What do we do?
The work of a2ru Research is guided by three basic questions:
- What is arts integration?
- Why does arts integration matter?
- How do you “do” arts integration?
The answers we provide to these three questions help A2RU partners meet their knowledge, communication, and program implementation goals.
How do we do it?
We consider it a cycle, mapped as follows:
We start with data. Some of that data comes from the literature of arts-integration and associated fields, but most comes first-hand from three major a2ru studies conducted between 2012 and the present.
Using a range of quantitative and qualitative methodologies, we derive insights from this data. A2RU partner concerns determine where we focus our analysis, for example on tenure and promotion policy, interdisciplinary collaboration, or “amplifying” arts integration on individual campuses.
In the maker tradition, we translate our research insights into tools, games workshops, rubrics, maps, agendas, and publication. These resources make it easy and practicable for partners to put our insights into practice.
Situating Creative Practice as Research Workshop
Explore when, why, and how artists and designers might frame their work as research.2022 Conference Videos
View the archive from our 2022 conference, "Exploring Artistic Research"Become a Member Today!
Arts Data Pilot at the University of Michigan
This 2023 reports summarizes findings from the first phase of a collaborative study with the University of Michigan Arts InitiativeBecome a Member Today!
Emerging Creatives Workshop
An immersive interdisciplinary creative experience for students.Video Presentation: Mapping (and Exploring) Impacts of the Arts in Higher Education
Veronica Stanich speaks to the Center for Interdisciplinarity at Michigan State UniversitySupporting Artists on STEMM Research Teams: Why and How
A study in partnership with the Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research (MICHR)Using the Arts to Flip Understanding Workshop
Combine arts-making and analysis to gain new perspective on your non-arts work.Interdisciplinary Collaboration Reading List
Key scholarly resources on collaboration among the arts and other disciplinesWebinar: Cluster Hires & Cross-Disciplinary Appointments
A 2018 session from our Circuits seriesTenure & Promotion Canvas Worksheet
A worksheet to identify & describe an institution tenure & promotion landscape.Implicit/Explicit: Delve Deeper Into Tacit Practices
A deck for faculty and academic leaders who are charged with aligning tenure and promotion policy with institutional values of arts integration and interdisciplinarityBecome a Member Today!
Patterns of Best Practice
A new a2ru research project in developmentExternal Reviewers for Tenure & Promotion
An exclusive benefit for institutional membersCollaboration Workshops
Learn tools for effective collaboration across difference.Become a Member Today!
The Case for Arts Integration Workbook
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What Is Arts Research?
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The Collaboration Kit
A workshop-in-a-box for collaborative know-howBecome a Member Today!
What’s Next? A Decision Support and Ideation Tool for Research Planning
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Impacts Map
This visual overview of of the impacts of arts integration and interdisciplinarity in the university is a tool for case-making, communication, and further inquiry.Research Brief: Impacts of Arts Integration and Interdisciplinarity in Research Universities
A report synthesizing our interview-based impacts researchReading List: Impacts of Arts Integration in the University
A list of key scholarly resources on articulating impact.Impacts Workshop
Build your case in this online or in-person workshop for artists and designers.Impacts Book: New Perspective, Awareness, Understanding
A short book exploring how encounters with the arts change our understanding and give us new perspectiveBecome a Member Today!
Impacts Book: Skills and Capacities for Students
A short book exploring the long list of skills and capacities that students build through their experiences with the artsBecome a Member Today!
Impacts Book: Student Experiences
A short book exploring the ways that students' experiences with the arts impact their learning, personal development, and social livesBecome a Member Today!
DIY Impacts Workshop & Worksheet
Create a shortened version of a2ru’s half-day workshopBecome a Member Today!