Research

The term ‘research’ in the subheading to Jan van Eyck Academie indicates that the institute offers space and time to let go of predetermined processes and results and to explore new inroads which may lead to unexpected results. The term ‘research’ also refers to the inherently discursive nature of (the making of) art, design and theory. ‘Discursive’ denotes the discussion of the artist, designer or theoretician with him/herself and others, with like-minded people or with those who differ, with tradition and topicality. Art, design and theory are essentially determined by this discursive approach.

Production

The term ‘production’ is the counterpart in the subheading on the Jan van Eyck. It would certainly be putting it too strongly to call it ‘opposite’. After all, the link between ‘research’ and ‘production’ is essential: the Jan van Eyck is not purely a research centre, nor is it simply a production machine. More accurately, one can speak of a balance between research and production, to be determined per project. For each project a balance must be struck between aspects of research and production. Some projects seem to have a set result from the onset – at application –, other projects are highly experimental and may lead to a different kind of production than originally anticipated. The institute does not place value on productions only, it also values the processes which can result in productions.

Presentation and discussion

Core tasks of the Jan van Eyck are initiating, facilitating and assisting with research projects and productions – in an artistic and technical sense. This vocation, to which the subheading on the Jan van Eyck refers, does not cover everything done by the institute. A closely related task concerns the presentation and discussion of these research projects and productions. If art, design and theory are inherently determined by the dialogue which the artist, designer and theoretician has with him/herself and others, then it is a sheer duty of an institute such as the Jan van Eyck to instigate the discourse on artistic, design and theory topics and to publicise it. The institute stimulates the debate about art, design and theory in all sorts of ways, prioritising the public nature of the debate. Internal and collective research projects are presented from the onset to internal researchers as well as external interested parties. The research projects are described and the descriptions published, online as well as on paper (programme brochure, annual report). During the research process several presentations take place, for the benefit of internal and external parties. On completing the research trajectory or after realisation of the production both process and production are evaluated. The presentation and discussion are means to an end: they offer the researcher(s) feedback on the research thesis, the hypotheses, the interim research outcomes and the final production. However, presentations and discussions are also in themselves objectives for the Jan van Eyck. Being part of the Dutch cultural infrastructure the Jan van Eyck is keen to share the knowledge and insights it has acquired with interested parties, individuals as well as institutes.

The vocation of the Jan van Eyck – institute for research and production, presentation and discussion – puts the academy in a unique position in the Dutch art and culture scene. Unlike galleries, exhibition spaces, art centres and even museums, the emphasis is never biased towards realising productions. Unlike universities and scientific institutes, research can result in unconventional productions, such as temporary projects in the public arena, fictional designs or speculative thought experiments. The special place of the Jan van Eyck within the art and culture establishment in The Netherlands brings the institute quite naturally in a position of partner of and intermediary between different kinds of institutes. Depending on the specific balance between research-based and production-oriented aspects of particular projects, the Jan van Eyck forms alliances with local, euregional, national and international players.

More information on different subjects of Jan van Eyck policy can be found in the following downloadable documents:

Annual report 2001 (PDF 376 KB)

Annual report 2002 (PDF 1.1 MB)

Annual report 2003 (PDF 900 KB)

Annual report 2004 English edition (PDF 2MB)
Annual report 2004 Dutch edition (PDF 2MB)

Annual report 2005 Dutch edition (PDF 12MB)

Annual report 2005 English edition (PDF 12MB)

Annual report 2006 Dutch edition (PDF 3,8 MB)

Annual report 2006 English edition (PDF 4,7 MB)

Policy plan (English; Word document, 57.5 KB)

Beleidsplan (Dutch; Word document, 40.3 KB)

Koen Brams