Professor Miguel Hernández University presents the SBAR methodology at a European meeting focused on the development of doctoral programs in artistic research .

An international meeting to define the doctorate in artistic research

Professor and researcher Pilar Viviente of Miguel Hernández University participated in the international seminar “Towards a Doctoral Curriculum in Artistic Research ” , held on March 19 and 20, 2026 at the Academy of Fine Arts of Carrara and at the Palazzo Binelli (Italy).

The seminar was funded by the European Union through the NextGenerationEU program, within the framework of the PNRR INTAFAM IartNET project. This initiative is part of IartNET, an international platform dedicated to artistic research and cultural heritage in higher education, led by the Accademia di Brera and promoted by the Accademia di Belle Arti di Carrara.

The meeting brought together experts from various European institutions with the aim of advancing the creation of a structured doctoral curriculum in artistic research for higher education in Arts and Music.

Objectives: towards a common European framework

The seminar addressed key issues for the development of doctoral programs in this field:

• Define artistic research and its specific evaluation criteria.
• Establish objective parameters for professionals in the creative field.
• Identify common elements that allow a shared evaluation system among European institutions.
• To foster academic dialogue through presentations, debates, networking, and workshops.

The overall approach seeks to integrate artistic practice with theoretical reflection, consolidating artistic research as a structured academic field.

Pilar Viviente’s contribution: SBAR methodology

In this context, Pilar Viviente presented the paper “Methodologies of Artistic Research – SBAR Case Study”, in which she explained the SBAR (Signifier-Based Artistic Research) methodology, also known as IABS (Artistic Research Based on Signifiers).

This approach presents the work of art as an active system of signifiers capable of generating knowledge, positioning artistic practice as a true research device, beyond its aesthetic dimension.

The proposal is developed from a transdisciplinary perspective that integrates artistic creation, theory and curatorship, addressing contemporary issues such as sustainability, ecology, ecofeminism and interculturalism.

A methodology based on signifiers

The SBAR methodology understands signifiers—such as water, the garden, the city, or the butterfly—as nodes that structure the research. These elements allow for the organization, interpretation, and reconfiguration of meanings in different contexts.

The model is structured through three key operations:

• Archive
• Symbolic reconfiguration
• Context shift

Through this process, the works, exhibitions and projects become matrices of knowledge, capable of generating both theoretical reflection and artistic production.

Case studies and networking

The presentation included several projects that function as methodological prototypes:

• SAVE NATURE – SAVE CULTURE
• Digital Cities / Urban Landscape
• Read again
• Broadway Butterflies / Project Rodete
• Fresh water

The role of working in international networks—exhibitions, conferences and curatorial platforms—was also highlighted as an essential part of the research process, promoting collaboration and the transnational dimension of knowledge.

Conclusions: towards new doctoral programs

Among the main conclusions, the SBAR/IABS methodology is presented as a solid framework for the development of doctoral programs in artistic research. This approach places artistic practice at the center of knowledge and proposes an “ecology of signifiers” as a tool for structuring and evaluating projects.

Furthermore, it promotes a transdisciplinary, intercultural research model oriented towards contemporary global challenges, reinforcing both individual practice and collective dialogue in the field of the arts.

More information: IartNET | 19th – Friday 20th March 2026: Towards a Doctoral Curriculum in Artistic Research