Abstract How can artistic research develop its full potential in order to contribute to the currently necessary social transformation processes? Why is Germany lagging behind the developments in its neighbouring countries, maintaining artistic research in a peripheral position? What are the current developments and focal points regarding artistic research in Germany, at a moment when budget cuts and societal divisions are putting art and its instutions under pressure, while at the same time making its contributions even more compelling?
The research project “ILLUME – potentials of complementary research practices in the higher education system: contributions and structures of artistic research and its integration at universities of art and music” focuses on artistic research as a complementary epistemic approach to the world, asking how it might develop its full potential to contribute to crucial social transformation processes and what framework conditions and structural changes are required for its successful integration at German art and music colleges. The process of mapping the status quo during the first year of the project revealed an impressive diversity of and strong commitment to artistic research at German art and music colleges, defying the systematic obstacles as for example the lack of funding structures.
During the poster presentation, we would love to present our interim results, showcasing the heterogeneity of topics and approaches as well as the creativity of dealing with the still peripheral position of artistic research in Germany. We will include the presentation of exemplary projects with a focus on the conference's themes.