About LTU ARC

LTU ARC (Arts-Based Research Center) is a platform for cross-disciplinary research at the intersection between the arts and sciences. The foundation of LTU ARC is two research clusters which also define the framework for a new cross-disciplinary doctoral school for the artistic subjects at Luleå University of Technology.

Two overlapping thematic areas provide an overarching trajectory for LTU ARC. The overarching objective is to create fundamental and cross-disciplinary research that explores the role of visual, material, sonic, and performing arts in building future attractive, prosperous, and creative societies.

By combining methods from different research disciplines, LTU ARC approaches artistic research as a vehicle for driving development in the arts, and for the creation of a sustainable and inclusive society. With a PhD school built around two research clusters, doctoral students are introduced to explorative research practices in interaction with senior researchers and artists. At the same time, LTU ARC is a platform for the university’s collaboration with and development of the cultural life in the north of Sweden. An external board of advisors secures a grounding in and relevance for institutions in the north of Sweden.

The thematic areas address challenges and opportunities in the creation of attractive, creative and inclusive future living environments and societies through research and education in physical, virtual, digital, and social future places, spaces and ‘things’.

Hereby, it aligns with the Government Bill for Designed living environments (2017/18:110) and the EU initiative New European Bauhaus to develop research approaches built on:

• Co-creation among arts and science, business and society that involves exploring different kinds of futures and utilizing creative approaches and methods to address change and transformation;
• An active systemic approach where entire value chains are involved, and values are created beyond simplified and short-term financial calculations.

In one thematic area, LTU ARC develops new insights and tools of relevance to such practical and applied fields as urban design and regional development. LTU ARC will establish new collaborations with stakeholders and businesses in order to set this innovative approach in practice, and thereby to contribute tangibly to the green transition and development of sustainable and more attractive living environments.

Through a new research cluster based in the research groups in architecture and design, LTU ARC will develop novel approaches to city planning through the combination of artistic and scientific methods used to design the sonic landscapes of urban areas in Norr- och Västerbotten. According to Cobussen (2022), the first stage of “engaging the everyday sounds of a city” for soundscape intervention is description of all present sounds, while the second stage is interpretation (in terms of possible emotions and meanings to which they may be connected), but Cobussen continues: “The third stage, creation, can lead to some concrete interventions in the sonic ambiance in order to change it. By subtracting, adding, transforming or unmasking sounds, one can help to develop an acoustic sensibility and enable new and creative experiences through the acoustic diversification and adaptation of an urban environment” (Cobussen, 2022, p.104).

The second thematic area is a development of the research group GEMM (Gesture, Embodiment and Machines in Music) aiming to further incorporate audio engineering and a wider field of performing arts in the area’s research agenda. GEMM was initiated in 2019 at the School of Music, and has developed multimodal methods for the analysis of user-instrument interaction, conducted research on telematic performance, and initiated the international Global Hyperorgan research project.

• GEMM

Its research has been identified by the Swedish Research Council as “internationally leading” and, including the research using the Studio Acusticum hyper-organ as, “a very important and internationally recognized infrastructure.” Within LTU ARC, GEMM will widen the scope for research on technologically driven interaction and creation in performing arts, wherein one societal gain is the development of innovative approaches to digital presence and telematic performance, to reduce isolation in remote areas of Europe.

Daily leader of LTU ARC is Stefan Östersjö, professor of Music Performance and head of subject at the Piteå School of Music at Luleå University of Technology. The steering group consists of all heads of subjects in Design, Architecture, computer graphics for game and film, Theatre and Music Performance, together with the head of the cross-faculty group for the artistic subjects, professor Petter Sundkvist.

Cross-disciplinary Research Seminars

Starting in the Autumn 2024, LTU ARC will give cross-disciplinary reseach seminars. Read more about the seminars in the: