research & transdisciplinarity 

As a research environment a.s aspires to a very broad approach of the notion of scenography as an open invitation to constantly question and (re)define its borders in the context of contemporary performing and visual arts. The following description wants to be an indication of the wide range of possible research projects in the a.s research environment rather than a delimitation of a subject matter. 

As point of departure we conceive the scenografic space as a (temporary) spatial organization created for a specific performative activity. As a consequence a scenography does not exist as a self-contained artwork but is incomplete until the performer steps in and engages the audience (noting that performer and audience can very well coincide).

This includes a broad variety of artistic researches with very different starting points : ranging from set design in a theatre building or any other chosen location to the city as a performative space. Although the performance context is a focus in the program, we are aiming for transdisciplinary research.  We welcome proposals seeking an interaction with architecture, urbanism, politics, science, economy, environmental science, visual arts,... as with other forms of scenography (for instance in the context of curatorial practices, fashion shows, etc.)

In the evaluation of research applications and the monitoring of participants, we consider the scenographer to be an autonomous artist (whose work can be part of a larger artistic collaboration or project) for whom artistic practice, theoretical research and the development of craftsmanship are equally important.