Please note that this is a translation of the Norwegian description of the training component. In case of discrepancies between the Norwegian and English versions of this text, the Norwegian version takes precedence.
Adopted by the Research School Board on 17 June 2019.
The Norwegian Artistic Research School was established in 2018 as a collaboration between Diku – the Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation and Quality Enhancement in Higher Education (from 2021 HK-dir – Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills), the Norwegian Academy of Music, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, the University of Bergen and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. All accredited Norwegian educational institutions with study programmes that lead to a PhD degree in artistic research may accede to the cooperation agreement after approval of the contracting parties.
The research school is aimed at research fellows in programmes that lead to a PhD degree in artistic research, as wellas research fellows attached to the Norwegian Artistic Research Programme through the research fellowship programme.
By offering joint professional training, the research school will enhance the candidates’ own doctoral work, and contribute to further development of ‘the Norwegian Model’ for artistic research, which takes art and the artistic practice as its point of departure, and is characterised by reflection and cross-disciplinary communication and cooperation. The research school will offer training that is relevant to the full disciplinary breadth of artistic research.
Through the research school, the research fellows will acquire knowledge of and skills and competence in artistic research in accordance with the Norwegian Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (NKR).
- Name: Norwegian Artistic Research School
- Study level: PhD. The training can be part of the required joint professional coursework in an institutional doctoral degree programme in artistic research.
- Teaching semester: First–fifth semester
- Duration: 500–600 hours (total workload corresponding to 20 credits)
- Teaching language: English
- Teaching location: Can vary
Objectives and content
The objective of the Norwegian Artistic Research School is to give research fellows an introduction to methods, theory and ethics as they relate to artistic research, as well as training in disseminating the results of artistic research. The joint professional training is intended to support research fellows’ artistic PhD projects and contribute to professional depth and breadth.
Learning outcomes
After completing the research school’s programme, research fellows are expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes:
Knowledge: The candidate ...
- masters fundamental theory relating to artistic research
- can describe the diversity in theories and methods in artistic research, and reflect on and argue for choices of methods and processes in own artistic research
- can contribute to the discourse on artistic research
Skills: The candidate ...
- can formulate research questions and plan the artistic research, with the focus on artistic processes and results
- can work on complex questions, and challenge established discourses and practices in the field
- can deal with interdisciplinary questions in artistic research
Competence: The candidate ...
- can discuss ethical principles and concerns in artistic research
- can identify ethical issues and can engage in artistic research with integrity
- can share artistic research in relevant national and international contexts
- can participate in debates in the field in international forums
Admission
Participants must have been accepted for a PhD programme in artistic research or the Norwegian Artistic Research Fellowship Programme. It is the institutions that sign up candidates for the research school. Deadlines for registration are advertised annually.
Work and teaching methods
Training is provided through seminars, conferences and in other relevant forums, and through contact with other research fellows and peers who work in the field of artistic research nationally and internationally. Work and teaching methods include lectures, workshops, various forms of sharing artistic research and discussions. The discussions are related to each research fellow's project and to artistic research in general, with the emphasis on the transfer value in relation to the research fellow’s own artistic research. The training can take place in both large and small groups.
The research fellows are expected to prepare and familiarise themselves with different material in advance, which is then shared and discussed at the seminars. At the conferences, the research fellows meet national and international projects and professional environments in the field of artistic research. The research fellows present and discuss their own projects and take part in relevant discourses. By sharing their own artistic research project, the research fellows contribute to developing their respective artistic fields. The conferences provide an opportunity for interdisciplinary exchanges and are an arena for a more general discourse on artistic research.
Assessment
Attendance is registered and a record is kept of whether work requirements are met. This information is communicated to each candidate’s institution, which decides whether the training can be approved as part of the institution's required interdisciplinary coursework.
Reading list
A general reading list is updated and published annually. In addition, a supplementary and less extensive reading list relating to each activity may be published.
Evaluation
The programme is quality assured:
Annually through:
- an evaluation among the participants after activities.
- an evaluation among candidates who have completed the research school.
- an exchange of experience and discussions at a dialogue meeting with the institutions.
Every three years through:
- an expanded evaluation that also includes supervisors and relevant representatives of the participating institutions.
- an evaluation from candidates who have held doctoral defences in the past three years.
Every six years through:
- a more extensive evaluation that includes external peers.
Institutions that have research fellows participating in the research school’s programme will be given access to the results of the evaluations.
Education quality assurance
The Board of the Norwegian Artistic Research School is responsible for the content and quality of the training.
Administrative responsibility
Diku – the Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation and Quality Enhancement in Higher Education (from 2021 HK-dir – Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills), represented by the Norwegian Artistic Research Programme, has administrative responsibility for the research school.
Supplements the document ‘Norwegian Artistic Research, School, description of the training component’.
The Norwegian Artistic Research School constitutes a whole. It consists of a series of seminars, conferences, and digital resources where the full learning outcome is achieved through participation in the whole program.
Work on most of the learning outcomes extends over several seminars/conferences and require use of the digital resources.
After completing the research school’s program, research fellows are expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes:
- masters fundamental theory relating to artistic research
- can describe the diversity in theories and methods in artistic research, and reflect on and argue for choices of methods and processes in own artistic research
- can contribute to the discourse on artistic research
- can formulate research questions and plan the artistic research, with the focus on artistic processes and results
- can work on complex questions, and challenge established discourses and practices in the field
- can deal with interdisciplinary questions in artistic research
- can discuss ethical principles and concerns in artistic research
- can identify ethical issues and can engage in artistic research with integrity
- can share artistic research in relevant national and international contexts
- can participate in debates in the field in international forums
Individual study plan
The PhD student will have an individual study plan approved by the PhD institution. The study plan gives an overview of planned activities in the research school and the PhD student´s expected progress. See template - individual study plan (link will be published).
Module 1: Introduction
The participants will be introduced to the historical development and different models for artistic research,
with particular emphasis on what is distinctive about The Norwegian Model. We discuss the difference between research on, for and through the arts, and the connection between artistic research and artistic practice. Further, we discuss which research topics and questions are dealt with in artistic research and what characterises knowledge production. Key concepts in artistic research – nationally and internationally – are elaborated on. The participants will also be introduced for the Norwegian Artistic Research School and relevant learning resources and research tools. We will very briefly introduce research ethics, and we will investigate different formats for research abstracts and ways of sharing artistic research.
The module is built up of three components:
- An online resource (Research Catalogue) which will be made available to the PhD students and supervisors as soon as the PhD student is registered in the research school.
- An online introductory seminar. The seminar will give an introduction to the research school (including guidance in the use of the online resource).
- An in-person seminar. In the seminar the PhD student will be asked to introduce themselves and to share their research project in a plenary or a group work session.
- We recommend that the PhD student take part in the first conference (Artistic Research Forum, ARF) immediately after the in-person seminar.
Recommended time:
First semester. The seminar must be completed before the research fellow can participate in the next modules.
Duration:
A total workload of 25–30 hours, corresponding to 1 credit.
The seminar relates especially to the following learning outcomes:
- masters fundamental theory for artistic research
- can describe the diversity in theories and methods in artistic research, and reflect on and argue for choices of methods and processes in own artistic research
- can formulate research questions and plan the artistic research, with the focus on artistic processes and results
- can share artistic research in relevant national and international contexts
Work and teaching methods:
Preparatory assignments, lectures, presentations in varied formats, workshops and discussions
Coursework requirements:
- Make yourself familiar with the online resource and the literature/projects on the reference list
- Submit a bio and project abstract in a relevant format
- Give a presentation of your research project
- Contribute to the discussions about the other PhD students’ research projects
Module 2: Methods, sharing, and documenting
The module is about sharing and documentation in artistic research, with an emphasis on the diversity of methods within the field of artistic research. Based on the research fellows’ projects, different site- and time-specific and permanent formats for presentation and documentation are discussed, as well as how they influence work methods, artistic results, and reflections.
Recommended time:
Second semester. Module 1 must be completed to qualify for participation.
Duration:
A total workload of 100–120 hours, corresponding to 4 credits.
The module relates especially to the following learning outcomes:
- masters fundamental theory relating to artistic research
- can describe the diversity in theories and methods in artistic research, and reflect on and argue for choices of methods and processes in own artistic research
- can contribute to the discourse on artistic research
- can share artistic research in relevant national and international contexts
Work and teaching methods:
In-person seminar based on two digital resources (one about methods and one about sharing/documenting), preparatory assignments related to the seminar topics, lectures, presentations in varied formats, plenary discussions, and discussions in groups. The assignments and supplementary readings will
be shared at least one month before the seminar.
Coursework requirements (before the seminar):
- Complete the two digital resources
- Study the literature/material on the reference list
- Submit the material requested in the preparatory assignments
- Familiarise yourself with the other fellows' shared material
- Prepare a presentation in a relevant format
During the seminar, research fellows must give a presentation and play an active part in the discussion of the other research fellows’ projects.
Module 3: Research ethics, relations, and context
The module is about ethics in artistic research and artistic practice. It provides an introduction to basic
research ethics and ethics in the arts, as well as methods for mapping ethical dimensions of artistic research. Various ethical challenges and potentials are discussed based on the research fellows’ projects. We will further investigate and discuss relationships in artistic research. Based on the research fellows’ research projects, endeavours are made to map relations and how they influence artistic processes and results in the different phases of projects. Experiences with leading and carrying out complex artistic projects are shared.
Recommended time:
Second semester. Module 1 must be completed to qualify for participation.
Duration:
A total workload of 100–120 hours, corresponding to 4 credits.
The module relates especially to the following learning outcomes:
- masters fundamental theory relating to artistic research
- can discuss ethical principles and concerns in artistic research
- can identify ethical issues and can engage in artistic research with integrity
- can formulate research questions and plan the artistic research, with the focus on artistic processes and results
- can contribute to the discourse on artistic research
- can work on complex questions, and challenge established discourses and practices in the field
Work and teaching methods:
In-person seminar based on two digital resources (one about research ethics and one about relations/context), based on preparatory assignments related to the seminar topics, lectures, presentations in varied formats, plenary discussions, and discussions in groups. The assignments and supplementary readings will
be shared at least one month before the seminar.
Coursework requirements (before the seminar):
- Complete the two digital resources
- Study the literature/material on the reference list
- Submit the material requested in the preparatory assignments
- Familiarise yourself with the other fellows' shared material
- Prepare a presentation in a relevant format
During the seminar, research fellows must give a presentation and play an active part in the discussion of the other research fellows’ projects.
Module 4: The PhD result
The module is about the final phase of the artistic research project, and the identification and sharing of the contribution(s) to the field. Based on the research fellows’ projects, various forms of contributions are discussed, as well as different formats for final presentations, documentation and the archiving of artistic results and reflections.
Recommended time:
Fourth semester. Module 1 must be completed to qualify for participation. It is recommended to also have completed module 2-3 before participation in module 4.
Scope:
A total workload of 75–90 hours, corresponding to 3 credits.
The module relates especially to the following learning outcome:
- can contribute to the discourse on artistic research
- can work on complex questions, and challenge established discourses and practices in the field
- can share artistic research in relevant national and international contexts
Work and teaching methods:
In-person seminar based on preparatory assignments related to the seminar topics, lectures, presentations in varied formats, group work sessions, plenary discussions, and discussions in groups. The assignments and supplementary readings will be shared at least one month before the seminar.
Coursework requirements (before the seminar):
- Study the literature/material on the reference list
- Submit the material requested in the preparatory assignments
- Familiarise yourself with the other fellows' shared material
- Prepare a presentation in a relevant format
During the seminar, research fellows must give a presentation, lead a group work session, and play an active part in the discussion of other research fellows’ projects.
Conferences (Artistic Research Forums)
The conferences are important arenas for a constructive critical dialogue with the interdisciplinary national and international professional community. They provide opportunities to share the project 1) at an early stage, so that the professional environment can be invited to participate as a resource in reflection on planned choices for contextualisation and research, 2) at an intermediate stage, so that the professional environment can be invited to participate as a resource in reflection on important changes in the project, ethical challenges, and delimitations, and 3) towards the final stage, so that the professional environment can be invited to participate as a resource in reflection on artistic choices, and forms of presentation and documentation. However, the fellows will have the opportunity to address other questions related to the project development that feels urgent to discuss at the given moment.
Recommended time:
First – fifth semester.
Scope:
Four three-day conferences (at least in-person attendee at three of the conferences)*. The PhD students present their ongoing research at three of the conferences and are also expected to contribute with questions and comments on the other PhD students presentations. Preparatory and follow-up work comes in addition. A total workload of 150-180 hours, corresponding to 8 credits.
The conferences relate especially to the following learning outcomes:
- can describe the diversity in theories and methods in artistic research, and reflect on and argue for choices of methods and processes in own artistic research
- can contribute to the discourse on artistic research
- can work on complex questions, and challenge established discourses and practices in the field
- can deal with interdisciplinary questions in artistic research
- can share artistic research in relevant national and international contexts
- can participate in debates in the field in international forums
Work and teaching methods:
Conferences where artistic research projects are shared and discussed. The research fellows shed light on their projects from different perspectives, and a progression is expected over time in terms of the depth of the discussion.
Coursework requirements:
PhD students must read the conference abstracts, attend the presentations and play an active part in the discussion of other PhD students’ projects. For three of the conferences, the PhD student must prepare an abstract and hold a presentation in a relevant format.
* In-person conferences can be replaced by digital conferences if there are specific reasons, and if it´s agreed on by the institution in the PhD student´s individual study plan. However, if the PhD student attend less than three in-person conferences, the total number of conferences must be at least five.
Reference list
The digital learning resources, available through Norwegian Artistic Research School (researchcatalogue.net)
Mandatory readings for the research school as a whole:
Arlander. A (2014): “Om metoder i konstnärlig forskning / On methods of artistic research” in Torbjörn Lind (ed.) Metod – Process – Redovisning Konstnärlig Forksning Årsbok 2014 Vetenskapsrådet 2014, Method – Process – Reporting Artistic Research Yearbok . p. 26-39.
Bärtås, M. (2010): You told me. Thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Fine Art. Valand School of Fine Arts, Faculty of Fine, Applied and Performing Arts, University of Gothenburg, p. 43-76. Retrieved from: https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/2077/22325/1/gupea_2077_22325_1.pdf
Borgdorff, H. (2012). The Production of Knowledge in Artistic Research. Chapter 7 in: The conflict of the faculties: Perspectives on artistic research and academia (pp. 140–173).
Retrieved from: https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/bitstream/handle/1887/18704/07.pdf?sequence=11
Butt, Daniel, 2017. Artistic Research in the future Academy, Chapter 3, Artistic Research: Defining the field, from Intellect Books, Briston, UK.
Crispin, D. (2019). Artistic Research as a Process of Unfolding. Unfolding the Process, An International, Peer Reviewed Issue, Published by Norwegian Academy of Music.
Retrieved from: https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/503395/503396
Doherty, Christo (2021).Reflections on Artistic Research as a Decolonising Strategy in Africa: the ARA2020 Conference. JAR Journal for Artistic Research. Retrieved from: Reflections on Artistic Research as a Decolonising Strategy in Africa: the ARA2020 Conference | JAR (jar-online.net)
Eeg-Tverrbakk, C. (2020). Perspectives on Ethics in Performance Practice. Retrieved from. https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/699306/768304. This article is a contribution to the Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership Project 2018-2021, Advancing Supervision for Artistic Research Doctorates funded by Erasmus+ and the project partners.
Fossheim, Hallvard J. (2015). Confidentiality, The Norwegian National Research Ethics Committees.
Retrieved from: https://www.etikkom.no/en/library/topics/data-protection-and-responsibility-concerning-the-individual/confidentiality/
Fossheim, Hallvard J. (2015). Consent, The Norwegian National Research Ethics Committees. Retrieved from:https://www.etikkom.no/en/library/topics/data-protection-and-responsibility-concerning-the-individual/consent/
Gundersen, Jostein et al (2020). Map Ethics! A method for identifying and addressing ethical dimensions of artistic research projects. Map Ethics! is part of the Strategic Partnership Project Advancing Supervision for Artistic Research Doctorates, supported by Erasmus+.
Hübner, F. (2020): Against Method? Common Ground? Conference proceedings for CARPA 6. Retrieved from: https://nivel.teak.fi/carpa6/falk-hubner-against-method-common-ground/
Tim, Ingold (2022). Impulse lecture. This lecture was part of the Contingent Agencies: Cross-Disciplinary Symposium, 19–25 September 2022. Retrieved from: Contingent Agencies. Cross-Disciplinary Symposium // Tim Ingold (Day 1) - YouTube
Conferences (Artistic Research Forum):
Abstracts published in advance of the conferences.
Recommended readings:
Appadurai, A. (2006): “The Right to Research,” in Globalisation, Society and Education, Vol.4, No. 2, July 2006, pp. 167-77.
Arlander. A. (2018): The Shore Revisited. Journal of Embodied Research 1(1): 4 (30:34). Retrieved from: https://jer.openlibhums.org/articles/10.16995/jer.8/
Arnstein. S. R. (1969). A Ladder of Citizen Participation, Journal of the American Planning Association, Vol. 35, No. 4, July 1969, pp. 216-224. Retrieved from: https://www.participatorymethods.org/sites/participatorymethods.org/files/Arnstein%20ladder%201969.pdf
Auslander, P. (2006): The Performativity of Performance Documentation. PAJ 84, vol. 28, Issue 3, p.1-10. Retrieved from: https://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/pajj.2006.28.3.1
Berchtold, Andreas. In circles leading on. VIS#8 2023. Retrieved from: https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/1571956/1571957
Borgdorff, H. (2012): The conflict of the faculties. On theory, practice and research in professional arts academies. Chapter 1 in: The Conflict of the Faculties. Perspectives on Artistic Research and Academia. Leiden University Press. P- 16-26. Retrieved from: https://www.researchcatalogue.net/profile/show-work?work=129308
Crispin, D. (2016). ‘Whereof We Cannot Be Silent, Thereof Must We Speak’; Susan Sontag’s ‘Silences’, in IIIIXIII fourbythreemagazine, Issue 6, Silence. Retrieved from: https://christine-jakobson.squarespace.com/issue/susan-sontags-silences?rq=darla%20crispin
Doherty, Christo (2021). Artistic Research in Africa - a conversation with Berhanu Ashagrie Deribew [podcast]. Arts Research Africa (ARA) Podcast. Available at: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/arts-research/ara-podcast-artistic-At9Lh4Eciuz/
Doherty, Christo (2019). New developments in the European space of Artistic Research. [podcast]. Arts Research Africa (ARA) Podcast. Available at:https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/arts-research-africa-dialogues-arts-m-4d3HYgMeu/
Groys, B. (2013): Entering the Flow: Museum between Archive and Gesamtkunstwerk. E-flux journal 50. Retrieved from: https://www.e-flux.com/journal/50/59974/entering-the-flow-museum-between-archive-and-gesamtkunstwerk/
Hughes, R. (2014): Exposition. In: The Exposition of Artistic Research: Publishing Art in Academia.
Leiden University Press, p. 52-64. Retrieved from:file:///C:/Users/lili/Downloads/Exposition-Artistic-Research_Introduction.pdf
Nilsen, Nanette (2020). Researching Ethics through Musical (or Artistic) Experience. Retrieved from. https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/699306/768247. This article is a contribution to the Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership Project 2018-2021, Advancing Supervision for Artistic Research Doctorates funded by Erasmus+ and the project partners.
Raes, G. W. (2014). Experimental Art as Research. In D. Crispin & B. Gilmore (Eds.), Artistic Experimentation in Music, An Anthology (pp. 55–60). Leuven: Leuven University Press. Retrieved from: https://www.logosfoundation.org/g_texts/ORCiM_2012/Artistic%20Experimentation%20in%20Music%20-%20Raes%20-%20DEF.pdf
Santkin, M., 2013. A Dancer is Moving with... A Map for Conversation from The Dancer as Agent Collection, an unwrapping of The Dancer as Agent conference (DOCH Stockholm, November 2013).
Schwab, M. (2012). The Research Catalogue: A Model for Dissertations and Theses. In R. Andrews, E. Borg, S. B. Davis, M. Domingo, & J. England (Eds.), The SAGE Handbook of Digital Dissertations and Theses (pp. 339–354). Retrieved from: https://www.researchcatalogue.net/profile/show-work?work=144032
