Artistic Research - Valorisation of artistic output
Symposium
Muziekstudio deSingel
Activity in the context of the Thinkers' cycle
Photo: Ksenia Obukhova
Language of the symposium: English
Registrations are now closed.
Since the academisation of higher arts education, the number of artist-researchers and PhDs in the arts in Flanders has been growing, with an increasing structural embedding (journals, conferences, FWO funding for Schools of Arts). Nevertheless, the assessment of research-based artistic output (artworks as research outcomes) remains a topical debate, as it is difficult to fit within the traditional, standardised peer-review and impact models of the academic world.
To seek an answer to this, Young Academy members Kurt Bertels, Maarten Stragier and Annelies Van Assche, together with the Class of the Arts, invited the South African thinker Mario Nell to Brussels in June. As part of the 2026 Thinker's Cycle, he spent a week working with lecturers, researchers and coordinators from the Flemish art colleges and partner universities. The results will be presented for the first time at this symposium.
The aim of this Thinker's Cycle is to formulate feasible and widely supported recommendations that are both institutionally viable and have broad support within the Flemish research community, using international coordination as a lever to engage with universities and the FWO. Furthermore, the debate may provide broader inspiration for the recognition of non-standardised knowledge output in other disciplines.
With the support of the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp (AP) and ARIA (University of Antwerp), as part of ARTICULATE – artistic research festival.
Programme
Wednesday 21 October 2026 (14:00 – 17:00) in the Music Studio at deSingel, followed by a networking drink.
14:00: Welcome
Luc Van Hove - Vice-President - Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts (KVAB), Former Professor of Composition - Royal Conservatoire Antwerp & LUCA School of Arts Campus Lemmens
14:05: Introduction
Dr. Annelies Van Assche - Art History, Musicology and Theatre Studies (Ghent University)
Prof. dr. Kurt Bertels - Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel (Erasmus Brussels University of Applied Sciences and Arts) & Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Prof. dr. Maarten Stragier - Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel (Erasmus Brussels University of Applied Sciences and Arts) & Vrije Universiteit Brussel
14:15: Presentation Thinker's Programme
Prof. dr. Mario Nell - Department of Music, Stellenbosch University & Advisory Board member for the Recognition of Creative Research Outputs, Department Higher Education and Training, South Africa
14:50: Reflection on the Thinker's Programme
Dr. Florian Vanlee - Senior researcher ECOOM IMPAKT, Vrije Universiteit Brussel & Guest Professor, Visual Culture - Department of Communication Sciences, Ghent University
15:15: Break
15:30: Roundtable Discussion
Dr. Katharina Smets, moderator - Koninklijk Conservatorium Antwerpen (AP University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp)
Dr. Olivier Boehme - FWO — Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO)
Prof. dr. Hans Maes - Vice-Dean Research LUCA School of Arts (KU Leuven)
Dr. Petra Van Brabandt - Head of Research, Sint Lucas Antwerpen (KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts) & Co-Chair Antwerp Research Institute for the Arts (ARIA)
Dr. Katrien Vuylsteke-Vanfleteren - Head of Research, KASK & Conservatorium, HOGENT - HOWEST
Prof. dr. Bert Willems - Head of Research, PXL-MAD (PXL University of Applied Sciences and Arts) & Hasselt University
16:30: Q&A
17:00: Network Drink
Registration for the symposium is free, but compulsory - closed.