MAY-1929-FEB-20€12,000.00
Broadcast Quality Recording Equipment GrantStrategic Innovation Fund01-SEP-1431-DEC-15€15,509.00

Publications

Artistic Research Projects (R&D)

 YearPublication
(2021)Weathering.
Mary Wycherley, (2021) Weathering. Project Arts Centre and Dance Limerick: Artistic Research Projects (R&D) [Details]

Artistic Research Projects (Production)

 YearPublication
(2021)Middle End Beginning.
Lucia Kickham, Jools Gilson, Craig Cox & Matt Burke. (2021) Middle End Beginning. The Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick / Dublin Dance Festival: Artistic Research Projects (Production) [Details]

Exhibition

 YearPublication
(2021)Mapping Climate Change: The Knitting Map and The Tempestry Project.
Jools Gilson & Richard Povall (2021) Mapping Climate Change: The Knitting Map and The Tempestry Project. Berman Museum of Art, Pennsylvania, US: Exhibitions [Details]
(2017)Unveiled Horizons.
Carl Cordonnier & Jools Gilson (2017) Unveiled Horizons. Cork: Exhibitions [Details]
(2015)The Knitting Map: Art, community and controversy 2005 - 2015.
Jools Gilson & Richard Povall (2015) The Knitting Map: Art, community and controversy 2005 - 2015. Glucksman Gallery, Cork, Ireland: Exhibitions [Details]
(2007)The Knitting Map.
Jools Gilson-Ellis & Richard Povall (2007) The Knitting Map. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Exhibitions [Details]
(2006)The Knitting Map.
Jools Gilson-Ellis & Richard Povall (2006) The Knitting Map. Cork, Ireland: Exhibitions [Details]
(2005)The Knitting Map.
Jools Gilson-Ellis & Richard Povall (2005) The Knitting Map. Cork: Exhibitions [Details]
(2005)House.
Jools Gilson-Ellis & Richard Povall (2005) House. Cork: Exhibitions [Details]
(2004)The Lios.
Jools Gilson-Ellis & Richard Povall (2004) The Lios. Cork, Ireland: Exhibitions [Details]
(2002)Underbreath.
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2002) Underbreath. Cork: Exhibitions [Details]
(2000)mouthplace.
Jools GIlson-Ellis & Richard Povall (2000) mouthplace. Sao Paolo, Brazil: Exhibitions [Details]
(1999)mouthplace.
Jools GIlson-Ellis & Richard Povall (1999) mouthplace. Barcelona, Spain: Exhibitions [Details]
(1997)House.
Jools Gilson-Ellis & Richard Povall (1997) House. New York: Exhibitions [Details]
(1997)mouthplace.
Jools Gilson-Ellis & Richard Povall (1997) mouthplace. Derby, UK: Exhibitions [Details]
(1996)House.
Jools Gilson-Ellis & Richard Povall (1996) House. Oberlin, Ohio: Exhibitions [Details]

Edited Books

 YearPublication
(2019)Textiles, Community & Controversy: The Knitting Map
Jools Gilson & Nicola Moffat (Ed.). (2019) Textiles, Community & Controversy: The Knitting Map London & New York: Bloomsbury. [Details]

Radio Feature

 YearPublication
(2017)The Rain Box.
Sebastian Adams & Jools Gilson (2017) The Rain Box. Limerick: Radio Feature   [Details]

Radio Documentary

 YearPublication
(2014)Chrysanthemum.
Jools Gilson (2014) Chrysanthemum. London: Radio Documentary [Details]
(2012)The Book Club.
Jools Gilson (2012) The Book Club. Dublin: Radio Documentary   [Details]
(2011)Oisin's Story.
Jools Gilson (2011) Oisin's Story. Dublin: Radio Documentary   [Details]
(2010)Los Preciosos.
Jools Gilson (2010) Los Preciosos. Dublin: Radio Documentary   [Details]

Radio Drama

 YearPublication
(2014)Spinstren.
Jools Gilson (2014) Spinstren. Dublin: Radio Drama   [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

 YearPublication
(2017)'Writing & Experiment: The Video Essay as Creative Practice'
Jools Gilson (2017) 'Writing & Experiment: The Video Essay as Creative Practice'. The Cine Files: A Scholarly Journal of Cinema Studies, (11) [Full Text] [Details]
(2016)'The Ripples of Violence'
Jools Gilson & Vittorio Bufacchi (2016) 'The Ripples of Violence'. Feminist Review, (112):27-40 [Details]
(2012)'Navigation, Nuance and half/angel's Knitting Map A series of navigational directions …'
Gilson, Jools (2012) 'Navigation, Nuance and half/angel's Knitting Map A series of navigational directions …'. Performance Research, 17 (1):9-20 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2007)'Orienteering with Double Moss: The Cartographies of half/angel's The Knitting Map'
Jools Gilson-Ellis & Deborah Barkun (2007) 'Orienteering with Double Moss: The Cartographies of half/angel's The Knitting Map'. International Journal of Performance Arts & Digital Media, 3 (2):183-195 [Full Text] [Details]
(2004)'Listening Differently: The Croon Collaboration'
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2004) 'Listening Differently: The Croon Collaboration'. Modern Drama, 47 (4):701-720 [Details]
(2001)'Uneasy fictions ('Ten Thousand Steps' performed by the Daghdha-Dance-Company in Limerick)'
Gilson-Ellis, J (2001) 'Uneasy fictions ('Ten Thousand Steps' performed by the Daghdha-Dance-Company in Limerick)'. Dance Theatre Journal, 17 :36-38 [Full Text] [Details]
(2001)'Loa and Behold: Voice Ghosts in the New Technoculture'
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2001) 'Loa and Behold: Voice Ghosts in the New Technoculture'. Digital Creativity, 12 (2):77-88   [Full Text] [Details]
(1998)'Get Your Feminism Off My Floppy: Seedy Roms and Technical Tales'
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1998) 'Get Your Feminism Off My Floppy: Seedy Roms and Technical Tales'. Journal of Lesbian Studies, 2 (2/3):95-109 [Full Text] [Details]
(1996)'New Women Performance Writers: Rose English and Holly Hughes'
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1996) 'New Women Performance Writers: Rose English and Holly Hughes'. Journal of Gender Studies, 5 (2):201-210 [Full Text] [Details]
(1996)'Say Just You Mean'
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1996) 'Say Just You Mean'. The Drama Review, Spring 1996 :173-177 [Full Text] [Details]

Book Chapters

 YearPublication
(2021)'The Rain Box: Raining on the Radio and Other Stories'
Jools Gilson (2021) 'The Rain Box: Raining on the Radio and Other Stories' In: Hughes. I., Byrne E., Mullally G. Sage C (eds). Metaphor, Sustainability, Transformation: Transdisciplinary Perspectives. London & New York: Routledge. [Details]
(2019)'Navigation, Nuance and half/angel's Knitting Map: A Series of Navigational Directions . . '
Jools Gilson (2019) 'Navigation, Nuance and half/angel's Knitting Map: A Series of Navigational Directions . . ' In: Jools Gilson & Nicola Moffat (eds). Textiles, Community & Controversy: The Knitting Map. London & New York: Bloomsbury. [Details]
(2019)'Afterword'
Jools Gilson (2019) 'Afterword' In: Jools Gilson & Nicola Moffat (eds). Textiles, Community & Controversy: The Knitting Map. London & New York: Bloomsbury. [Details]
(2018)'The Kenning'
Jools Gilson (2018) 'The Kenning' In: Aoife McGrath & Emma Meehan (eds). Dance Matters in Ireland: Contemporary Dance Performance and Practice. London: Palsgrave Macmillan. [Full Text] [Details]
(2015)'Somaticatica: Embodied Adventures in and out of the Irish Countryside'
Bernadette Cronin, Jools Gilson & Roisin O'Gorman (2015) 'Somaticatica: Embodied Adventures in and out of the Irish Countryside' In: Alexander, K, Garrett Brown, N. & Whatley, S (eds). Attending to Movement: Somatic Perspectives on Living in this World. Axminster, UK: Triarchy Press. [Full Text] [Details]
(2013)'Listening to the Undertow'
Jools Gilson (2013) 'Listening to the Undertow' In: Lucy H. Pearce (eds). The Rainbow Way: Cultivating Creativity in the Midst of Motherhood. London: Soul Rocks. [Full Text] [Details]
(2004)'halving angels: technology's poem'
Jools Gilson-Ellis (with Richard Povall) (2004) 'halving angels: technology's poem' In: Gavin Carver & Colin Beardon (eds). New Visions in Performance: The Impact of Digital Technologies. London & New York: Routledge. [Full Text] [Details]
(2003)'Speaking and Dancing at the Same Time: An Interview with Jools Gilson-Ellis'
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2003) 'Speaking and Dancing at the Same Time: An Interview with Jools Gilson-Ellis' In: Dancing on the Edge of Europe: Irish Choreographers in Conversation. Cork, Ireland: Institute for Choreography & Dance. [Full Text] [Details]
(2003)'Mouth Ghosts: The Taste of the Os-Text'
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2003) 'Mouth Ghosts: The Taste of the Os-Text' In: Jane de Gay & Lizbeth Goodman (eds). Languages of Theatre Shaped by Women. Bristol: Intellect. [Full Text] [Details]
(2002)'Loa & Behold: Voice Ghosts in the New Technoculture'
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2002) 'Loa & Behold: Voice Ghosts in the New Technoculture' In: Colin Beardon & Lone Malmborg (eds). Digital Creativity: A Reader. Oxford & New York: Taylor & Francis. [Full Text] [Details]
(1998)'Get Your Feminism Off My Floppy: Seedy Roms and Technical Tales'
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1998) 'Get Your Feminism Off My Floppy: Seedy Roms and Technical Tales' In: Acts of Passion: Sexuality, Gender and Performance. London & New York: Routledge. [Full Text] [Details]

Conference Publications

 YearPublication
(2020)CARPA 6 University of the Arts, Helsinki
Jools Gilson & Sebastian Adams (2020) Drench: Raining on the radio and other stories CARPA 6 University of the Arts, Helsinki https://nivel.teak.fi/carpa6/jools-gilson-and-sebastian-adams-drench-raining-on-the-radio-and-other-stories/, [Full Text] [Details]
(2011)Textiles & Settlement: 12th Biennial Symposium of The Textile Society of America
Jools Gilson-Ellis & Deborah Barkun (2011) Choreographed Cartography: Translation, Feminized Labor and Digital Literacy in half/angel's The Knitting Map Textiles & Settlement: 12th Biennial Symposium of The Textile Society of America Lincoln, Nebraska, , 08-OCT-10 - 10-OCT-10   [Full Text] [Details]
(2000)International Dance & Technology 1999
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2000) Girling Troubled Spaces: Choreography, Writing and BigEye . In: Smith, A. William eds. International Dance & Technology 1999 Lethbridge AB & Columbus OH: Fullhouse, , pp.26-29   [Full Text] [Details]
(1995)Border Tensions: Dance and Discourse
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1995) Text and the Dancing Body: Rose English and Laurie Anderson . In: Adshead-Lansdale, Janet eds. Border Tensions: Dance and Discourse Guildford: University of Surrey Press, , pp.125-133 [Full Text] [Details]
(1995)Border Tensions: Dance and Discourse
Jools Gilson (1995) Difficult Joys Border Tensions: Dance and Discourse Guildford, , pp.373-374 [Details]

Choreography

 YearPublication
(2018)Gramophone Ghosts.
Jools Gilson (2018) Gramophone Ghosts. Cork Opera House: Choreography [Details]
(2005)The White Quadrangle.
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2005) The White Quadrangle. Cork, Ireland: Choreography [Details]
(2003)Spinstren.
Jools Gilson-Ellis & Richard Povall (2003) Spinstren. Taunton, Somerset, UK: Choreography [Details]
(2002)Spintren.
Jools Gilson-Ellis & Richard Povall (2002) Spintren. Marktalle, Hamburg, Germany: Choreography [Details]
(2002)Difficult Joys.
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2002) Difficult Joys. Cork, Ireland: Choreography [Details]
(2002)Spinstren.
Jools Gilson-Ellis & Richard Povall (2002) Spinstren. Institute for Choreography & Dance, Cork, Ireland: Choreography [Details]
(2002)Spinstren.
Jools Gilson-Ellis & Richard Povall (2002) Spinstren. Exeter Phoenix, UK: Choreography [Details]
(2002)Spinstren.
Jools Gilson-Ellis & Richard Povall (2002) Spinstren. Cork, Ireland: Choreography [Details]
(2001)The Secret Project.
Jools Gilson-Ellis & Richard Povall (2001) The Secret Project. Dublin: Choreography [Details]
(2000)The Secret Project.
Jools Gilson-Ellis & Richard Povall (2000) The Secret Project. Rotterdam: Choreography [Details]
(1999)The Secret Project.
Jools Gilson-Ellis & Richard Povall (1999) The Secret Project. Cork, Ireland: Choreography [Details]
(1999)Rice Ghosts.
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1999) Rice Ghosts. Limerick: Choreography [Details]
(1998)The Knitting Machine.
Jools Gilson-Ellis & Laura Gannon (1998) The Knitting Machine. Dublin: Choreography [Details]
(1998)Breath.
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1998) Breath. Dublin: Choreography [Details]
(1996)Difficult Joys.
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1996) Difficult Joys. Dartington, Devon, UK: Choreography [Details]
(1995)Difficult Joys.
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1995) Difficult Joys. Surrey: Choreography [Details]

Journalism

 YearPublication
(2019)How a Knitting Project in Cork became a Controversial Yarn.
Jools Gilson (2019) How a Knitting Project in Cork became a Controversial Yarn. Dublin: Journalism   [Details]
(2018)Assisted Solo revisited: try a little tenderness.
Jools Gilson (2018) Assisted Solo revisited: try a little tenderness. Dublin: Journalism   [Details]
(2018)Why we need to celebrate our dance artists.
Jools Gilson (2018) Why we need to celebrate our dance artists. Dublin: Journalism   [Details]
(2018)This is not an ordinary year to be a theatre student.
Jools Gilson (2018) This is not an ordinary year to be a theatre student. Dublin: Journalism   [Details]
(2013)Eminem at Slane Castle: A Song For Da Ladies?.
Jools Gilson (2013) Eminem at Slane Castle: A Song For Da Ladies?. London: Journalism   [Details]
(1992)Voices in the Wilderness.
Jools Gilson (1992) Voices in the Wilderness. London: Journalism [Details]

Dance Review

 YearPublication
(2002)The Rite of Spring: Cois Ceim Dance Theatre.
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2002) The Rite of Spring: Cois Ceim Dance Theatre. Dublin: Dance Reviews [Details]
(2001)sioscarnach psshwsssh!.
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2001) sioscarnach psshwsssh!. London: Dance Reviews [Details]
(2001)Uneasy Fictions: Daghdha's 10,000 Steps.
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2001) Uneasy Fictions: Daghdha's 10,000 Steps. London: Dance Reviews [Details]
(1997)Steps in a New Direction.
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1997) Steps in a New Direction. Cork, Ireland: Dance Reviews [Details]
(1997)These Beasts are Out to Lunch.
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1997) These Beasts are Out to Lunch. Cork, Ireland: Dance Reviews [Details]

Book Reviews

 YearPublication
(1999)Rachel Rosenthal ed. Moira Roth.
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1999) Rachel Rosenthal ed. Moira Roth. New York: Book Reviews [Full Text] [Details]
(1998)New Publications in Performance Studies.
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1998) New Publications in Performance Studies. London: Book Reviews [Details]
(1995)Laurie Anderson's 'Stories from the Nerve Bible.'.
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1995) Laurie Anderson's 'Stories from the Nerve Bible.'. London: Book Reviews [Full Text] [Details]

Visual Arts Review

 YearPublication
(1998)Self Address, Catherine Owens.
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1998) Self Address, Catherine Owens. Dublin: Visual Arts Review [Details]

Visual Arts Catalogue Essay

 YearPublication
(2007)half/angel: The Knitting Map.
Jools Gilson, Deborah Barkun & Richard Povall (2007) half/angel: The Knitting Map. Dublin, Cork & Lancaster, PA: Visual Arts Catalogue Essays [Details]
(2003)Haunting Theory.
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2003) Haunting Theory. Cork, Ireland: Visual Arts Catalogue Essays [Details]

Radio Presentation

 YearPublication
(1999)Hope Onion.
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1999) Hope Onion. Radio Presentation [Details]

Poems

 YearPublication
(1998)words here, like the slow building of a wall.
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1998) words here, like the slow building of a wall. Dublin: Poems   [Details]
(1997)'cyber book' & 'tongue' in Split Screen.
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1997) 'cyber book' & 'tongue' in Split Screen. Chichester: Poems [Full Text] [Details]

Professional Activities

Honours and Awards

 YearTitleAwarding Body
2021Fulbright Scholar: Textiles, Tactility & the Climate Emergency. Fulbright Ireland
2021B2 Creative Residency B2 Center for Media, Arts, and Performance, University of Colorado Boulder,
2021The Knitting Map: Tempestries / Exhibition at The Berman Museum of Art, Pennsylvania Culture Ireland
2021Visioning the Future II: Doctoral Education in the School of Film, Music & Theatre at UCC National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning in Higher Education, Higher Education Authority of Ireland.
2019Visioning the Future: Artistic Doctorates in Ireland. National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning in Higher Education, Higher Education Authority (HEA) Ireland.
2018Dancing About Architecture: A performative interdisciplinary workshop on Dance / Somatic Practices & Architecture / Engineering. Creative Connections - Irish Research Council
2018Nominee, New York Festivals World's Best Radio - Sound Art New York Festivals, International Radio Awards
2016UCC CACSSS Research Fund CACSSS (College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences), UCC, Cork
2015Publications Grant National University of Ireland
2015Visiting Speakers' Fund Boole Library, UCC
2015President's Fund, UCC President's Office, UCC
2015Conference Grant School of English, UCC
2014Research Publication Fund School of English, UCC
2014Pick of the Year BBC Radio 4
2014Strategic Research Fund Office of the Vice President for Research & Innovation, UCC, Cork
2014Major Application Support Fund CACSSS (College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences), UCC, Cork
2014Pick of the Week BBC Radio 4
2013UCC CACSSS Research Fund CACSSS (College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences), UCC, Cork
2012Nominee, GlaxoSmithKline Irish Medical Media Awards GlaxoSmithKline
2011New York Festivals, World's Best Radio, Gold Award for Best Narration in a Radio Documentary New York Festivals, World's Best Radio
2010Founding Presidents' Award, Textile Society of America Textile Society of America
2007Visual Art Award from Culture Ireland Culture Ireland, Dublin.
2007Arts Council Travel Award Arts Council of Ireland
2007UCC Arts Faculty Research Award University College Cork
2006UCC Arts Faculty Research Award University College Cork
2003Cork 2005: Commission for 'The White Quadrangle' European Capital of Culture: Cork 2005
2003Cork 2005: Commission for 'The Knitting Map' European Capital of Culture: Cork 2005
2003Arts Council Multi-Disciplinary Artists' Bursary Arts Council of Ireland
2002Arts Council Multi-Disciplinary Professional Development & Training Award Arts Council of Ireland
2002Arts Council Critical Reflection Award Arts Council of Ireland
2002Arts Council Projects Scheme Arts Council of Ireland
2002Ésmee Fairbairn Foundation Fund (UK) Ésmee Fairbairn Foundation (UK)
2001South West Arts Research and Development Grant (UK) South West Arts, UK
2001Arts Council Choreographer Award Arts Council of Ireland
2001UCC Arts Faculty Research Award University College Cork
2001UCC Arts Faculty Publishing Award University College Cork
2001UCC Research Travel Award University College Cork
2000UCC Arts Faculty Research Grant University College Cork
2000Cork County Council Arts Office, Sirius Arts Centre, Roches Point Residency Cork County Council
1999AT&T Production Grant (US) AT&T (US)
1999Arts Council of England, Department of Literature, New Audiences Programme Award Arts Council of England, Department of Literature
1999RESCEN (Centre for Research into Creation in the Performing Arts) Production Grant (UK) RESCEN (Centre for Research into Creation in the Performing Arts) UK
1999Cultural Relations Committee, Dance Award Department of Foreign Affairs, Cultural Relations Committee, Ireland
1999Arts Council Travel Award Arts Council of Ireland
1998Arts Council Interdisciplinary Collaborative Commission Arts Council of Ireland
1998Arts Council Travel Award Arts Council of Ireland
1998UCC Arts Faculty Research Grant University College Cork
1997UCC Arts Faculty Research Grant University College Cork
1995Arts Council of England Emotional Computing Award Arts Council of England, Department of Film, Television and Broadcasting
1987Colorado Graduate Scholarship University of Colorado at Boulder / University of Lancaster

Professional Associations

 AssociationFunctionFrom / To
IMBAS - Irish Society for Artistic Research Support & advocacy for Artistic Research in Ireland01-JUL-17 /
Theatre Forum National Lobby Group for Performing Arts in Ireland03-NOV-17 /
Dance Ireland Representing dance in Ireland05-FEB-16 /
Associazione di promozione culturale e sociale KINESFERA To promote somatics in a European cultural and social context.01-SEP-14 /
Association of Professional Dancers in Ireland Representative body for professional dance in Ireland01-SEP-98 / 01-SEP-08

Conference Contributions

 YearPublication
(2021)Textiles & Place,
Fionna Barba & Jools Gilson (2021) Irish Textile Art / The Knitting Map & Tempestries. [Keynote Speaker], Textiles & Place, Online , 11-OCT-21 - 15-OCT-21. [Details]
(2021)Modes of Capture III,
Lucia Kickham & Jools Gilson (2021) Middle End Beginning. [Other], Modes of Capture III, Irish World Academy of Music & Dance, University of Limerick , 21-MAY-21 - 22-MAY-21. [Details]
(2021)iJade: Hybrid Spaces - Re-imagining Pedagogy, Practice & Research,
Inês Bento Coelho & Jools Gilson (2021) Digital Resources: The Artistic Doctorate Experience. [Oral Presentation], iJade: Hybrid Spaces - Re-imagining Pedagogy, Practice & Research, Online , 26-MAR-21 - 28-MAR-21. [Details]
(2020)Modes of Capture II,
Jools Gilson & Philip Connaughton (2020) Remembering & Forgetting: An Interview with Philip Connaughton. [Invited Oral Presentation], Modes of Capture II, Online , 29-MAY-20 - 30-MAY-20. [Details]
(2019)CARPA6: The 6th Colloquium on Artistic Research in Performing Arts 2019,
Jools Gilson & Sebastian Adams (2019) Drench: Raining on the radio and other stories. [Invited Lectures (Workshops)], CARPA6: The 6th Colloquium on Artistic Research in Performing Arts 2019, University of the Arts, Helsinki , 28-AUG-19 - 30-AUG-19. [Details]
(2019)Modes of Capture Symposium,
Jools Gilson & Lucia Kickham (2019) Listening to Remembering and Forgetting - audio embodied archives. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Modes of Capture Symposium, Irish World Academy of Music and Dance , 21-JUN-19 - 23-SEP-19. [Details]
(2019)Sharing Space II,
Jools Gilson (2019) Radical Reconnaissance: Creative Practice & Interdisciplinarity. [Keynote Speaker], Sharing Space II, Queen's University Belfast , 14-JUN-19 - 14-JUN-19. [Details]
(2019)Irish Society for Theatre Research: Conversations Through Time: Intersectional, Intergenerational, Interdisciplinary,
Jools Gilson, Yvon Bonenfant, Daniel O'Connell, Mel Mercier & Nicholas Jojnson (2019) IMBAS (Artistic Research) Roundtable. [Oral Presentation], Irish Society for Theatre Research: Conversations Through Time: Intersectional, Intergenerational, Interdisciplinary, Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick , 11-MAY-19 - 11-MAY-19. [Details]
(2018)EDN Atelier: New Approaches to Dance Training,
Jools Gilson (2018) Pedagogies of Embodiment & Movement. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], EDN Atelier: New Approaches to Dance Training, Dance Ireland, Dublin , 29-JUN-18 - 30-JUN-18. [Details]
(2018)Dance Research Forum Ireland, Power , Politics & the Dancing Body,
Jools Gilson (2018) Irish Embodiment after the Abortion Referendum. [Oral Presentation], Dance Research Forum Ireland, Power , Politics & the Dancing Body, Limerick Institute of Technology , 28-JUN-18 - 01-OCT-18. [Details]
(2017)Metaphors of Transformative Change,
Jools Gilson (2017) The Rain Box: Raining on the Radio & Other Stories. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], Metaphors of Transformative Change, Environmental Research Centre, UCC , 15-SEP-17 - 15-MAY-18. [Details]
(2017)Festival Internacional de Cine en Puerto Vallarta / Puerto Vallarta International Film Festival,
Jools Gilson (2017) Irish Screendance: Choreography, Embodiment and Film in Ireland. [Keynote Speaker], Festival Internacional de Cine en Puerto Vallarta / Puerto Vallarta International Film Festival, Centro Universitario de la Costa, Puerto Vallarta . [Details]
(2016)Environment, Economy and Climate Change: Stages in Transition,
Jools Gilson (2016) Drench: Located climate engagement and social change. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Environment, Economy and Climate Change: Stages in Transition, Department of Drama and Theatre Arts, University of Birmingham, UK , 04-JUL-16 - 05-JUL-16. [Details]
(2014)Mind in the Flesh: Female Bodies in Contemporary Performance,
Jools Gilson (2014) “Give up all that dance rubbish and concentrate on sex and writing”: A Dancing Life. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Mind in the Flesh: Female Bodies in Contemporary Performance, Dance Limerick , 08-MAY-14 - 10-MAY-14. [Details]
(2013)Ballymaloe Literary Festival of Food & Wine,
Jools Gilson (2013) The Food Performances of Bobby Baker, UCC Food & Literature Panel. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Ballymaloe Literary Festival of Food & Wine, Ballymaloe House, East Cork, Ireland , 03-MAY-13 - 05-MAY-13. [Details]
(2013)Dance & Somatic Practices Conference 2013,
Jools Gilson (2013) Somaticats: On the Prowl for Somatic Performatives. [Invited Oral Presentation], Dance & Somatic Practices Conference 2013, Coventry, UK , 12-JUL-13 - 14-JUL-13. [Details]
(2012)Dance Matters (Curated Symposium),
Jools Gilson (2012) The Grammar of Somatics. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], Dance Matters (Curated Symposium), Dance House, Dublin , 07-NOV-12 - 07-NOV-12. [Details]
(2011)37th International Feature Conference,
Jools Gilson (2011) Industry Conference for Radio Documentaries. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], 37th International Feature Conference, Hilversum, The Netherlands , 15-MAY-11 - 19-MAY-11. [Details]
(2010)12th Textile Society of America Biennial Symposium (Textiles and Settlement: From Plains Space to Cyber Space),
Jools Gilson-Ellis & Deborah Barkun (2010) Choreographed Cartography: Translation, Feminized Labor, and Digital Literacy in half/angel's 'The Knitting Map.'. [Oral Presentation], 12th Textile Society of America Biennial Symposium (Textiles and Settlement: From Plains Space to Cyber Space), University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, US , 06-OCT-10 - 09-OCT-10. [Details]
(2010)45th Annual Comparative Literature Conference (Visual Culture and Global Practices),
Jools Gilson & Deborah Barkun (2010) Cartography and Controversy: half/angel's 'The Knitting Map' as Representation of 'Irishness.'. [Oral Presentation], 45th Annual Comparative Literature Conference (Visual Culture and Global Practices), California State University, Long Beach, California, US , 04-MAR-10 - 06-MAR-10. [Details]
(2008)Arts Research: The State of Play,
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2008) Tangling with the Academy. [Oral Presentation], Arts Research: The State of Play, Project Arts Centre, Temple Bar, Dublin, IE (Run by Graduate School of Creative Arts and Media, Dublin, IE) , 08-MAY-08 - 09-MAY-08. [Details]
(2006)Innovation in Textiles, Technology and Performance,
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2006) The Knitting Map. [Oral Presentation], Innovation in Textiles, Technology and Performance, SMARTlab Digital Media Institute, University of East London , 20-OCT-06 - 21-OCT-06. [Details]
(2005)Practice as Research in Performance International Conference,
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2005) Knitting and Controversy. [Invited Lectures (Workshops)], Practice as Research in Performance International Conference, Bretton Hall, UK , 29-JUN-05 - 03-JUL-05. [Details]
(2004)Interdisciplinary Practice and Collaboration,
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2004) The Croon Collaboration. [Visiting Critic], Interdisciplinary Practice and Collaboration, National Sculpture Factory, Cork, Ireland , 01-NOV-04 - 30-NOV-04. [Details]
(2004)Going Public: Public Practice Seminars for Artists,
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2004) The Knitting Map: Site Specific Performances. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], Going Public: Public Practice Seminars for Artists, Triskel Arts Centre, Cork, Ireland , 01-FEB-04 - 29-FEB-04. [Details]
(2003)Conditions of Criticism,
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2003) The Critic's Dancing Shoes. [Oral Presentation], Conditions of Criticism, Dublin Theatre Festival, Dublin, Ireland , 27-SEP-03 - 14-OCT-03. [Details]
(2002)International Association of Word and Image Studies Annual Conference,
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2002) Spinstren. [Oral Presentation], International Association of Word and Image Studies Annual Conference, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany , 21-JUL-02 - 27-JUL-02. [Details]
(2001)Practice as Research in Performance Symposium,
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2001) Spinstren: Dancing Theory. [Oral Presentation], Practice as Research in Performance Symposium, Bristol University, Bristol, UK , 10-NOV-01 - 11-NOV-01. [Details]
(2001)Understanding Tradition: A Multidisciplinary Exploration,
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2001) Spinstren: Irish Language in Experimental Performance. [Oral Presentation], Understanding Tradition: A Multidisciplinary Exploration, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland , 22-JUN-01 - 23-JUN-01. [Details]
(2000)Intensities: Praxis and the Body,
Jools Gilson-Ellis (2000) From Corpuscle to Ink. [Oral Presentation], Intensities: Praxis and the Body, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK , 07-OCT-00 - 08-OCT-00. [Details]
(1999)International Dance and Technology Conference,
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1999) 'The Secret Project: Emotional Computing. [Oral Presentation], International Dance and Technology Conference, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, US , 25-FEB-99 - 28-FEB-99. [Details]
(1999)Curating New Media,
Jools Gilson-Ellis & Richard Povall (1999) The Secret Project: Working with Emerging Technologies. [Oral Presentation], Curating New Media, Banff Centre for the Arts, Banff, Alberta, Canada , 06-AUG-99 - 07-AUG-99. [Details]
(1999)International Association of Word and Image Studies Annual Conference,
Jools Gilson-Ellis & Richard Povall (1999) The Secret Project: Choreography and Voice. [Oral Presentation], International Association of Word and Image Studies Annual Conference, Scripps College, Claremont, California , 14-MAR-99 - 20-MAR-99. [Details]
(1998)Discipline and Deviance: Genders, Technologies, Machines,
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1998) The Secret Project: Plural Spaces. [Oral Presentation], Discipline and Deviance: Genders, Technologies, Machines, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, US , 02-OCT-98 - 04-OCT-98. [Details]
(1998)Out of the Box: The Future of Interface,
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1998) The Secret Project: Haptic Poetic Spaces. [Oral Presentation], Out of the Box: The Future of Interface, Banff Centre for the Arts, Banff, Alberta, Canada , 05-SEP-98 - 07-SEP-98. [Details]
(1998)7th Conference on Cross-Currents in Literature: Space in Literature and Film,
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1998) mouthplace: Poetry and the Digital. [Oral Presentation], 7th Conference on Cross-Currents in Literature: Space in Literature and Film, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland , 24-FEB-98 - 25-FEB-98. [Details]
(1997)Arts and the Information Society,
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1997) mouthplace CD-ROM: Making Artwork for the Computer Screen. [Oral Presentation], Arts and the Information Society, Cork Arts Development Committee, Cork, Ireland , 01-NOV-97 - 30-NOV-97. [Details]
(1997)Women's Studies Conference,
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1997) mouthplace: Feminism and Art. [Oral Presentation], Women's Studies Conference, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland , 01-FEB-97 - 28-FEB-97. [Details]
(1997)Gender, Politics, Performance Seminar,
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1997) New Women Performance Writers. [Oral Presentation], Gender, Politics, Performance Seminar, Open University, Milton-Keynes, UK , 01-FEB-97 - 28-FEB-97. [Details]
(1997)Performance Studies Conference,
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1997) mouthplace: New Performance Sensibilities. [Oral Presentation], Performance Studies Conference, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, US , 10-APR-97 - 13-APR-97. [Details]
(1996)Split Screen,
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1996) mouthplace: Technology and Femininity. [Oral Presentation], Split Screen, University College Chichester, Chichester, UK , 19-JUL-96 - 21-JUL-96. [Details]
(1996)Performance Writing Symposium,
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1996) mouthplace: Writing for Digital Spaces. [Oral Presentation], Performance Writing Symposium, Dartington College of Arts, Totnes, UK , 12-APR-96 - 12-APR-96. [Details]
(1995)Border Tensions: Dance and Discourse,
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1995) Text and the Dancing Body. [Oral Presentation], Border Tensions: Dance and Discourse, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK , 20-APR-95 - 23-APR-95. [Details]
(1994)Literature and the Contemporary,
Jools Gilson-Ellis (1994) New Women Performance Writers. [Oral Presentation], Literature and the Contemporary, University of Hull, Kingston Upon Hull, UK , 09-DEC-94 - 10-DEC-94. [Details]

Committees

 CommitteeFunctionFrom / To
College Executive Management Committee Member2016 / 2020
School Executive Management Committee Chair2016 / 2020
Uversity Co-Ordinator2014 / 2017
Third Year Committee, School of English Committee Member2012 / 2016
Granary Theatre Board Chair2000 / 2003
Corcadorca Theatre Company Board Board Member1999 / 2003

Employment

 EmployerPositionFrom / To
University College Cork Professor of Creative Practice01-JUL-16 /
University College Cork Lecturer in English (Drama)01-SEP-96 / 30-JUN-16
half/angel (Performance Production Company) Director01-MAY-95 / 30-JUN-06
Dartington College of Arts Lecturer in Theatre01-SEP-92 / 31-AUG-95
University of Hull, UK Special Lecturer in Drama01-OCT-90 / 31-AUG-92

Education

 YearInstitutionQualificationSubject
2000University of Surrey, UK PhDTheatre & Performance Studies
1989University of Colorado at Boulder, US Master of ArtsTheatre & Dance
1987University of Lancaster, UK BA (Hons)English & Theatre Studies

Outreach Activities

 Description

Writing & Embodiment Workshop at Dance Limerick, April 2016, as part of dance film maker, Mary Wycherley's residency, funded by the Arts Council Dance Artist Residency Scheme 2015.

Ballymaloe Literary Festival of Food & Wine: Hungry Enchantments - Workshops for Children on Writing & Food (2013); Food Writing Workshops with Regina Sexton (2014, 2015 & 2016).

Journal Activities

 JournalRoleTo / From
Textile: The Journal Of Cloth & Culture Referee01-FEB-12 - 30-NOV-12
Medical Humanities Referee02-JAN-17 -
Journal Of Gender Studies Referee01-SEP-97 - 31-AUG-98

Other Activities

 Description

External Examiner, MA Festive Arts, University of Limerick 2017 - 2021

Arts Council of Ireland Peer Assessor; Dance Projects Panel Nov 2020; Oct 2013 / Dance Bursary Panel Aug 2012 / Dance Projects Panel May 2011 / Theatre Projects Panel, Sep 2008 / Performing Arts Bursary Panel, Apr 2007 / Residencies Panel, May 2004.

Chair of judging panel, Carried in Waves, short story competition, UCC 98.3FM, Autumn 2015

Mentor for Dance Film Maker Mary Wycherley, as part of her Arts Council Funded Dance Bursary in 2013.

Subject Specialist Evaluator: NUI Travelling Studentships in the Humanities and Social Sciences in 2013.

A Mentor in the Mentoring Pilot Scheme run by the Arts Council of Ireland in 2005.

Writing Residencies: The Tyrone Guthrie Centre at Annaghmakerrig, Co. Monaghan, Ireland (2013, 2012, 2011, 2000); The Cill Rialaig Project, Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry, Ireland (2003, 1999); Sirius Arts Centre, Roches Point Residency, Whitegate, Co. Cork, Ireland (2000).

Choreographic Residencies: The Banff Centre for the Arts, Canada, Media and Visual Arts / Theatre Arts (Sep/Oct & Nov/Dec 1999, Mar/Apr & Aug/Sep1998); Triskel Arts Centre, Cork, Ireland (Resident Arts Company 2006); Institute for Choreography & Dance, Cork, Ireland (2003, 1997); International Multimedia Lab 6, Bore Place, Kent. UK (2000); Oberlin College, Ohio, US (1998); STEIM Studios, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (Jun & Sep 1996)

Professional Development (Somatics): Dynamic Embodiment Intensive, Martha  Eddy, Cork (July 2019); Hanna Somatics - Professional Training in Clinical Somatic Education, Module 1, Tarusa, Russia (May/June 2016); Module 1a (May 2017, Dublin); Module 2a (Aug 2017, Dublin); Module 2b (0ct 2017, Dublin); Module 3 (Apr 2018, Wicklow); Module 3a (July 2019) Stockholm, Sweden; The Shoulder Girdle with Brian Siddhartha Ingle, Wicklow, Ireland (April 2016); Body Mind Centering - Ontogenetic Development with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, Tuscania, Italy (Oct 2014); Somatics & Performance Intensive, UCC, Cork (Aug 2012); Body Mind Centering with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, Dún Laoghaire, Ireland (Aug 2011); Body Mind Centering - Organ System with Katy Dymoke, Liverpool (July 2008).

Professional Development (Writing):Training for Screenwriting, Cork Screen Commission, Cork, Ireland (Dec 2013); Poetry & Performance with Jean Binta Breeze, Dartington College of Arts (1996).

Professional Development (Radio): Radio Fast Train, BBC White City, London, UK (Feb 2012).

Professional Development (Choreography, Dance & Theatre): Goat Island Intensive (2 weeks), Triskel Arts Centre, Cork (Aug 2005); Emerging / Re-Emerging: Choreographic Workshop/ Susan Rethorst (1 week), Institute for Choreography & Dance, Cork (Feb 2003); Contemporary Dance with Ultima Vez, International Workshop Festival, Trinity College Dublin (1999); Contemporary Dance Easter School, The Place, London (1996)

Professional Development (Voice): Pantheatre: Paris Annual Professional Workshop (6 weeks) THE VOICE: Research Techniques – Singing, Texts and Choreographic Theatre. (Jan / Feb 2003); Voice Intensive (1 week) with Kevin Crawford, UCC (Apr 2003); Roy Hart Voice Workshops (1 week) - Kevin Crawford & Linda Wise, International Centre for Voice, The Central School of Speech and Drama, London (July 2001); Meredith Monk Voice Workshop, Dublin (Oct 2001)

PhD External Examiner for Vesna Milanovic, University of East London, School of Arts & Digital Industries, Sept 2007

Invited expert / Spinstren (Dance Theatre) as subject of AHRB funded workshop in May 2002 - 'De Centering the Dancing Text: Intertextuality and Hypertextuality,' Dept of Dance, University of Surrey.

Drama Assessor for Arts Council of England from 1995 – 6.

Teaching Activities

Teaching Interests

Jools Gilson teaches theatre practice, choreography, somatics, voice, writing for and out of performance, creative radio and transdisciplinary approaches to contemporary performance. She has a particular interest in hybrid forms of creative practice which combine elements of dance, theatre, sound, visual art, installation, film & video, and teaches practical and theoretical explorations of discipline and meaning-making in performance. She is the co-ordinator of the PhD in Creative Practice, and has particular theoretical interests in Feminist Theory, Gender & Sexuality,  Performative Writing, Performance Studies, Affect Studies, Somatics and Creative Writing. She supervises PhDs in these areas.


Recent Postgraduates

 Graduation YearStudent NameInstitutionDegree TypeThesis Title
2015Nicola Moffat University College CorkPHDMonstrative Acts and Becoming-Monster: On Identity, Bodies, and the Feminine Other.

Contact details

  • Jools Gilson
    Professor of Creative Practice
  • Department of Theatre
    1 Muskerry Villas
    Lancaster Quay
    UCC, Cork
  • +353 21 4904362

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Department of Theatre

Roinn na hAmharclannaíochta

Muskerry Villas, Western Road, Cork City T12 AW97

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