FORUM+ for research and arts

Aims

FORUM+ is a journal that showcases peer-reviewed artistic research from various fields in an open access format. It is available both online and in print, and it reflects the dynamic and diverse nature of artistic research, an area of growing importance within higher arts education worldwide.

Our central mission is to facilitate dialogue, bridging the world of artistic research with its broader academic and societal context. We not only offer a platform for sharing artistic research results, but we also aim to stimulate critical reflection on method, process, and motives. With this aspiration, we provide a stage for creative approaches and critical reflections on the continuously evolving landscape of research in the arts.

FORUM+ is primarily aimed at researchers, teachers, and students in Higher Arts Education across artistic disciplines. Simultaneously, it endeavours to make current developments in artistic research more accessible to a wider audience of art enthusiasts. To achieve this, FORUM+ seeks to deliver accessibility in form and content, positioning itself in between an academic and a cultural journal.

Scope

Our perspective is very broad and incorporates all artistic disciplines, including the applied arts. The interdisciplinary nature of FORUM+ encourages both discussions within specific disciplines but also the exploration of connections and distinctions between them.

Our journal’s main focus is Artistic Research (AR). This refers to research that emerges from an artistic practice. But our editorial board warmly welcomes contributions that extend beyond this core, engaging in a broader discourse related to AR. We encourage submissions covering a range of topics, including, but not limited to:

+ Reflections on methods and methodology in AR.
+ Explorations of the relationship between theory and practice in AR.
+ Research about the arts when informed by artistic practices.
+ Discussions related to Higher Arts Education.
+ Critical assessments and discussions of AR results, encompassing reviews and other forms of critical engagement.

By embracing this diverse array of subjects, we aim to foster a fruitful dialogue within the field of artistic research, encouraging the development of an artistic research community.

Contributions to FORUM+ are accepted in both Dutch and English and must originate from original research. They are subjected to peer review by the editorial staff and a member of the editorial advisory board with expertise in the relevant field. Partnering with Belgian, Dutch, and international Schools of Arts, the editorial board ensures the quality and relevance of submissions.

In addition to traditional scholarly articles, the editorial board warmly invites a diverse range of contributions, including visual and reflective essays, podcasts, dialogues, and more. Our open dossiers feature articles and contributions centred around specific themes within the realm of artistic research. Through these varied formats, FORUM+ aims to foster and showcase the diverse articulations of artistic research on both a local and international level.

Inclusivity

FORUM+ places great importance on inclusivity and welcomes authors, contributors and readers from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. FORUM+ pays specific attention to inclusive language during the editing process. For more information and tips, you can visit this website, for example. In addition, we ask our authors to critically question their bibliography and include a diversity of sources and perspectives: Who is represented? What does the source (not) tell us? Is there a balance between the different voices presented?

The editorial team are continuously looking for ways to increase FORUM+'s (online) accessibility. If you have a suggestion or question, you can let us know at redactie@forum-online.be.

Open access

FORUM+ is published in Diamond Open Access (DOA) with the following Creative Commons-licence: Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). The license allows articles to be downloaded and shared with others, provided that FORUM+ and the author of the article are mentioned, that the article is not altered, and that the work is not used commercially. Articles in this journal have Digital Object Identifiers (DOI’s) that are registered at CrossRef. A DOI is a unique number sequence which identifies a published article.

Reproduction of articles and illustrations is permitted only with the express permission of the publisher.

The editors have made every effort to track down copyright holders and obtain permission. If you think you are entitled to published materials, please send an e-mail to redactie@forum-online.be.

Frequency and distribution

FORUM+ is published two times a year (April and October) by Brepols and the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp (RCA), in collaboration with the Antwerp Research Institute for the Arts (ARIA). FORUM+ has a circulation of about 1,400 copies. These are distributed to subscribers and freely available at FORUM+ ambassadors.

Publication ethics

Publisher Brepols and FORUM+ endorse the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines and will pursue cases of suspected research and publication misconduct (e.g. falsification, unethical experimentation, plagiarism, inappropriate image manipulation, redundant publication).

Folio

FORUM+ is part of the non-profit organisation Folio, which supports the interests of (online) magazines and journals and allows readers to immerse themselves in an enormous range of content from Flemish magazines on literature, art, culture and heritage. See the Folio website for more information.

ISSN

0779-7397

International paper quality label

FORUM+ is printed on paper made up of a mixture of materials from FSC-certified forests, recycled materials, and/or FSC-controlled wood. While controlled wood doesn’t come from FSC-certified forests, it mitigates the risk of the material originating from unacceptable sources.