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

Our Research Stories

Artists addressing military histories and Indigenous-settler relations awarded ARC Discovery Grant

31 October 2025
Artists at the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Fine Arts and Music (FFAM), in collaboration with Faculty of Arts researchers, have been awarded an Australian Resear...

Indigenous songwriting project brings Kimberley languages to life through music

19 September 2025
A new album of children’s songs, launched today as part of a project led by University of Melbourne musician and researcher Dr Gillian Howell, is bringing Kimberley lang...

One-night-only exhibition Next to Nothing explores the limits of performance

19 March 2025
Project8 Gallery will this week host a special one-off exhibition exploring the nature of performance and its central role in the generation and presentation of the creative a...

Flashover — Multimedia artwork provides unique insights into bushfires

4 February 2025
An innovative University of Melbourne multimedia project, which harnessed the latest visual effects technology to offer new insights into the ferocity of bushfires, was exhibi...

University of Melbourne to host Collaborate. Innovate. Create. forum

21 October 2024
The University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Fine Arts and Music (Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and Victorian College of the Arts) will host the inaugural Collaborate. I...

Music Psychology student wins University’s Visualise Your Thesis competition

22 July 2024
Music Psychology PhD student Sabrina McKenzie has recently won the University of Melbourne’s Visualise Your Thesis competition....

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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.

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.

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.

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.

Creativity and Wellbeing Research Initiative (CAWRI)

The Creativity and Wellbeing Research Initiative (CAWRI) investigates how creativity and wellbeing intersect through a range of research projects.

MP3 Lab

Discovering how people think, feel, behave, and learn when engaging with music.

#1

For Research in Art, Performing Arts and Design

280+

Graduate Research Students

$48m

Research income over the last 5 years (HERDC)

Contact the Research Office

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