Keynote Presentation by Natalie Loveless
The symposium began with an exciting keynote address by Natalie Loveless. Against the backdrop of HKU’s creative ambience, Loveless delivered a thought-provoking talk titled “Research-Creation as Daily Practice.” Attendees were enthralled as Loveless explored the intricate relationship between research and artistic creation, offering insights into how artists incorporate research methodologies into their daily creative practices. The keynote was followed by an interactive Q&A session, allowing participants to engage with Loveless and delve deeper into the subject matter.
Presentation of the PD Research Projects
The symposium provided a platform for presenting the first eight PD (Professional Doctorate) research projects. As each presenter shared their unique research, attendees were treated to a variety of artistic research, demonstrating its diversity and multidisciplinary nature.
Break
During the break, participants connected with fellow attendees, exchanged ideas, and expanded their networks.
Panel Discussion on Quality Dimensions and Requirements of Artistic Research
Resuming the symposium, an panel discussion led by Liesbet van Zoonen took place, with Jeroen Boomgaard, Laura Cull Ó Maoilearca and Natalie Loveless. They discussed how official quality criteria and requirements of the PD can be articulated with the particular critical and interrogative attitude of artists and designers. This formed the kick off for ongoing discussions among candidates, their supervisors and the wider field about worldclass artistic and design research.
Conclusion
The symposium turned out as a huge celebration of the PD Arts + Creative. Attendees went home with joy and inspirations, fresh insights and new connections. The symposium’s success highlighted the need and urgency for a doctoral level research program within the arts and creativity domain.
Eight artists and designers have started their research in the Professional Doctorate Programme Arts + Creative. They are among the first participants in the pilot project initiated by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science in collaboration with the universities of applied sciences. This endeavour explores the necessity and feasibility of establishing an equivalent doctoral programme in the field. The Arts + Creative PD Programme encompasses all art and design disciplines, primarily fostering innovation within one’s respective field through rigorous research. Additionally, it aims to facilitate the renewal and improvement of practices in various sectors, such as healthcare, education, or nature and the environment, through artistic or design interventions. The PD candidates will conduct artistic or design research for four years. This initial round has the following candidates.
S†ëfan Schäfer, Amsterdam University of the Arts
Breaking Apart Together: Performing Speculative Design with Dying Mountains and Glaciers.
Considering the escalating mortality of glaciers and mountains in the Alps and Iceland, how can speculative design help humans and non-humans to confront and respond to these tragic losses? Is it conceivable for mountains and glaciers to become equal participants in climate crisis design processes? How does the displacement and demise of mountains and glaciers affect people emotionally when grappling with (future) ecological grief? By broadening the scope of mourning, what implications will the (future) demise of mountains and glaciers have on nearby non-human entities? Which non-humans mourn the (future) deceased, and what forms does this take?
Chinouk Filique de Miranda, ArtEZ University of the Arts
Digitised Practices in the Margins; Reimagining Fashion’s Virtual Interface.
Fashion and digital culture are inextricably linked. Digital media has revolutionised how we engage with fashion and offers us a virtual realm to shape our online identities. In this research, Chinouk Filique de Miranda delves into the intersection of fashion and virtual reality, examining its repercussions on our digital agency. The study focuses on identity in the digital age and the extent to which individuals can construct different forms of subjectivity. The objective is to contribute to broader advancements in an increasingly global and digital society, such as new forms of consumerism, capital, and cultural value.
Risk Hazekamp, Avans University of Applied Sciences
Unlearning Photography: Listening to Cyanobacteria.
Toxicity and analogue photography share more than just chemical production processes; they are also entwined in creating dominant socio-political power structures that define and categorise. In response to this toxic history, Risk Hazekamp investigates alternative photographic methods to view the world without a camera. These methods involve non-chemical production processes and adopt a non-human perspective. Hazekamp proposes a fresh approach to photography, wherein the photographer relinquishes control over the image and instead fosters the conditions for photographic images to emerge. The ultimate objective is to establish a ‘living micro-organic photographic process’ that continually converts carbon dioxide and releases oxygen.
Read more about this project by Risk Hazekamp on the website of Caradt
Emily Huurdeman, Fontys University of Applied Sciences
Essaying as Collective Performative Practice.
At its core, essaying involves approaching a subject through critical, personal, artistic, and theoretical perspectives. The essay encompasses many artistic forms beyond the written essay. This research centres on the essay (essaying) as an interdisciplinary, performative, and collective process, enabling the interaction of diverse artistic practices and knowledge perspectives. The goal is to collaboratively generate and exchange essay iterations and critical reflection. Through essaying a topic, students and artistic researchers can experiment performatively, exploring the interaction of their theoretical research and artistic practice.
Agustín Martínez Caram, Hanze University of Applied Sciences
Lifestyle and Digital Sovereignty. A New Media Arts Approach to Collective Technological Empowerment for Holistic Care.
This artistic research aims to promote healthy lifestyle habits through new media art interventions. By incorporating technological processes, the study interrogates the potential of artistic research to enhance digital literacy and empower participants in managing their lifestyle habits using AI. Field research takes the form of AT-LABS, which serve as artistic spaces that facilitate interdisciplinary research into community building, digital literacy, and performative practices. Collaboration takes place with the Consortium Healthy Living as a Service, while guidance comes from various professionals in the fields of research and art and design.
Philippine Hoegen, HKU University of the Arts Utrecht
PERFORMING WORKING.
The ‘problem with work’ lies in its ability to exhaust us. Furthermore, flexible work arrangements have become pervasive. At the same time, many individuals are either not allowed or unable to work, and significant forms of work often remain unnoticed. Typically, we examine these issues from medical, social, or legal perspectives. However, artistic research offers an alternative approach by prioritising the body, doing, and experiential knowledge. This research aims to better comprehend what does and doesn’t constitute work. For instance, it explores the – often invisible – work performed by patients in a hospital setting and looks into the reasons behind labelling certain activities as work while disregarding others. Performing Working aims to enhance our understanding of the role of work in our lives.
Nadja van der Weide, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
The art of the mediated dialogue – Exploring the Role of Ownership, Technology, and Participation in Facilitating Dialogue within Local Communities.
Participatory methods are increasingly recognised as effective approaches for examining social, technical, and political challenges within society. Art, design, and digital media have emerged as powerful tools for cultivating positive stakeholder relationships and generating fresh perspectives on shared (public) spaces. Mediated dialogues are one such method, facilitating important conversations to shape our future and embrace diversity. This research, led by Nadja van der Weide, focuses on the optimisation and implementation of mediated dialogues, utilising digital technology to facilitate these interactions.
reinaart vanhoe, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences
Learning from ruangrupa & documenta fifteen.
This PD research investigates the concept of collectivity in art, taking inspiration from the Indonesian multidisciplinary art collective ruangrupa and its utilisation of the international art exhibition ‘documenta’ as a working tool. The practices of ruangrupa serve as both an exercise and a starting point to address inquiries regarding forms of self-organisation within and beyond the realm of art. This investigation explores how contemporary art can transcend established Western paradigms of museums, galleries, and curatorial practices and what insights we can glean from integrating art into everyday life practices.
Currently, 15 universities of applied science are participating in the Professional Doctorate Arts + Creative programme, and they will recommend 34 candidates. The participating Universities of Applied Sciences are Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam University of the Arts, ArtEZ University of the Arts, Avans University of Applied Sciences, Breda University of Applied Sciences, Codarts Rotterdam, Design Academy Eindhoven, Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, HKU University of the Arts Utrecht, Inholland University of Applied Sciences, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, University of the Arts The Hague, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences.
Taskforce for Applied Research (Regieorgaan SIA) is a partner of the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences (Vereniging Hogescholen) in the implementation of the pilot, and its specific task is to stimulate the research quality of the PD tracks. One way the Regieorgaan does this is by funding PD candidates. The pilot started in February 2023 and should be completed in 2029.
We are delighted to invite you to the second symposium of the Professional Doctorate Programme of the Arts + Creative domain, which will take place in Utrecht on Friday, June 23, 2023, at the HKU, Locatie IBB-laan, Ina Boudier-Bakkerlaan 50, 3582 VA Utrecht.
You are welcome to join us for lunch at 12:00, and at 13:00, the symposium will start, where we will inspire, inform and discuss together with our PD candidates and their supervisors.
PROGRAMME:
12:00 – 13:00: Lunch and walk-in for the symposium13:00 – 14:00: Keynote by Natalie Loveless, “Research-Creation as Daily-Practice by Natalie Loveless”, followed by Q&A14:00 – 15:30: Presentation of the eight PD research projectsBreak16:00 – 16:45: Panel discussion about the quality dimensions and requirements of artistic research.16:45: DrinksPlease reserve the date and register as soon as possible using this LINK. For additional information, please email us at Caradt@avans.nl.
UAS PD Arts + Creative is a joint effort by
Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam University of the Arts, ArtEZ University of the Arts, Avans University of Applied Sciences, Breda University of Applied Sciences, Codarts Rotterdam, Design Academy Eindhoven , Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, HKU University of the Arts Utrecht, Inholland University of Applied Sciences, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, University of the Arts The Hague, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences.
The film can been seen on Youtube with the following link.
The ATD Research Month 2023 has ended with many inspiring events, and the materials will soon be available online. The next ATD Research Month will be in January 2024. The Lectorate of the Academy of Theatre and Dance has released a short film that aims to start conversations about research and what it could become at the ATD. Viewers are encouraged to share their thoughts and questions about the film, research, and the future of research at the ATD.
This draft description of the pre-PD programme is based on input gathered during a co-creation day with professors (lectoren) of the participating institutes (Universities of Applied Sciences, UAS) on April 21, 2022
Content
The pre-PD programme is organised to help potential candidates develop their PD proposals. It will be offered to the first group of potential candidates to enter the program during its pilot phase and consists of 5 sessions that will take place on 2, 16 and 30 September and on 14 and 28 October 2022. Potential PD candidates are nominated to participate in a pre-PD programme by the UAS. The program is structured around the main components of the PD proposal, as formulated in appendix 3 of the validated PD Programme description. The (quality of) resulting PD proposals may inform the UAS decisions to select or not select a candidate for the PD programme. The proposals of selected candidates are submitted to the Graduate Committee (GC) by the UAS for a procedural assessment of the PD Arts and Creative, together with the required Education and Supervision Plan(OBP, see Appendix 2 of the validated PD Programme description).
Location
Social Impact Factory, Vredenburg 40, 3511 BD Utrecht.
This concerns the Fridays 2 September, 30 September, 14 October en 28 October.
The location for Friday 16 September will also be in Utrecht, but at HKU, location Nieuwe Kade at a 10 minute walk from Utrecht CS. If you travel by car on 16 September, please let us know in advance to reserve parking space. Navigation code 3511 RV.
| DATE | ACTION | RESPOSIBILITY |
| End of August 2022 | Nomination of 1-3 candidates per UAS. | UAS |
| 2, 16, 30 September, 14, 28 October 2022 | pre-PD sessions | Taskforce with at least one invited professor (lector) per session |
| Beginning of November | Submit research plan to UAS | Candidate together with the first supervisor |
| November | Writing of the Education and Supervision Plan (OBP) | Candidate together with the supervisors |
| End of November | Submit research plan and OBP to Graduate Committee | First supervisor |
| First two weeks of December | Reading plans and procedural assessments | Graduate Committee |
| Mid-December | Establishing final list of candidates to the PD | Graduate Committee |
| January 1 | Start of PD | Taskforce in collaboration with Graduate committee and General Board |
The sessions are structured around the first five sections of a PD proposal. During and after each session, all candidates draft the section of their proposal related to that session;
The remaining sections of the PD proposal, sections 6, 7, and 8, are written under the supervision of the candidate’s PD supervisors;
The programme is attentive to visual input and other ways of writing outside of academic writing;
The programme pays special attention to the development of a good research question; as well as
To research ethics and the difficulties that come with collaboration in complex research
Session format:
10.00: reception and warm up/team building
10.30: introduction to the objectives of the day plus a short pitch from the candidates 11.30: writing sprints including lunch (13.00-13.30)
13.30: discussion of writings in groups with Taskforce members and professors 14.30: writing sprints
15.30: discussion of writings in groups with Taskforce members and professors
16.30: closing (session ends at 17.00)
The pre-PD sessions
Session 1. What is the subject of the research? (September 2, 2022)
Describe the social, artistic or creative practice(s) in which the research positions itself and in which it intervenes. Pay attention to the so-called ‘question articulation’, i.e. how and
with whom the research question were developed and the intervention domain was determined. How familiar is the candidate with the context in which the research will take place and the research practice(s) themselves? Why does the candidate consider themself the right person to do the research? The answers to these questions should be supported with proof of previous work and activities.
Special points of interest for this session:
How is the research rooted in, or connected to the artistic or creative practice of the candidate? What are the personal ambitions of the candidate for this research? Why does the candidate want to conduct the research?
Envisioned outcomes: draft first section of the research proposal, including motivated research question(s)
Participating professor(s): to be discussed during GC-meeting on July 6, 2022.
Session 2. Why is the research needed? (September 16, 2022)
Indicate how the research contributes to arts and creative practices and make explicit what is currently lacking in this respect. If an intervention also takes place in a social practice outside of the arts, then also indicate why the intervention is needed in that practice. Support your arguments using sources such as academic literature, professional publications, documentaries, interviews, policy documents or other relevant material. Describe the research environment and the way in which relevant stakeholders will be involved in the research.
Special points of interest for this session:
Why should the research take place now? How are personal interest and societal urgency balanced in the proposal? What possible conflicts could occur between this interest and urgency? Which ethical issues could be encountered during, or could arise from the research?
Envisioned outcomes: draft version of the second part of the research proposal, including a mind map from the fields, disciplines and practices to which the research relates.
(Participating professor(s): to be discussed during GC-meeting on July 6, 2022)
Session 3. How is the research conducted? (September 30, 2022)
Which artistic, design and/or scientific method(s) will be used? What are the methodological and epistemological frameworks of the research? Why are these frameworks most relevant to and useful for the research question? How do they relate to the research environment? Does the candidate have sufficient experience in working within them? If not, which skills does the candidate still need to gain? Which challenges of research ethics and integrity could the choice of method(s) bring along?
Special points of interest for this session:
Is the research practice-oriented? How is this orientation supported by its methods? What is the added value of an artistic or creative approach as opposed to others? Which ethical implications could the proposed way of working have? Can theresearch question be answered within four years based on the proposed way of working?
Envisioned outcomes: draft third section of the research proposal, including a preliminary flow and time schedule.
(Participating professor(s): to be discussed during GC-meeting on July 6, 2022)
Session 4. What should be achieved through the research? (14 October, 2022)
Who or what benefits from the research? How does the research result in the intended changes to the practice(s) and domain(s) in which it intervenes? Which knowledge, insights, questions and changes may result from the research, and what is their relevance? Which artistic and creative groups, and social stakeholders are involved? How are the steps in, and results from the research communicated to these groups and stakeholders?
Special points of attention for this session:
What is the expected impact of the research on the candidate, the field, and society? Where does this impact follow naturally from the research and where does it need to be supported by dissemination activities? Which challenges of research ethics and integrity could arise as part of the envisioned dissemination process?
Envisioned outcomes: draft section 4 of the research proposal
(Participating professor(s): to be discussed during GC-meeting on July 6, 2022)
Session 5. How does the research shape the four roles of the PD candidate? (30 October, 2022)
Describe how and when the four roles – of innovator, professional, researcher and change agent- come back in the research. How are they distinctive and where do they overlap in the research? Motivate why the candidate will be able to fulfil these roles after completing the PD proposal.
Special points of interest for this session:
What do the four roles of a PD mean within artistic and design research? Could it be more productive to talk about ‘dimensions’ of the research instead? In addition, since this is the final sessions of the pre-PD programme, the session will pay attention to the coherence of the proposal as a whole. What remains to be done in order to complete the final proposal?
Envisioned outcomes: Complete draft of the PD proposal.
(Participating professor(s): to be discussed during GC-meeting on July 6, 2022)
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science will start the legislative procedure for the 3rd cycle in UAS (HBO). The Minister is positive about the development of the PD phase. The legislative process will take two years until the actual statutory regulation, which must be adopted by parliament. Based on the progress of all the pilots and partly given this news, the General Assembly of the “Vereniging Hogescholen” decided to start the pilots on 1 January 2023.
The distribution of the total 34 available places for four years in the K+C pilot will be based on the principle of admitting slightly more candidates in the first two years and slightly fewer in the last two years of the pilot.
2023: 10 places to be allocated2024: 10 places to be allocated2025: 7 places to be allocated2026: 7 places to be allocated
On April 22, the professors of the art and design school that participate in the PD programme ‘Kunst + Creatief’ came together to discuss and shape the key ingredients of the curriculum for the PD=candidates. In four sessions, they explored topics like the ethics of artistic research, diversity of degree work, different forms of writing and complex research environments. The meeting was the first of a longer series of co-creation events in which the professors and the taskforce will fill in the details of the PD program. Through the collaborative work, an ongoing conversation and community building around artistic and design research will take shape as well.
The Shut-Up-and-Write sessions that the taskforce organized in September and October to help PD-candidates prepare their research proposal are now finished. About 20 candidates came together bi-weekly for a whole day of writing and peer discussion. For each of the five sessions three professors from the Graduate Committee joined the group to give feedback on individual ideas and writings.
Both candidates and professors said that they liked the process immensely and enjoyed the opportunity to discuss their work with peers. Community building has been an important outcome of the pre-PD programme. The Taskforce will evaluate the program on the basis of participant and professor feedback and adjust (if necessary) the next run of the programme accordingly.
The candidates will submit their proposal to the assessment committees of their respective schools, who will select a candidate for nomination to the Graduate Committee in early December. The Graduate Committee will assess the proposals before January 1.
For privacy reasons we blurred the faces of the participants.
On Wednesday 6 July 2022, the Taskforce and the Board of the PD pilot in Art and Creative sector organized an event for all involved in the pilot PD. The aim of the meeting was to have a substantive discussion on artistic and design research in PD, and to discuss a number of practical matters for the start of the pilot. Location: Reinwardt AHK in Amsterdam.
The kick-off meeting was opened with the installation of the graduate committee; 15 professors from the participating Universities of Applied Sciences who jointly monitor the quality of the PD projects. At the start of their installation meeting, they were addressed by members of the administrative working group for PD; Bert Verveld and René Bosma (blue jacket). Bert opened the meeting festively by cutting the PD cake.
The PD taskforce has compiled the programme of the event and hosted various sessions. From left tot right; Anke Coumans, Liesbet van Zoonen (chair) and Michel van Dartel.
Chris Salter is an artist and professor at Concordia University Montreal and at Zurich University of the Arts. He explores the borders between the senses, art, design and new technologies through large-scale installations as well as books, critical writings and lectures on the international scene. He has written extensively about Research-Creation in the Arts.
In his keynote at the kick-off event Chris extensively shared the 20 years of experience he has with similar research programmes in Canada.
The lecture slides can be found in the download section of this website.
A series of presentations about various PhD programmes in the Netherlands were given by Sabine Niederer (ARIAS), Jeroen Boomgaard (Rietveld), Sara Strandvad (GRASP), Anke Hartmann (PhDArts), Christoph Rausch (MERIAN), Joost Vanmaele (docArtes) and Nienke Scholts (THIRD).
Frank van der Zwan (kwartiermaker PD for Vereniging Hogescholen/VH) presented the steps taken until now by VH to make a PD possible in all domains of Universities of Applied Sciences. He also talked about steps to be taken to get the required legal status for the degree. Finally Frank was able to share some positive news about government funding for the PD.
Frank showed us the report VH published about the PD (left picture) and at the end taskforce representative Anke Coumans surprised Frank with the first copy of the printed programme report of the PD programme Kunst + Creatief
Frank’s slideshow can be found in the download section of this website.
The PD programme Kunst + Creatief is published on this website. A printed copy can be obtained by sending an email with your address to caradt@avans.nl
In one of the final sessions Bert Verveld interviewed representatives of different funding organizations about expected possibilities for PD funding. Lefthand picture from left to right: Marieke Ladru and Syb Groeneveld (Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie), Bart Ashmann (CLICKNL) and Johannes van der Vos (SIA).
All pictures of this event: Zoë Sluijs, Den Bosch
Professors and staff involved in the design of the PD-pilot for the universities of the applied sciences convened on June 23 to expand their work on shared quality criteria, governance and care for candidates. The PD Arts + Creative was well represented with Anke Coumans and Liesbet van Zoonen of the Taskforce, Henk Slager of the Committee Quality Control and Debbie Straver as coordinator of the platform Art = Research of the research groups of higher art education in the Netherlands. Try to find them in the picture!
On Wednesday 6 July 2022, the Taskforce and the Board of the PD pilot in Art and Creative sector are organising an event for all involved in the pilot PD. The aim of the meeting is to have a substantive discussion on artistic and design research in PD, and to discuss a number of practical matters for the start of the pilot. We cordially want to invite you for this event.
The meeting is intended for board members, policy advisors and professors of the participating institutions, for possible PD candidates, for the participants in the other PD pilots and for other interested parties. Location: Reinwardt AHK, Hortusplantsoen 2, Amsterdam.
If you want to participate and did not receive an email invitation, follow this LINK
Or email caradt@avans.nl for more information
You are encouraged to share this message with other interested parties inside and outside your organisation.
UAS PD Kunst + Creatief is a collaboration of HKU, Rietveld, AHK, HvA, KABK, Hogeschool Rotterdam, Codarts, Avans Hogeschool, BUas, Fontys, DAE, Zuyd, ArtEZ, Hanzehogeschool, InHolland
In 2023, universities of applied sciences (UAS) will start their own doctoral programme: the Professional Doctorate (PD). In doing so, UAS introduces a new professional education with which it wants to push back the boundaries in professional practice. Candidates will be trained to become highly qualified professionals who learn to intervene in complex issues such as energy transition or healthcare. This is stated in a plan that the Netherlands Association of Universities of Applied Sciences has presented to former Minister Van Engelshoven of Education, Culture and Science in 2021. Maurice Limmen, chair of the Netherlands Association of Universities of Applied Sciences: “The professional doctorate is an investment in the connection between higher professional education and the labour market. It increases the impact of practice-based research and contributes to the further professionalisation of HBO lecturers.”
Source: Netherlands Association of Universities of Applied Sciences (Vereniging Hogescholen)