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Sigrid Merx is an Associate Professor in Theatre Studies and the Director of Education at Utrecht University. With a background as a trained theatre scholar, writer, and dramaturg, she specializes in participatory art projects and brings innovative concepts and approaches to theatre dramaturgy in various contexts. Her work reflects a keen interest in the value of performative and creative methods in academic education and research, particularly in exploring performances and performativity in urban public spaces. She co-leads the UU research platform 'Urban Interfaces', which investigates how situated art performance can serve as productive sites for engaging with contemporary tensions and debates in urban public spaces. Additionally, Sigrid leads a work package for the Comenius Leadership Project 'Fostering Open Mind Open Attitude' from 2023 to 2026, aimed at developing creative tools to foster dialogue in higher education amid growing polarization. As a Senior Fellow of the project from 2025 to 2029, she explores the relationship between creativity and collaboration, focusing on training educators in creative methods to enhance collaborative interdisciplinary learning environments. Furthermore, she is a core member of the Creative Humanities Academy, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among professionals and researchers in the cultural creative sector and humanities. She is also actively involved in the UU Special Interest Group on Creative Research Methods.
Department of Psychology