‘How to introduce music students to Artistic Research?‘ – this was the question explored in a successful webinar held in March this year, sparking great interest and discussion.
Encouraged by the positive feedback, members of an informal working group that emerged from the RAPP Lab and REACT projects decided to build on this success with a new initiative: a full series of webinars on Artistic Research Education — titled WE ARE.
On 14 October, the series continued with its second webinar, shifting the focus from students to those who guide them: teachers and supervisors.
The topic was chosen based on a clear need identified across AEC institutions: while many potential supervisors are enthusiastic or curious about engaging in Artistic Research (AR), they often feel uncertain about how to approach this role or lack access to training and resources.
The session was led by Stephen Broad, Director of Research and Engagement at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, visiting professor at McGill University (Montreal, Canada), and long-standing Chair of the AEC EPARM Working Group.
In his concise and inspiring introduction, Stephen expanded the audience’s sense of who can and should feel addressed by this topic — from musicologists and researchers from other traditions to emerging supervisors and doctoral students considering future supervisory roles. He paid special attention to instrumental and vocal teachers, many of whom are deeply interested in their students’ AR projects yet do not always see themselves as potential co-creators in that process.
A particular strength of the October webinar lay in its two interactive breakout sessions, which invited participants to share experiences, challenges, and questions with their peers.
The first breakout was inspired by thoroughly framed focus questions that addressed a variety of different aspects, revolving around the question of what kind of supervision and feedback students need and want, and how supervisors can best meet those expectations.
The second breakout built on a concise presentation of good practices and existing resources. Through a set of fictional supervision scenarios, participants explored common challenges that can arise between students and supervisors. A key theme was team supervision: in particular, how effective collaboration and mutual respect among supervisors from different disciplinary backgrounds can generate meaningful synergies for students and enrich their research journeys.
Overall, the webinar offered an engaging and thought-provoking continuation of the WE ARE series, confirming the strong appetite within the community for reflection on the pedagogy and practice of Artistic Research supervision.
For those who missed the event, please watch Stephen Broad’s recorded presentation here.
Please also find here the materials shared during the webinar.
Upcoming Events
The next WE ARE webinar will take place on 13 January 2026, from 15:00 to 17:00 CET.
Gilvano Dalagna and Jorge Salgado Correia from the University of Aveiro will explore “Teaching Artistic Research in Cross- and Transdisciplinary Settings”, addressing the epistemological and methodological challenges that arise when navigating across disciplinary boundaries, supported by practical case studies.
