The Master of Arts by Research in Hybrid Arts (MARes) is an advanced interdisciplinary program designed for individuals who aspire to explore the evolving intersections between art, science, and technology, through art-based research. Combining theory, hands-on practice, and collaborative innovation, the MARes program prepares students to engage with both contemporary and future challenges in the creative sector.
MARes is a low-residency program involving a mix of distance education and brief periods of in-person learning, which means that most of the teaching is conducted online, with only one week of optional on-site presence required—the Winter School, which the student can also opt to attend online. The courses take place after the end of the standard working hours, and in addition, lectures are recorded and remain available on the platform for a specific time, enabling students of different time zones to attend these whenever it suits them.
MARes program offers a rich curriculum that balances critical theory with practical skills:
- Art Research Methods(group class): Emphasizing alternative modes of inquiry that challenge conventional research paradigms and encourage innovative forms of expression and representation, this module explores diverse art-based research methodologies, including autoethnography and arts-based educational research.
- Media Archaeology (group class): Focusing on posthumanism and intersectional discourses, this module explores early and obsolete media artifacts through critical and speculative lenses to understand media history and the alternative futures of technology, diving into the intersections of maker cultures and marginalized voices.
- Project Sustainability (group class): In this module students understand how to ensure their creative practices contribute meaningfully to both social and ecological contexts, while learning essential skills in managing art research projects, focusing on areas such as grant applications, budgeting, fundraising, and networking.
- Art Project Support(individual mentoring): This module provides guidance to students in the development of their own art research proposals, encouraging collaboration with guest artists, curators, and academic specialists, hands-on experience and practical knowledge in exhibition-making and publication projects.
- Major Project(individual mentoring): Reflecting creative output, including documentation and critical analysis to support the student’s journey and findings, the Major Project is the climax of the program, a research-driven art practice that culminates in a dissertation of 15,000-25,000 words.
The module Art Research Methods is taught by Dr. Adam Zaretsky, PhD in Transgenic Aesthetics, and Dr. Emmanouel (Manos) Rovithis, PhD in Electronic Music Composition. Both encouraging transgressive modes of inquiry, their classes will push students to explore the ethical, legal, and social dimensions of biotechnological materials, as well as methodologies that integrate game-based learning and immersive audiovisual technologies into artistic research and worshopology education.
The module Media Archaeology is taught by Dr. Maria Chalkou, PhD in Film Studies, and Dr. Dalila Honorato, PhD in Media Studies. Both bringing a deconstructive discourse analysis of visual narrative to explore media artifacts, speculative fiction, and alternative futures, their classes will push students to integrate queer, feminist, and critical theory to understand how media shapes culture and technology, bridging art and science semiotics at the intersection of fiction and nonfiction aesthetics.
The module Project Sustainability is taught by Dr. Iakovos Panagopoulos, PhD in Film Production, and Dr. Tania Tsiridou, PhD in Installation Art, in collaboration with Dr. Sofia Paschou, PhD in Museum Ethics. All are on board to help students navigate the complexities of sustainability in the arts. Their classes will push students to create narratives for project development that make a lasting difference, including grant applications and dissemination plans, able to resonate on social and ecological levels.
Throughout the program, initially on module Art Project Support and later on Major Project, students are paired with faculty members who will offer personalized support, providing one-on-one sessions that cater to the unique needs and aspirations of each student to inspire critical thinking, enhance creativity, and stimulate professional development. Among the mentoring team, besides the above-named, faculty also includes Dr. Ioannis Zannos, PhD in Musicology and PhD in Computer Engineering, and Dr. Charikleia (Hari) Marini, PhD in Theatre and Performance, both exploring performative practices and urban space through a lens of intermediality.
Additionally, one of the standout features of the MARes program is the Winter School, an immersive, week-long intensive training program designed to enhance and refine the student’s project. Led by our mentors and supported by expert feedback from guest artists and researchers, the Winter School offers students the opportunity to receive tailored guidance in an environment of creative collaboration and exploration. The Winter School is accessible both in-person and remotely, ensuring that all MARes students can benefit from this essential experience, no matter their location or their budget (travel and accommodation expenses for in-person participation are not covered by the fee).
This MARes program aligns with European Higher Education Area standards, ensuring high-quality learning and academic recognition. Potential candidates should have artistic backgrounds and clear research projects. Applications must be submitted by December 10, 2024, at 2 pm EΕT via online portal: MARes Application. For additional details on curriculum, faculty, and student services, please see the program’s call for applications or visit the official MARes website.
