This group addresses the question of what role artistic research plays and could play in the context of contemporary, social-ecological transformation processes. This refers in particular to the potential for shifting perceptual dispositives and relevance regimes through artistic-research modes of thinking and procedures, and the associated opening up and activation of actionable futures. The aim of the SIG is, on the one hand, to create a platform within SAR for the exchange of researchers interested in the topic and to network ongoing and planned projects in the thematic field.  On the other hand, it also aims to do conceptual work: Here, fundamental questions are to be considered, such as the characteristics of an epistemology of transformation through artistic research processes in the context of debates about the future. But the question of integrating artistic research into concrete research contexts such as transdisciplinary sustainability research should also be addressed - not least with a view to shaping suitable framework conditions and policies.

Invitation to the SAR Community

During the SAR International Forum, the SIG Co-Agency invites all interested parties to participate in the further profiling of the three thematic fields to which the members of the SIG are dedicated:

• The specification of the topic "Co-Agency" with reference to concept of non-anthropocentrically addressed inter- and intra-actions between humans, nature and technology;
• The development of (propositional and non-propositional) vocabularies allowing an appropriate conceptualization of co-agency in the above focus and building a corresponding glossary using a wiki-based collaborative approach
• The creation of a forum for the exchange of specific experiences in bridging artistic research approaches and methodologies with other forms of knowledge production, in order to gain a deeper understanding of how artistic research can contribute to coordinated and collaborative efforts to address societal challenges.

Organisation/procedure

The work on the thematic areas will be mainly based on the discussion/analysis of specific artistic research projects. Topic-specific work phases in groups and discussions in plenary sessions alternate and are documented in each case.

Possible contributions may include:

• the presentation of own research projects in the subject area;
• the presentation of thematically relevant examples;
• the formulation of questions and theses on the topics mentioned. 

Contributions can be registered the evening before (10 April) during the poster session; spontaneous contributions are also possible.

More information here: https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/2425172/2581073

organized by Adelheid Mers, Marija Griniuk, Janne-Camilla Lyster

Facilitating practices in the arts are under-theorized, even though they occur widely, as part of devised theater and the performing and performance arts, and across Fluxus, interactive, relational, community-based and socially engaged art. Facilitating practices in the arts intersect with design, pedagogy, art therapy, community organizing and advocacy, and even professional facilitation and coaching, all of which work through multiple, mature methodologies, but unlike facilitating practices in the arts share a clear focus on outcomes. 

Contributors to the inaugural convening of the SIG 8: Facilitating share a realization that facilitating asserted itself at a central position in our practices, even before we recognized and named it. There is a rising need to grasp facilitating in the arts methodologically, through its emergent techniques and as a way of knowing, for example by devising laboratories that trace situated and embodied perception, co-creation and articulation. There is interest in locating facilitating as an instigator of institutional imagination by thinking facilitating in conjunction with ethics and agency, and also with vulnerability, joy and communitas. 

We are looking forward to spending the morning with each other, sharing our practices, and ending the meeting by co-devising an overview of what is underway, and an outlook of what may come next. The convening is open to all Forum attendees, who may also join into all activations and the concluding exercise.  

Program Details for Thursday April 11, 9:30  - 1:30

Fontys Academy of the Arts, room TBA

Welcome + Introduction 

9:30 - 9:45 Adelheid Mers and Marija Griniuk

Activation  

9:45 - 9:55  Andrew Champlin: Soften and Make Space

Keynotes

9:55  - 10:20 Nohad ElHajj: Facilitation Meets Art

 10:20 - 10:45  Gabriela Milyanova and Nienke Scholts: Facilitation as a Care Practice of Being in Relation

Break + Activation

10:45  - 11:00 Kevin Boardman: Thinking creatively with reusable 3D surfaces 

Publications  

11:00 - 11:15 Charlotta Ruth: Participatory Sense-Making

11:15 - 11:30 Sophie Hope: Eyerolls, interruptions and tightened lips: the art of meetings in socially engaged practices

Break: 11:30 - 11:40

Lightning Round Adjacencies 

11:40 - 11:50 Lavinia Cazacu: Intersecting Artworlds: Analyzing Challenges Through Participation

11:50 - 12:00 Diana Acosta: The Wonders of the Forest

12:00 - 12:10 Lynne Heller: Co-creating with Disability Communities

12:10 - 12:20 Camila Mangueira and Fabrício Fava: Critical design practices for rethinking media ecologies

12:20 - 12:30 TBA

Break: 12:30 - 12:45 

12:45 - 1:30 Co-creating a Map of “Facilitating” and projecting next steps for the SIG Facilitating 

Parallel Digital Introductions: view on demand 

in progress - this section remains open for contributions

For detailed program including abstracts for individual contributions see:

https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/2527513/2654646