Working methods
The aim of SAAR is to discuss in depth the participants’ research projects 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 is centered in the discussion of the projects. Supervisors are there to facilitate the discussion and to participate in working groups. All participants will also have one person allocated for them as a dialog partner for the individual presentation rounds for the whole SAAR group.
* Written short descriptions before start – “What is the challenge/problem right now in my research”
Before the start of SAAR 2021 all participants will be asked to send short written descriptions max ½ A4) highlighting one specific challenge, problem on their mind right now. DEADLINE FOR TEXT IS Monday morning 14.6.2021. Please send in the text to the address: michaela.brann(AT)uniarts.fi
You are also asked to give some basic information (topic of research, affiliation – note not a CV) and tell at what point you are in you research (just begun, or more advanced etc.). Do not write a complete CV, but focus on such information, which the other participants need to know about you in order to have relevant discussions. The presentations will be published on SAAR`s website. The presentations should be read by all participants thoroughly before the start of the week.
Before the summer school, a dialogue partner will be appointed to every participant. The partners will be confirmed via e-mail. The partners should familiarize themselves in depth with each other’s descriptions. The individual live presentations on Monday and Tuesday will be based on dialogical conversations between these partners. The dialogue partners are also encouraged to be in touch with each other before the summer school begins.
* Walking and talking – as SAAR week starts
As a warmup session to kick off the SAAR 2021 week we will walk outdoors on the beautiful Hanaholmen grounds surrounded by the sea. The walks are conducted in pairs that will be changed after a certain amount of time. The aim of the walks is to introduce everyone to each other, as well as to start sharing participants current research challenges/problems. The dialogue partners can also prepare their presentations during walks.
* Dialog presentations
After the walking and talking sessionsSAAR 2021 participants (Fellows and Supervisors) will have an opportunity to present their research challenge/problem through a dialog with their partner for the whole group. The dialog works also as a response to each other’s current research challenges/problems. The time is a maximum of 30 minutes per dialog + 10 min general discussion. For the dialog presentation: Choose just one (1) specific challenge/problem in your research that you would like to explore and highlight during the SAAR week. Do not go in-depth in your whole research project in the presentation/dialog. The challenge/problem may be related e.g., to theoretical or methodological choices, the arrangements of artistic works, articulating and focusing the research questions, the progress of your research process, or any specific needs you have now. Do not be afraid of posing simple or even stupid questions – they may often produce best discussions.
The live presentations work as a source of complementary information to the written presentations that participants have written beforehand. The format for the presentation is open – all forms of presenting and communication are welcome. The presentation can e.g. include an action/practice element. We encourage you to bring with you research materials/tangible samples of your research. The use of Powerpoint is not forbidden, but we encourage you to make your presentation without it.
* Group work
During SAAR 2021 participants will work parallelly in 4 separate smaller groups. The group work has two (2) goals/aims:
On Wednesday 11.8.2021: The group work is based on the initiatives of the participants and their own specific questions/problems/objectives in their research that they have chosen to explore during the SAAR week. Each participant will initiate one group discussion that can take 1 h 30 minutes. In order to start the group discussion, the participant should prepare a 5–15 minutes initiative for the group, which is then followed by an open conversation. The initiative can be e.g. physical action or experiments with the group members, reading texts, showing visual material, making music, explaining one’s work etc. It should somehow "open a window" towards a domain that the researcher wishes to discuss. The same groups continue Friday.
On Friday 13.8.2021: The groups plan Collaborative statements (30 min per statement/group, incl. discussion). Each group crystallizes a Collaborative statement – an exploratory/experimental synthesis of initiatives/actions and discussions that have occurred within the group. The format for the Collaborative statement the group delivers is open – all forms of communication are welcome within the practical possibilities in Hanasaari. The presentation can e.g. include an action/practice element. Groups are also asked to consider and prepare a feedback element as part of their Collective statement presented on Saturday 14.8.2021.
Groups can work outdoors or in the meeting rooms that are reserved for SAAR. There are also time slots in the schedule for “general meetings”, where all participants gather for discussions.
* General meetings
This is an opportunity for the parallel groups to report on their work and discuss topics or questions that are interesting for all. We also make sure all practicalities are on track.
* Individual supervision
The participants will have the possibility to sign up for individual supervision with the supervisors. Schedules for this will be drawn up during the week.
Collaborativestatments at the end of the week: We will end the week on Saturday 14.8.2021 with the Collaborative statement presentations, which have been developed during the week in groups. The format is open, providing it is doable in practice. It may be any kind of an artwork, music, dance, painting, performance, installation, or a workshop, demonstration, lecture etc.
* Excursion
During the week, the participants will visit the first Helsinki Biennale 2021 at the island of Vallisaari/Skanslandet in Helsinki. We also visit the Uniarts Helsinki Research Pavilion #4 2021 at the Hietsu Pavilion in the city. Please note that the excursion is a mainly outdoor activity (e.g. time on boat) and involves walking in outdoor terrain.
* Other activities
In terms of social activities, we will provide information about interesting events or other possible activities in Helsinki in the evenings. We will have one joint dinner and an evening out in the city of Helsinki during the week.