Research

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Our Research

School of Art research focuses on contemporary art, photography, sound and craft.

CAST (Contemporary Art and Social Transformation) is the School's core research group. CAST leads art research that critically engages with environmental, social and public spheres with a particular interest in how artistic practices intersect with issues of equity, access and democracy.

Our research labs and networks are expanding research on art and ecology, imaging futures, sound, materials and creative care.

In partnership with community, industry and government partners, our staff and postgraduate researchers work locally, nationally and internationally to undertake research and present their work.

Our artistic research is exhibited at prestigious national venues such as the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art and National Gallery of Victoria, as well as internationally at venues including Tate Modern; Institute of Contemporary Art, Singapore; Museum for Modern Art, Arnhem, Netherlands; and Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art.[EA1]

Research Groups & Networks

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CAST

CAST produces art research that critically engages with social and public spheres with a particular interest in how artistic practices intersect with issues of equity, access and democracy. CAST is a hub for critical thinking, collaboration and the exchange of ideas, knowledge dissemination, practice-led artistic research and socially-engaged art practice. CAST engages on local and international levels by collaborating with practitioners, communities, industry, and government partners.

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Creative Care

Creative Care explores the intersection between creative practice and health, care and wellbeing. The expertise of Creative Care practitioners and partners is diverse and spans creative practice, design, allied health, social care, urban and global studies, health, social and environmental sciences.

a figure wearing a black short, brown skirt and tall brown fluffy hat stands within a photogrammetry rig consisting of bars and cameras.

IF_LAB

The Imaging Futures Lab is a network of artists, academics and researchers interested in the ontological implications of emerging paradigms for the expanded image. Our work explores the creative and discursive potential and implications of emerging computational image-making technologies and their application to expanded photography and imaging practices.

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Sound Art and Auditory Culture lab (SAAC)

The Sound Art and Auditory Culture lab (SAAC) is an interdisciplinary hub for exchanging ideas around the creative uses of sound and auditory knowledge in society, culture and the environment.

AEGIS Research Network

The AEGIS Research Network focuses on the cultural responses to global climate change, place and relations between human and nonhuman animals

Postgraduate research programs

Practice Research Symposium

The Postgraduate Research community present work in progress at the regular Practice Research Symposium

View Practice Research Symposium

As a postgraduate research candidate in the School of Art, you will be supervised by experts in your field. The School of Art offers a rigorous, supportive and dynamic environment where the investigation of ideas and material practice informs the production of contemporary art, photography, sound and craft. Central to the program is a balance between studio practice and the conceptual and theoretical concerns that underpin creative research.

Candidates engage with their peers to develop extended dialogues and provide critical support for each other’s research. Being part of the RMIT School of Art means you are part of a global community with opportunities for debate and relationships.

The School of Art offers the following postgraduate research programs:

Postgraduate research in these programs may be carried out through a practice- based project combined with an exegesis/dissertation, or by a theoretical thesis.

Please refer to the Find a Project page for information on current research projects in the school. Applicants are to align their intended research with one of these projects in their Expression of Interest. Each project is led by a group of experienced research supervisors, who welcome new researchers to propose independent projects that align with the overall project description.

You are required to submit a research proposal, CV and folio of works (for practice-based projects) as part of your formal Expression of Interest.

Before you apply

Refer to How to apply for information on the application process and key dates.
Check your eligibility: Ensure that you meet the entry requirements for Postgraduate Research programs at RMIT. (Please note that RMIT will consider cases for equivalence where an applicant’s professional achievements and industry esteem are exceptional and demonstrated in the application.)
Identify the Research Project you wish to apply for and prepare an initial draft research proposal aligning your independent research idea with the project description.
Make contact with potential supervisors to seek their agreement to supervise and/or further develop your research topic for your EOI. Supervisors attached to each project are listed in the Project Guide. As a general rule, the first named supervisors are project leaders and suggested as potential Senior Supervisors.
The agreement of two available supervisors that are currently registered to supervise research at RMIT is required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).
Submit your EOI online, uploading your proposal, CV, folio and evidence of agreement to supervise from two research supervisors.
If your EOI is successful, you will be invited to submit a full application for admissions.

Person holding yellow blocks.

Find supervisors and explore projects

With a broad scope of exciting projects, we can help you identify and secure the project that best aligns with your experience, needs and vision.

Important dates

Please refer to the RMIT School of Graduate Research website for important dates relating to current admission and scholarship rounds.

As a general rule, the School of Art considers applications for a mid-year and end of year round, tied in with the scholarship timelines published on the School of Graduate Research website.

HDR Contact information

Coordinator of Postgraduate Research: Associate Professor Keely Macarow

Application enquiries: sgr.admissions@rmit.edu.au

Contact

Visit us

Location: Melbourne City campus, Building 24, Level 1, Room 3

Address: 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne

Contact us

Phone: Call +61 3 9925 5000 and select the option to 'Speak to your School' then 'College of Design and Social Context'.

Postal address

School of Art
RMIT University
GPO Box 2476
Melbourne 3001 Australia

People

The School of Art is led by experienced, creative and celebrated professionals and academics, with projects spanning fine art, public art, photography and more.

Image credits

Liss Fenwick, 'MASTOTERMES' (video still), 2021-ongoing.
Sally Richmond
Photogrammetry capture work-in-progress for the RMIT Digital Materialities project, 2023. Photograph: Alison Bennett.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

More information

aboriginal flag

torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

More information