Bridging art and academia

Art and Performance Research Studies offers two specialisations: one is academic, focused on theoretical /historical research in the arts disciplines (art history, musicology, theatre and performance studies and cultural studies); the other is artistic, focused on artistic research through a practice-based process in fine arts, dance, music, performance and film, among other art disciplines. Central to the programme is that students reflect on and learn to do research in an inter- and cross-disciplinary framework and learn to understand the position of the arts and the artist in society.

The programme:

• facilitates and enables the critical development of your research ideas by shared courses, a customised choice of electives, and individual tutorials;
• offers comprehensive cross-disciplinary debates with expert staff from all art disciplines, both theoretical and practical;
• engenders debate and reflection on theory and practice by offering three shared core courses; and
• opens the possibility to execute (part of) your research abroad (archives, institutions, participatory) if your research plan requires it.

Artistic Research participants, mostly practicing artists, are given visibility by having their work presented at local gallery spaces, such as the Nieuw Dakota and Neverneverland, and access to a wide network of partner platforms and institutions, which include ARIAS, the Gerrit Rietveld Academie and the Sandberg Institute.

Student profile

As a student in the Master’s programme in Art and Performance Research Studies you are interested in inter-, intra- and cross-disciplinary themes and propositions, in an active dialogue between art theory and art practice, and in the role of the arts within society. Furthermore, you are expected to have the following knowledge, insight and skills. 

For the academic profile:

• You have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and have taken academic courses equivalent to at least one full-time semester of academic studies (30 ECTS) in Art History, Musicology, Theatre and Performance Studies, Cultural Studies.
• You are able to set up and conduct research and know how to formulate consistent research questions, collect and select material, apply theory, plan, structure and write a thesis.
• You are familiar with contemporary theoretical/methodological debates within your original discipline;
• You are interested in inter-, intra- and cross-disciplinary themes and propositions, in an active dialogue between art theory and art practice, and in the role of the arts within society.

For the Artistic research profile:

• You have a Bachelor’s degree from an Art Academy or accredited university with a focus in the Arts/Culture, such as Art History and Curatorial Studies;
• You have an autonomous practice as an artist, or you have had a previous partial education in the arts, and you are acquainted with art-making techniques, methods, processes and practices.

Degree certificate

The Research Master’s programme Art and Performance Research Studies is an accredited degree programme of Arts and Culture. After successful completion of this programme, you will receive a legally accredited Master’s degree in programme and the title Master of Arts (MA).