Advanced Master in Artistic Research in a Social-Political Context

Are you an artist or designer working on social-political concerns, and do you need more time for your practice-based research? Do you need a nurturing research environment with critical but caring peers and tutors? Do you want to improve your writing, theoretical framework and artistic methodologies? Are you in search for the right formats and contexts to share your artistic research experiments? Are you ready to dedicate yourself to an intensive artistic research period? 

Then this program might be something for you! 

This advanced master program focuses on the research development of artists and designers whose practice is addressing a social-political context (including but not limited to feminism, social design, migration, decolonization, race, gender, queer, class, disability politics, capitalism, the Anthropocene, the (under)commons, community art, critical design, healing & rituals, history, AI & digital culture…). The program is developed in accordance with the specific research proposals, interests and needs of the participants. We offer intense coaching in writing, critical studies, artistic research methodologies and in sharing research. The coaching is individual, collective and participatory. 

Collective learning and criticality is central to the program. We ask from each participant to care for and contribute to each other’s research development and well-being. We offer a nurturing research environment of dedicated and experienced tutors, researchers and PhD students as well as an international and local network of professionals, institutions and guest lecturers. Participants have access to the workshop facilities of Sint Lucas Antwerpen and the support of technical staff (photographic labs, ceramics, digital printing, printmaking, etc.). We work with a small team of maximum twelve participants.

Who
This Master of Research in Arts and Design is intended for candidates who have previously obtained a MA degree. Holders of both MA in visual arts and in other subjects with an active arts or design practice are invited to apply with a letter of motivation, a research proposal and a relevant portfolio. 

We are looking for artists or designers who have developed an individual or collaborative practice and who are in the position to dedicate themselves for the duration of the program to a research project related to their practice. The program is particularly suitable for those interested in critically developing their practice within a social-political field or in preparation for a practice-based PhD in the arts.

Practical information
The participants meet in Antwerpen every two or three weeks for three full days, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. These three days are dedicated to four modules: Methodology, Writing, Critical Theory and Share Research. In these modules we focus on the participants’ specific research proposals and enable them to advance in writing, theoretical explorations, research methodology and sharing their research. Parallel to this trajectory, we also organize three intensive weeks. These are full-time research weeks with international or local artists or designers across the fields of artistic research. 

The workload and intensity of the program is not to be underestimated and we therefore recommend candidates to realistically assess their availability and commitment before applying. Ideally, students are based in or relocate to Antwerp or Belgium. 

The application process for the 2024–25 program closes on April 15, 2024. On positive evaluation of your research proposal, you will be invited for a digital interview on May 2, 3, 6 or 7, 2023. The program starts IRL in Antwerp on 30 September 2024 and lasts till the end of June 2025. You can apply here. On March 21, 2024 we will organize an online and on campus open day! Follow our social media announcements for more info. 

For more info, please contact Joud Toamah, the coordinator of the Advanced Master program at joud.toamah [​at​] kdg.be.