Artistic research is an essential part of the Master of Music in Arnhem. At ArtEZ, research often begins with a personal interest, a question, an artistic problem or an experiment within your creative process. You will not use research as a goal in and of itself, but as a way to deepen your practice, question your artistic choices and discover new possibilities. This is a vital perspective to become familiar with, because the creative sector is constantly evolving and boundaries between genres are being blurred.
A flexible, proactive mindset and strong communication skills will help you move in tandem with those changes. You will develop these qualities by reflecting on your own path, explaining your choices and exploring alternatives.
You will develop a personal research method that aligns with your creative methods. This may be reflective, technical, philosophical, collaborative, practice-based or performative. You might, for example, explore how form and meaning connect in your work, how to engage your audience, how to use sound, text, movement or technology, or what position your work takes within an artistic and/or social context. You will demonstrate your methods of choice, the context you work in and what the results mean for your practice.
Research in this master’s programme does not end with a written report; rather, it is connected to and integrated into your projects. You will present your research as a performance, podcast, installation, video or audio essay. What matters is that your research contributes to your development as a creator and gives direction to your artistic practice.
Research should directly contribute to your professional artistic practice, in whatever way that may be.