[Air-L] CFP - Workshop on arts-based methods in housing, planning and the built environment

[Danielle Hynes]

The use of research creation and arts-based methods in studying housing, planning, and the built environment
9 - 10 September 2025
Maynooth University, Ireland
Organised by Rob Kitchin, Carla Maria Kayanan, Juliette Davret, and Oliver Dawkins

This two-day workshop aims to explore the use of research creation and arts-based methods in studying housing, planning, and the built environment. It is organised as part of the ERC-funded project, 'Data Stories: Telling Stories about and with Planning and Property Data'<https://datastories.maynoothuniversity.ie/>.

Travel Bursaries Available - details here https://datastories.maynoothuniversity.ie/?p=650

Over the last two decades, there has been a turn towards using creative and arts-based practices within social sciences to research aspects of society. Research-creation is an approach that utilises creative and arts-based practices and methods throughout the entire research process from the formulation of a project, through its enactment, to its dissemination (Loveless 2019, Truman 2021). Methodologically, such research might use various forms of creative writing (e.g., speculative fiction, poetry, short stories, creative non-fiction), art and craft practices (e.g., painting, photography, sculpture, textiles) and performance (e.g., theatre, film-making, music) as participatory methods to generate shared insight into an issue. Using a research creation approach provides opportunities for opening up new ways to conceptualise and understand issues related to housing, planning and the built environment.
This workshop aims to explore and theorise:

*                  the potential of research creation as an approach for making sense of housing, planning and the built environment;

*                  the implications of different artistic / creative practices for the co-production of knowledge

*                  the implications of different models of collaboration (e.g. the artist plus researcher pair vs. the artist doing research/researcher doing art)

While we will organise traditional paper-based sessions, we are also open to alternative modes of presentation and session formats. Following the workshop, selected speakers will be expected to contribute a full chapter to an edited academic book of the workshop proceedings. We seek contributions that emphasise epistemological inquiry rather than those that primarily showcase the outputs of using arts-based methods.

To present a paper and receive a travel bursary, please submit:

  *   A short cover letter explaining your interest in the workshop
  *   A title and short abstract (150 - 200 words)

Send applications to carla.kayanan at mu.ie<mailto:carla.kayanan at mu.ie> and juliette.davret at mu.ie<mailto:juliette.davret at mu.ie> using the subject line 'CFP RESEARCH CREATION WORKSHOP' by 14th March 2025.

To apply for a doctoral student travel bursary (without presenting), submit a cover letter explaining your interest using the subject line 'BURSARY RESEARCH CREATION WORKSHOP' by 14th March 2025.

Dr. Danielle Hynes