Research in the Arts
The mission of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) is to advance the study, creation, performance, exhibition, and management of the arts, acting on the strong belief in their transformative influence on individuals and civilizations.
CVPA has only had an active ADR since this past year. While it is possible to examine funded research data, it is far more difficult to describe other activities and trends in any qualitative manner. This does not mean that research has not taken place, it has just not been recorded as such. To foster greater accountability and gain recognition for the work that the college does, it was necessary to first define what research looks like in this college, presently an ongoing discussion.
What does research in the arts look like? Each unit received the publication “What is Research?” from the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru) as a starting point of the discussion. Exploratory Creative Production-related Technical Theoretical
College Centers • Virginia Serious Game Institute • Provisions Research Center for Arts and Social Change • Supports creative ideas for social change through art and design • Floating Lab Collective • Student and faculty collaborative art group focused on social research through public and media art projects • Produced over 50 groundbreaking community projects within the Metropolitan DC area, nationally, and internationally; most recently, working in Medellin, Columbia addressing drug violence. • Working Man Collective • Projects seek to generate environmental awareness, stimulate the re-identification of a population with its hometown history, and urge participants into strengthening relationships with their neighbors. • Exhibited work and created projects in the U.S., Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. Auxiliaries • Mason Community Arts Academy • Center for the Arts • Hylton Performing Arts Center
What Does Research in the Arts Look Like? Scholarship
Exhibitions/
Scholarship
Installations
Books
Books
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed Articles Articles Chapters
Creative Projects
Chapters Plays
Gallery Museum Public Spaces
Films Projects Creative
Choreography
Plays Composition
Performances
Films
Solo
Group Games
Live, Film, Video, TV, Radio
Choreography Exhibitions/Installations Gallery Composition
Museum
Design Public Spaces
Technological or Theoretical Advancement Psychology Bio Engineering Education
Technological or Theoretical Advancement Policy Briefs Performances: Live, Collaborative work with Psychology Film, Video, TV, Program Evaluations Bio Engineering Radio Education lery
Solo/Group rmances
Museum Public Spaces
Research Activities Activity Type
Number
Books
9
Chapters Articles
8 47
Papers
47
Scores/Plays/Films Production
457
Performances/Screenings/Lectures/Workshops Exhibitions/Installations Project Management/Assessment
1,767 36 3
Data from Arts Management; School of Art; Film and Video Studies; School of Music; School of Theater
Mason’s Bioengineering Department and the School of Dance collaborating on research into sensorimotor learning.
“The Dancing Brain” Mason Spirit, May 12, 2017
Types of Research Support Grants Philanthropy Commissions Contract University Funds Self-Funding
Grant Activity FY 15
FY 16
FY 17
FY 18
FY 19
PROPOSALS Office of the Dean
2
560,636
1
790,000
4
857,226
4
954,487
9
1,643,335
Music
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
30,000
Theater
3
192,973
0
0
0
0
2
CVPA SUBTOTAL
5
$753,609
1
$790,000
4
$857,22 6
6
$1,045,48 1 8 0
$1,673,335
4
$1,024,487 5
$802,917
AWARDS • • • • •
91,001
0
0
National Art Education Association (NAEA) United States Geological Survey (USGS)-to integrate science and art in the classroom National Parks Service (NPS) for Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Academic Library Consortium-Vision for Open Music VA-VSGI
Philanthropic Support
CVPA Academic Units & VSGI FY18
FY19
Beg. Balance
657,700
1,363,600
Cash Contributions In-kind Contrib and Endow Transfers
894.100
878,900
23,300
149,800
19,600
26,300
937,000
1,055,000
Scholarship Expenses
189,500
484,300
Other Expenses
145,300
244,900
37,400
55,100
372,200
784,300
Endowment Payouts Income
Foundation Fees Expenditures End Balance
Totals minus Scholarships and Fees
1,222,450
1,634,250
$995,550 $1,094,850
Impact: nationally and internationally Numbers of performances/exhibitions annually Film
and Video Studies Screenings of works in over 115 venues
Theater
1,050 performances in over 247 venues 100 compositions Music
203 Performances Green Machine 205 Performances Art
40 exhibitions and public presentations
Audience/participant numbers yet to be determined
Collection of data
Faculty underreporting and misperception that professional activity doesn’t count as research.
Staff overtaxed and unable to account for projects undertaken
Lack of history of reporting or recognition for research
Concept of considering and recording impact is new
Need for reporting mechanism
Supporting Research Currently: New ADR and Research Finance Administrator Assistance in Grant writing Accruing F&A Funds in Dean’s Account 2 new CVPA Funds Seminars and workshops on grant writing and RCR Going Forward: Reduced Teaching Load Space Research Training Grant Seeking and Proposal Writing Funding Seed grants and student support in research Anxiously Awaiting F-180 Networking Accounting platform
Current CVPA Support for Faculty Research Purks Faculty Enrichment Fund To provide perpetual support for research and creative activity (i.e. conferences, travel, publishing materials, installation costs etc.). Peer Review Process, Office of Academic Affairs 2019: 18 proposals 6 Awards totaling $7000
CVPA Faculty Research Fund Discretionary funds to Directors For next 3 years (for research-related activities such as conferences, travel, equipment, materials, etc.)