In August, the bustling and creative environment of KdG Sint Lucas Antwerpen once again welcomed faculty participants from the PWU Arts-based Research Center (ARC), the School of Fine Arts and Design (SFAD), and the School of Music (SOM), marking the start of the second year of the International Training Program (ITP). This 1-week intensive kicked off a deeper exploration into the pedagogy of artistic research, part of the ongoing three-year partnership between PWU and Karel de Grote Sint Lucas Antwerpen. Throughout the week, participants engaged in workshops, presentations, and practical exercises designed to equip them with the tools to teach and mentor artistic research in their respective fields.

The program began with a social event in Brussels, where Petra Van Brabandt guided participants through a short city tour. Brunch and visits to local museums and a Belgian chocolate shop followed this. This informal gathering helped participants connect and immerse themselves in Belgian culture, setting the stage for a collaborative and enriching week. During the week, the halls of Sint Lucas Antwerpen were filled with vibrant discussions as participants engaged with Belgian counterparts to explore new pedagogical strategies. Experts such as Ann Laenen, Annelys de Vet, Marnie Slater, and Kim Gorus led sessions on research methodologies, mapping tools, writing strategies, and mentoring junior researchers, giving participants the tools to refine their teaching and research approaches further. Early sessions led by Ann Laenen and Annelys de Vet focused on research methodologies and using mapping as a pedagogical tool. These workshops encouraged participants to visualize research processes and rethink how creative inquiry is taught. Midweek, Marnie Slater led an engaging session on teaching methodology in an Advanced Master’s context, emphasizing the socio-political frameworks of research and the balance between experimentation and achieving meaningful outcomes.