quARtier

quARtier is the Artistic Research Laboratory at GMPU. Located at the Haus-der-Bauern campus, the lab includes a dedicated 100 m² reconfigurable workspace and an adjacent 18 m² room with equipment deposit and workplace for electronics and DIY. The lab sits right next to the group study room of the doctoral researchers of the planned PhD in the Arts programme, providing adequate space for the diversity of its projects.

The subject library is also located here, covering the areas of Artistic Research, Philosophy/Critical Theory, and the three research focuses: Composition, Musical Performance Art, Sound and Intermedia.

The laboratory supports the planning, creation, experimentation, development, and presentation of artistic research projects. It is designed based on three principles:

  • Interdisciplinarity and intermediality: to allow a broad spectrum of practices and activities. The existing equipment can be expanded according to specific projects.
  • Modularity: to allow reconfiguration and concurrent setups to accommodate the needs of different projects.
  • Practicality: the space is easily accessible and functional. It is primarily a lab and workshop space rather than a polished representational space.

quARtier allows for six core scenarios:

  1. In-house artistic research: both GMPU staff and invited artists-researchers conduct various types of experiments, produce objects or tools, hold workgroup meetings.
  2. Research of the PhD in the Arts dissertation projects: to give space and support the various practical tasks, experiments, and documentation.
  3. Collaboration and concurrency of different disciplines: forms such as music, performance, electronics, sound objects and installation can meet in quARtier and extend to other disciplines and practices. Parallel or combined setups require sufficient space which is thus prioritised for such situations.
  4. Specific teaching: to avoid unnecessary occupancy of quARtier, courses in artistic research or the doctoral programme are held in the general lecture halls of the GMPU. If specific structures or installed equipment is required, certain courses or sessions can take place in the lab. Likewise, artistic research workshops can take place there if they benefit from the equipment and atmosphere.
  5. Events of Artistic Research: presentations for a small specialised audience can be implemented, including performative, installative and discursive formats. Max. 25 persons can be admitted. Larger events are referred to the larger halls of GMPU and the concert house.
  6. Mobile and external activities: besides the stationary equipment at quARtier, dedicated mobile A/V equipment is provided both for the doctoral researchers and the artistic research staff. Procedures for equipment loan and required technical training are in place.

The lab is a managed space (see below) and priority is given to the implementation of practical and ongoing work (1, 2) as well as concurrent setups (3) where possible. Teaching (4) and presentations (5) can only take place if they do not impede research activities.

Equipment

The lab offers a modular structure with optional worktables, an all around ceiling mounted truss, and various A/V signal patching points. Skylights and glass walls can be darkened, and the acoustics is dry. A video projector and a projection screen are permanently installed. A mobile multi-channel speaker system can be configured to need, along with multi-channel audio-interface, AD/DA converters and analogue mixing desk. A collection of high quality microphones and lights are available, as well as miscellaneous hardware such as cable bridges, rubber mats, stands. Dedicated video equipment is currently being added.

The electronics and DIY workplace features soldering equipment, mechanical tools and a 3D printer.

Located by the library is a Linux workstation dedicated to A/V editing.

Management

The laboratory is supervised and developed by the designated programme coordinator of the PhD in the Arts, together with the professorship for Sound and Intermedia. It is supported by the University Assistant for Sound and Intermedia.