What is Artistic Research?
England In England the word science is primarily applied to natural sciences, excluding the category known as humanities, which is often placed alongside or including arts. Artistic research, known as practice as research in England, was initiated in the early 90s and mainly conducted within the fine arts, design and performing arts faculties of universities. While much of this research might be described as about and for art and has been practice based, in the last ten years an increasing number of research projects have been through practice, wherein practice is the site and outcome of the research. A degree always demands some kind of written element and the nature and extent of this varies between universities. The fee for studying full time in a doctoral programme is about GBP 4000 per year for British/EU students and GBP 10 000 – 17 000 per year for others. The programmes are mostly three-year full time, but many students are studying part-time. Today many art schools have university status. Two examples: University for the Creative Arts80 and University of the Arts London81, with about 200 doctoral candidates (comprising Camberwell College of the Arts, Central Saint Martin, Chelsea College of Arts, London College of Communications, London School of Fashion and Wimbledon College of Arts). The Royal College of Art82 is known as an independent post-graduate institution. Similarly in the performing arts, the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama83, University of London, offers a doctoral provision. Another prominent actor in the field of practice as research is Goldsmiths University of London84. At research-level the Art Department’s aim is to support the development of original practice in the form of artworks, curatorial production and writing. If you sign up for a practice based PhD, you are expected to present your research in a series of artworks and a written thesis of 40 000 words. 80
www.ucreative.ac.uk www.arts.ac.uk www.rca.ac.uk 83 www.cssd.ac.uk 84 www.gold.ac.uk 81 82
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