Association for the PhD in the Visual Arts
The question is not whether artists should get PhD's or not -
the question we should be asking is - what will happen when they do?
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Prof. Dr. Malcom Quinn, Chelsea College of Art, London
Associate Dean of Research and Director of Graduate School for Camberwell, Chelsea and Wimbledon Graduate School,
UAL and Honorary Senior Research Associate, UCL Faculty of Laws, Bentham Project
Mission Statement
The Association for the PhD in the Visual Arts (PhDVA) aims to foster an exchange of research between PhD students in the arts, to provide a pedagogical forum for the PhD including an exchange of critical ideas in the education of artists, theorists, and designer-makers at the doctoral level at a time of pivotal changes in education and communication worldwide. We are committed to fostering such an exchange in an interdisciplinary manner, attentive to new collaborative frameworks in the arts, humanities, philosophy, and sciences.
Purpose and Goals
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Provide a forum where artists, designers, philosophers, and scholars can freely exchange ideas about arts practice and theory on the doctoral level.
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Explore the diversity of doctoral programs for artists and creative thinkers in academic systems worldwide and examine how these varied programs meet the changing needs of visual-arts and design professionals.
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Evaluate the pivotal changes in education that are occurring in the visual arts field and the roles of art doctorates within these structures.
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Expand the opportunities for visual arts professionals in the 21st century
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To encourage qualified students to enter the arts as a profession and, to this end, to seek ways and means of establishing scholarships, fellowships, and awards for academic achievement or creative ability and promise.
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To publish such journals as are desirable and feasible; to provide for the dissemination of the results of creative works, scholarly research, and exhibitions.
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To publish and disseminate appropriate papers, bulletins, and reports of a scholarly, critical, or informative nature that the scope of established journals may not permit.
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To hold an Annual Conference for the purposes of presenting scholarly papers, presenting and discussing contemporary artist-philosophers' works, addressing other issues pertinent to the Association.
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To encourage professional relationships with other learned societies and with international, national, and regional organizations which serve similar purposes in the fine arts or allied areas.
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To develop, evaluate, disseminate and, where appropriate, implement standards, guidelines, and statements of policy regarding the activities of the profession(s) and the Association.
Core Values
• Promoting the doctoral degree for artists who seek this degree.
• Furthering knowledge, exchanging information, and encouraging awareness of new educational developments in doctoral studies for artists.
• Promoting ethical and professional standards thru an Annual Conference and bi-annual journal as well as addressing the changing needs of the profession.
• Nurturing and promoting the careers of studio artists, artist-philosophers, academics, and other art professionals.
• Encouraging pluralism and different points of view among the membership and in all the Association's activities, including its publication.
• Providing opportunities for members to network across all areas related to the fine arts, art history, and the humanities and, at the Annual Conference, providing a national and international venue for dialogue among artists, art historians, critics, curators, and other professionals.
• Being responsive to the changing professional needs and interests of the membership.
• Disseminating research.