Awards
Research Policy & Strategy
In defining artistic research, The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts refers to definitions discussed by the Ministry of Culture in a 2012: whilst they are perceived to be on the same spectrum, artistic research is differentiated from ‘academic research’ in terms of process – the former follows and results in standardized methodologies, the latter is not necessarily systematic or reproducible. Artistic research demands reflection, documentation and communication which develop artistic practices, events and outputs. The current research strategy establishes an infrastructure for sharing individual research, developing projects and consolidating 3rdcycle provision. The institution aims to promote the place of artistic research and research concerned with art and art theory through at an international collaborations. In developing research, the Academy emphasizes the public-facing role of their exhibition space; support for funding applications; cross-institutional collaborations; exchange of ideas about the nature of ‘artistic research’.
Key research themes
Art Infrastuctures & Collectivity in Art, Media and material research, The Body & More Than Human
Awards Offered
PhD
Currently, degrees are validated by the Universities of Copenhagen & Aarhaus.
Assessment
Artwork
Thesis (60,000 words)
Defence
A committee of 3 examiners (1 internal, 2 external) assess the doctoral submission.
Forms of Output
Exhibition, video, documentation, voice-over texts, performative writings.
Programme Structure
Full-time 3 years
Part-time modes of study are not common.
At the beginning of the programme, students create a research plan which indicates milestones. Students report on, and revise, these milestones 3 times (annually?) during the programme. Students must also undertake 840 hours of teaching or other academic work, and participate in conferences and taught courses (30 ECTS).
There is a mandatory 2 day research ethics course (this is legally instituted). Research methodologies courses are delivered on an elective basis (students may select whatever is felt appropriate for their project). Masterclasses and informal discussions also involve questions of method, with the latter thought to be most helpful.
Undergraduate & Masters Research
Research methodologies are embedded at BFA and MFA level through an ‘Open Practice’ course taught by PhD students with reference to their own research.
Qualification Framework
National
Quality Assurance & Enhancement
Handled by the validating universities.
Supervision
Students work with a primary supervisor. Optionally, they may work with a second supervisor (this is encouraged, and may be an artist).
A total of 60 hours in total across 3 years is allocated to primary supervision; 20 hours to secondary supervision.
Staffing
Staff training in supervision is informal, and staff are recruited to the institution in general on the standard of their artistic practice, publications and collaborations: there are no minimum qualifications. 3 / 22 hold 3rdcycle awards; 22 / 26 are engaged in research. There is no formal mechanism to protect or allocate research time as distinct from teaching, but the institution provides support for research funding applications. Workshops and office spaces are available for research use.
Student Admissions
Applicants apply for a ‘hosting agreement’ with the Royal Danish Academy. Applications (abstract, cv, list of publications, research plan) are reviewed by 2 staff members and the Head of Research. A short-list is forwarded to the relevant funding body (usually Novo Nordisk Foundation) who rely on a panel of experts to make the final selections. There is no interview.
There are currently 5 PhD students and 2 post-docs.
Student Funding
Private Scholarships.
Student Support
Students are given a workspace; access to 2-4 master classes; IT facilities; access to supervised labs; assisted in administration of their funding; visibility on the institutional website and in the press. Students may also arrange to exhibit or publish in negotiation with the institution’s exhibition space and publishers (it is not guaranteed).