Validating Arts Research: Reflections on the UK research audit culture and arts ‘doing-knowing

Abstract | Abstract

This article reflects on the worth of the arts in an academic context partly in the light of the author’s experience of formal UK research audit as a sub-panel member (RAE 2008; REF 2014). First the article outlines the emergence and development of UK audit culture, bringing out its upsides and downsides as perceived from different points of view. It proceeds to consider the formal acceptance of practice-based arts inquiries as knowledge-producing within the academy by relating the protocols of UK research audit for handling Practice as Research. Intelligent, investigative arts and media practice may well constitute research but the articulation, evidencing and dissemination of research inquiries and insights pose several challenges. Thirdly, it briefly explores a case for the value of Practice as Research as knowledge-producing in the broader context of interdisciplinary approaches to research within the Arts & Humanities and beyond. It challenges the historic divide between the Arts and Sciences.