Senior Arts Administrator Lecturer Treks to Helsinki to Talk

Last year, Arts Administration Senior Lecturer Lauren O’Neal visited Finland to attend the European Artistic Research Network (EARN) conference.

Held in October 2022 at the University of the Arts Helsinki, the conference’s goal is to share artistic research, foster mobility between international researchers and institutions, and promote the dissemination of artistic research. “Making Research Public” was this year’s theme. It aimed to explore new ways to take artistic research, effectively communicate its processes and outcomes, and refine approaches using that data to engage with communities.

The many forms and formats that artistic research can take—from tangible objects such as artworks and books to more ephemeral or intangible outcomes, such as performances or sharing working methods—were among the topics covered at the EARN conference.

O’Neal, who’s taught master’s degree in Arts Administration students at BU MET since 2011, actively participated in the proceedings, particularly in serving as moderator of the Curatorial Studies and Space+Practice working group sessions.

An international roster of presenters included Bassam El Baroni from Aalto University in Helsinki, Henk Slager from the Postgraduate Research School in Zurich, Mick Wilson of HDK-Valand Academy of Art and Design, and Joasia Krysa—curator of the second Helsinki Biennial.

Additional presenters included Mika Elo, professor of artistic research and head of the doctoral program at the University of the Arts Helsinki, and numerous other researchers, including Denise Ziegler, Maiju Loukola, Elina Saloranta, and Antti Nyyssölä.

Learn more about earning your MS in Arts Administration at BU MET by visiting our website.