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Research lines of the Faculty of Theatre
The position of research at the Theatre Faculty as an art university is specific. Generally speaking, we
are talking about art research in terms of basic research, as well as research for art, arts-based
research or, in other words, artistic research, and specific research focused on art-pedagogical
activities.
In the case of art research, i.e. research of stage art and of the art produced in films and television &
radio programs, the Theatre Faculty’s research activities are close to humanities, especially
theatrology, aesthetics, media studies, etc., which create a theoretical and historical background for
the artistic creation itself and, at the same time, serve for discovering, analysing and capturing the
memory footprint preserving the intangible cultural heritage not only for current but also for future
knowledge. During the period under review, this type of basic research was conducted for example in
the following thematic areas: 18th
century stage design, Prague Czech drama during the World War II,
documentation and analysis of the production of Brno studio theatres, history and analysis of Czech
television drama production, etc. The significance of these research activities can be also evidenced
by the support granted to the Theatre Faculty by the Czech Science Foundation, the only national
institution in the Czech Republic providing targeted support for basic research projects from public
funds (see Annex 3.24 – Overview of Theatre Faculty Projects Supported by the Czech Science
Foundation).
Research for art has its place primarily in art-managerial and art-technological fields of the Theatre
Faculty. Experts from the Department of Theatre Production and Stage Technology carry out
research activities with a direct link to application in cultural-political and cultural-managerial
practice. In the period under review, they dealt, for example, with the following topics, elaborated on
the basis of demand from specific non-academic entities: analysis of grant programmes of the
Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic in 2012 – 2016 with the formulation of proposals for
improving the system of subsidies for live art (cooperation with the Arts and Theatre Institute,
sponsor: Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic), research of cultural and creative industries in the
Czech Republic (cooperation with the Arts and Theatre Institute, the Statutory City of Brno and the
South Moravian Innovation Centre (henceforth “JIC”); practical impact on the cultural policy of the
City of Brno and the JIC financial support instruments), evaluation of managerial-operational and
artistic-operational activities of a public-benefit cultural institution by using an audit of the Slovácké
divadlo theatre as an example (sponsor: the Town of Uherské Hradiště). The line of arts and
technology disciplines is represented by research topics of interdisciplinary nature where art meets
technology. As regards performing arts and the environment of the Theatre Faculty, we are talking
about research activities carried out primarily in the field of lighting design, which have direct impact
on artistic productions performed not only in traditional theatre buildings, but also in public space
(video mapping and site-specific projects).
In the context of the direction of the Theatre Faculty’s research activities, it is necessary to mention
arts-based research or, in other words, artistic research, which is currently being intensively
discussed in the Czech environment and which we perceive as an integral part of the wide spectrum
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of R&D activities. In this field, we implement projects aimed at knowledge contributions developing
the richness of approaches to artistic creation and developing the creation itself, as well as projects
of interdisciplinary character that transcend the boundaries of performing arts and use their
principles and approaches in other areas of human activity. An example of such projects is research
activities focused on working with groups with specific needs (e.g. the hearing-impaired, people with
Down syndrome).
A specific position in the Theatre Faculty’s research and development is occupied by research
activities carried out by the studios Theatre and Education (Divadlo a výchova), Theatre and
Education for the Deaf (Divadlo a výchova pro Neslyšící) and Dance and Movement Theatre and
Education (Taneční a pohybové divadlo a výchova) which tend to have an artistic-pedagogical
character and are directed at the education provided by institutions from different levels of the
education system, including organizations engaged in further education, leisure activities or
education of groups with specific needs.