SAAR 2019 Norway

 

The summer academy provides a supportive setting where artist-researchers (PhD candidates, Doctoral candidates or Research fellows in artistic research) from all fields collaborate, present their on-going artistic work and research and receive feedback from experienced tutors and peers from leading academic art institutions. The summer academy aims to reflect the international diversity and scope of artistic research and to provide a stimulating intellectual environment. It seeks to clarify, discuss and develop further emerging themes and issues arising out of the individual fellowship projects of the participants within the framework of artistic research.

 

In 2019, the summer academy will have a particular framing. In terms of infrastructure it will be more like a traditional summer camp, taking place on a remotely situated island affording a simple way of living as well as time spent outdoors. It will take place in the newly constructed conference center at the island of Utøya, in itself a very significant place. Having been for about a century a site for activities of the Norwegian labour movement, the island has a strong tradition for collectively reflecting upon democracy, freedom of expression, tolerance and diversity. Following the 2011 terror attacks, the island also carries a strong testimony of why these are values not to be taken for granted. This version of the summer academy will therefor pay particular attention to such values as well as to art as a way of being in and relating to each other and the world. It is our aim that these issues will be present in all the activities so they have no particular place in the schedule.

 

The aim of SAAR is to discuss and explore the participants’ research projects in depth within the developing discourses of art practice and research. This happens through different forms of supervision and intensive conversation. SAAR is based on the participants' projects and activities are centered around their projects/practices as well as questions/thoughts generated by the specific context. Supervisors from different fields will be there to take part in the discussions and reflect/coimagine with the participants.

 

The SAAR network is coordinated by Uniarts Helsinki and governed by a joint Nordic Steering Group. This year, Ellen J Røed has been appointed to develop of the programme, in collaboration with supervisors Frank Bock and Karmenlara Ely, as well as the SAAR Steering Group. Røed was one of the supervisors in Stockholm at SAAR15, and responsible for SAAR16 which took place in Tromsø. Below we have described each activity/format used in the schedule so that you know what to expect. SAAR is based on the participants' projects and everything is centered around the discussion of the projects.

 

Before the summer all participants will send in short presentations describing their research projects alongside short bios. The presentations will be published on-line. These will be published on the website, so that we can read them before the start of the week. We hope this will help you prepare, but the real work will happen "live" during the week.

 

 

An important format in the summer academy are the parallel group discussions where each fellow hosts a session of approximately 1 hour, exploring a particular topic of their choice. There will be 4-5 groups at the time and 5 people in each group, including a supervisor. 

In order to open his/her group discussion the fellow should lead a 5-10 minutes "action", which is then followed by an open conversation. The action is meant to be an activity that serves to initiate the group’s work. It could be a physical action, giving instruction to the participants, trying out something with the participants, reading text, introducing a dilemma, asking others to read, showing visual material etc. etc. But it should somehow "open a window" towards a domain that the fellow/candidate wishes to discuss in the session.

 

Each fellow will host 1-2 such group discussions during the week. These should be quite improvised, and not too prepared, in order for us to dive into where ever in the process the fellow is at the moments, but it might be a good idea to prepare and think through possible scenarios. At the beginning of the week we will decide when each research fellow initiates a group discussion/workshop, and we will make sure that there is an equal distribution of participants and supervisors across the groups.

 

We will spend some time together, reflect on the day ahead. There might be physical activity involved in this.

 

We will have two hour lunch breaks, one hour to eat and one to rest/break/prepare or engage in physical activities.

 

The summing up- sessions will be fairly short, but here the groups can report particular issues they have discussed. We will plan the day ahead, and make sure all practicalities are on track.

 

The research fellows/candidates will have the possibility to sign up for two individual supervision meeting with supervisors.

 

We will end the week with the fellows giving a presentation engaging their project, in two separate groups.

 

Topics and formats are up to the fellow, according to what has come up or what they have realized in relation their project during the week: what has been clarified, what do they want to continue with, what is still unclear etc. It is intended as part of the experimentation with/within the project. The formats of the presentations can vary and the fellows can decide how to dispose the time. We encourage the candidates to experiment with the format of presentation or to collaborate between themselves. We will split the group in two for the final presentations.

 

In order to vary the activities, we will encourage the research fellows to use all the spaces, included the outdoor space, during the group discussions. We will have breaks that are half an hour, to make sure they become real breaks.

 

As the week will be intensive, it will important that we keep time. We will make this clear from the beginning, and we will take turns in being the time keepers, "strict but with humor". 

 

 

Lunch on Monday must be covered by the individual participants (or according to arrangement with their institution).

 

Travel to and from Oslo airport must be additionally covered by the institutions.

Diku will cover the expense of a daytrip Friday, ferry trips and access to a car for those who wish to make excursions, for example to nearby town Hønefoss.

 

Home cocked meals will be served in the Utøya restaurant/canteen Kafe Monica (meals included). Participants are asked to specify dietary needs in the questback (deadline may 30th). No alcohol is served/sold on the island, but feel free to bring a bottle in your bag should you wish to.

 

There are many opportunities for discussions in smaller groups and presentations in different environments. We have access to 4 seminar rooms, all with projection and simple sound equipment and the library. There are no instruments such as pianos or complex sound systems available (apart from PA in conference center).

 

We ask participants to book flight tickets the following way:

- Norway: NARP will help you book and pay the tickets.

- Finland and Sweden: Your institution will help you book and pay the tickets; please contact them for