Research

Research at the Faculty

The Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music are two historically distinguished Melbourne arts institutions that have been brought together to form a vital and dynamic research Faculty at the University of Melbourne.

Professor Felicity Baker

The Faculty of Fine Arts and Music has an active and vibrant research culture. Located in Southbank alongside renowned artistic institutions including the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Recital Centre, and Melbourne Theatre Company, our internationally and nationally acclaimed artists pursue practice-led research across a wide range of disciplines. These practice-led modes of research are complemented by more traditional research led by our internationally recognised scholars. Interdisciplinary collaboration and the convergence of these differing modes of research is a key feature of our work. Our pursuit of excellence and innovation is evident by and embodied in all of the internationally-acclaimed creative artworks and scholarly work we produce.

Professor Felicity Baker
Associate Dean (Research) for the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music

Research Units, Centres, Groups and Networks

Creative Arts and Music Therapy Research Unit

Our vision is to establish a culture of excellence in creative arts and music therapy research and training, grounded in a supportive and inspiring research milieu and fostered in international collaboration.
View details about Creative Arts and Music Therapy Research Unit

Research Unit for Indigenous Arts and Cultures

Our vision is to centre Indigenous philosophies of practice in the academy and society through arts practice, arts research, research training and partnerships.
View details about Research Unit for Indigenous Arts and Cultures

Louise Hanson-Dyer and Editions de l’Oiseau-Lyre International Research Network

The Louise Hanson-Dyer and Editions de l’Oiseau-Lyre International Research Network was established in 2021 by musicologists Kerry Murphy and Rachel Orzech, with the support of an MCM Strategic Initiatives Grant.
View details about Louise Hanson-Dyer and Editions de l’Oiseau-Lyre International Research Network

ARC Centre for Excellence for the History of Emotions

Emotions shape individual, community and national identities. The ARC Centre of Excellence for the History of Emotions uses historical knowledge from Europe, 1100–1800, to understand the long history of emotional behaviours.
View details about ARC Centre for Excellence for the History of Emotions

Music, Mind and Wellbeing Initiative

The world-first Music, Mind & Wellbeing initiative links neuroscience with music and social wellbeing through a unique set of collaborations spanning music, science, health, education, and industry.
View details about Music, Mind and Wellbeing Initiative

Centre of Visual Art (CoVA)

CoVA was established in 2018 to facilitate innovative and sustainable research and collaborative cross-disciplinary projects in the visual arts at the University of Melbourne.
View details about Centre of Visual Art (CoVA)

Creativity and Wellbeing Research Initiative

The Creativity and Wellbeing Hallmark Research Initiative explores the intersection of creativity and wellbeing. It uses an interdisciplinary knowledge base to cultivate a network of researchers who investigate the relationship between creativity and wellbeing, and the impact of creativity on wellbeing across the lifespan.
View details about Creativity and Wellbeing Research Initiative

#1

For Research in Art, Performing Arts and Design

280+

Graduate Research Students

$48m

Research income over the last 5 years (HERDC)

Our Research Stories

Event Horizon: an Art + Australia symposium and special issue

Art + Australia explore the conjunction of art and science in Event Horizon, released to coincide with a three-day symposium.
View details about Event Horizon: an Art + Australia symposium and special issue

Finding voice – Katy Abbott on composing Hidden Thoughts II: Return to Sender

Celebrated Melbourne Conservatorium composer Katy Abbott discusses her latest work, incorporating letters sent by members of the Australian public to detained asylum seekers on Nauru.
View details about Finding voice – Katy Abbott on composing Hidden Thoughts II: Return to Sender

New ABC media residency for arts practitioners and researchers

The University of Melbourne is partnering with the ABC and the Australia Council to present TOP 5 Arts – a media residency for graduate early-career practitioners and PhD researchers.
View details about New ABC media residency for arts practitioners and researchers

Dr Suzanne Fraser: coordinating the Centre of Visual Art (CoVA) – a ‘big, beautiful creature’ at the University of Melbourne

Researcher, lecturer and arts writer, Dr Suzanne Fraser is Centre Coordinator at the University of Melbourne's Centre of Visual Art (CoVA). Here, she talks about CoVA's remit, aspirations and research profile.
View details about Dr Suzanne Fraser: coordinating the Centre of Visual Art (CoVA) – a ‘big, beautiful creature’ at the University of Melbourne

Robert Walton on Child of Now and bringing your heart to work

VCA Theatre lecturer Robert Walton has been credited with creating the world’s first piece of iPad theatre and has toured his work internationally. So where does 'radical empathy' fit in to his latest work?
View details about Robert Walton on Child of Now and bringing your heart to work

Dr Kim Dunphy, Dance Movement Therapist: ‘It’s our moral obligation to make a contribution’

Digital archives of sung poems might seem a long way away from dance movement therapy, but for Dunphy it’s all part of a broader engagement with art, culture and community-building.
View details about Dr Kim Dunphy, Dance Movement Therapist: ‘It’s our moral obligation to make a contribution’

More research stories

Contact the Research Office

For more information about current research, graduate research opportunities, or support for current researchers, contact the Research Office.

Phone: +61 3 9035 9175

Email: fineartsmusic-research@unimelb.edu.au