On 5 and 6 March 2026, Arts Platform Brussels – the partnership between the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the Erasmushogeschool Brussel (EhB) for the doctorate in the arts – will host the two-day symposium “From Experience: The Arts PhD in Practice”, in collaboration with Stellenbosch University, University of Gothenburg and University of Warwick.
The symposium is devoted entirely to the experiences of artist-researchers undertaking a doctorate in the arts. This pathway differs from a traditional PhD in that artistic practice forms the starting point for research questions, experimentation and the development of knowledge. Through performances, films, music and other art forms, artists explore how creative practice can open up new ways of thinking and analysing, supported by a theoretical reflection that situates the work within an academic context. A recent VUB example is the doctorate of filmmaker Ellen Vermeulen, who examines social structures and the ethics of representation in documentary film, illustrating both the breadth and the critical scope of the field.
During the symposium, participants will have the opportunity to explore this practice-based approach from within. On 5 March, the programme will take place at RITCS School of Arts, Antoine Dansaertstraat 70 in Brussels, where doctoral researchers and PhD graduates in the arts from Brussels, Stellenbosch, Gothenburg and Warwick will present their work. On 6 March, the symposium moves to Campus Kanal, Slotstraat 28, where The Imaginary Institute will lead co-creative, game-based sessions on the future development of artistic research.
By bringing together international researchers and institutions, Arts Platform Brussels aims to foster an in-depth discussion on the position and future of the doctorate in the arts. Under the banner of the Brussels Arts Platform, the symposium represents a meaningful contribution to the growing international exchange around artistic research, reaffirming Brussels as a key meeting place for artist-researchers.