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    Submit a research proposal at the Royal ConservatoireAntwerp

    Submit a research proposal to the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp

    For one- and two-year projects starting on 20 September 2027


    -  STEP 1 → submit your expression of interest by 21 September 2026, 12 PM (noon). 
    Please use the expression of interest form for this. We will inform you by the week of 5 October at the latest whether you may further develop and submit your project proposal in collaboration with one of our research groups.

    - STEP 2 → Submit your project dossier by 1 December 2026, 12:00 PM (noon).
    To do so, use the application form for start projects, the application form for one-year projects or the application form for two-year projects. 

    Preconditions 

    • The applicant holds a relevant master's degree. The applicant conducts research with questions and methodology situated in or arising from their own artistic practice, and with the necessary capacity for discursivity.
    • The submitted proposal must align with the mission/vision of the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp; the applicant is expected to endorse and further develop these.
    • The applicant must be in a practical and legal position to enter into employment with the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp/AP University of the Arts and to commit to a contractual appointment for the duration of the research project (research position). For international applicants, this means they must hold a valid work permit for Belgium.
    • The research proposal may only be submitted in Dutch or in English (see application form).

    Applications are to be embedded in one (or more)  research group(s), to be supervised by a supervisor and to formally meet all requirements (see below).   If you have questions, please contact the  research group(s) or the Head of Research  (contact information below).  

    The call concerns applications for start projects, one-year research projects and two-year research projects. 

    1) Start projects - Budget: 20% employment for research assignment for 12 months + 1.000€ operation resources

    2) One year projects - Budget: 55% employment for research assignment for 12 months + 1.000€ operation resources.  

    3) Two year projects - Budget: 55% employment for research assignment for 24 months + 2.000€ operation resources.

    Further information  

    Themes and Areas of Focus 

    The Conservatoire welcomes research proposals within the areas of interest and thematic domains of its four research groups. More information about the research groups can be found on this page. 

    Across disciplines, the Conservatoire formulates the following focal points and areas of interest: 

    • Research into improvisation and intuitive creation and performance practices 
    • Research into new dramaturgical and scenographic approaches in cross-over projects 
    • Methodologies for interdisciplinary creation processes 
    • Research into sustainable relationships between artists and urban communities 
    • The possibilities and limitations of inclusion in education and/or on stage 
    • Research into well-being and resilience in Music & Performing Arts  

    Procedure

    • Apply for your project before 21 September 2026 via the Expression of Interest form (see above)
    • We will let you know in the week of 5 October at the latest whether you can further develop and submit your project proposal in collaboration with one of our research groups.
    • If selected for further development, we expect the final dossier (via the application form, see above) no later than 1 December 2026, 12 pm (noon), via 2 electronic versions (WORD and PDF file) per e-mail to kevin.voets@ap.be.
    • The Head of research checks whether the submission process has been duly observed and whether the submitted project applications conform to the formal rules of the call (cf. art. 16 of the regulations)  
    • The Research Board of Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp - Royal Conservatoire Antwerp is consulted concerning the relevance of the applications to the joint research policy of the Schools of Arts. Only projects that are found to be relevant by the Research Board will be presented for further evaluation to a reading committee.  
    • The relevant project proposals will be evaluated and ranked by an independent reading committee. The reading committee makes a ranking of the applications per project type. The ranking will serve as advice to the Research Board and the Councils of the Schools of Arts, deciding on the acceptance and start-up of research projects.  
    • The aim is to conclude the evaluation and acceptance procedure in March 2027. Projects can start at the earliest, 20 September 2027.  

    A detailed description of the procedure is to be found in the regulations, article 17.

    Royal Conservatoire Antwerp  
    Kevin Voets - Head of Research  
    kevin.voets@ap.be  
    +32 (0)3 244 18 27