university PoLiti Cs and Pra Cti Ce-based researChdemonstrate significant achievements in your area of work such as research/
critical enquiry resulting in performances or exhibitions at home or abroad.
if you are already studying for a phd (full- time or part- time), it is expected
one year will have elapsed between completing your phd (that is, submitted
your thesis and passed your oral examination) and taking up appointment as
a Fellow.
(ahRC 2009: 25)The ahRC fellowship scheme is thus not intended to continue or extend research
carried out in a phd. Those who already have a phd in a related area to the proposed
Fellowship need to make clear in their proposal how the programme of research for
which they are seeking funding is distinct from the phd.
a further example from europe is the newly establish austrian programme, initiated
by the FWF – Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung – austria’s
central agency for research funding. in the summer of 2009 it sent out its first call
for applications to the ‘program for arts- based Research (peeK)’, an initiative of the
austrian Federal ministry of science and Research (BmWF). The total sum for this
first round of applications is 1.5 million euros. The target group is described as ‘any
person engaged in arts- based research who has the necessary qualifications’.
The programme document describes the background and aim of peeK:
There is a variety of terms currently used in english to identify the kind of
research that the program for arts- based Research (peeK) seeks to support.
By adopting the term ‘arts- based research’, the program associates itself with
those approaches to research known variously as ‘artistic research’, ‘practice-
based research’ and ‘practice- led research’. however, the use of terms of this
kind varies between the arts disciplines that this program intends to cover, as
well as between countries in which some project partners may be based. While
it is expected that investigation into art itself will be central to the projects that
the program funds, the term ‘arts- based research’ has been adopted in order to
indicate that the relationship to artistic practice can be of various kinds.
(peeK 2009: 3)all artistic productions are based on the work and the creativity of artists who
apply artistic methods and skills to particular forms of artistic expression. The focus
of the peeK is different: the production of artistic knowledge that is accompanied by
reflection and so leads to an increase and advancement in society’s knowledge. it is
aimed at supporting arts- based research in this sense.
The following goals for this support scheme have been set:
- support high quality and innovative arts- based research in which artistic
practice is integral to the inquiry. - increase research capacity, quality and international standing of austrian
arts- based researchers. - increase both public awareness and awareness within the academic and the
arts communities of arts- based research and its potential applications.