October 2026 - Antwerp

The Antwerp Research Institute for the Arts (ARIA) starts the academic year 2026-2027 with a month full of lectures, debates, performances, exhibitions, workshops and open classes on research in the arts. 

In October, ARIA puts the potential of research in the arts in the spotlight for both specialists and the general public.

14-23 October 2026

ARTICULATE 2026 | 'Absence / Presence' - Research Weeks at the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp

What does it mean to be present today? The festival explores how absence can be just as powerful as presence — in the body of a performer, in collective memory, in digital spaces, in what art holds but cannot say outright. It also asks whose presence has historically been kept out of view, and how art can offer new ways of seeing and listening.

With ARIA PhD researchers Karin De Fleyt, Renata Lamenza Epifanio and others.

19-30 October 2026

ARTICULATE 2026 | 'Absence / Presence' - Research Weeks at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp

What does it mean to be present today? The festival explores how absence can be just as powerful as presence — in the body of a performer, in collective memory, in digital spaces, in what art holds but cannot say outright. It also asks whose presence has historically been kept out of view, and how art can offer new ways of seeing and listening.

With ARIA PhD researchers Yuki Okumura, Kristof Timmerman, and others.

28 October - 1 November 2026

Sint Lucas Antwerpen Research Week

The SLARG research weeks present a view on the plurality of the research projects, processes, methods, experiments and propositions through workshops, presentations, seminars, performances, guided tours, and much more.

With ARIA PhD researchers Garine Gokceyan, Loraine Furter, Dimitri van den Wittenboer, Irma Foldényi, and others.

Public events with ARIA researchers

03.10.2025
16:00 - 18:00
ARIA & Toneelhuis
"Aan Tafel: Tussen trauma en troost" met Paul Verhaeghe (UGent), Khalid Benhaddou (UGent, hoofdimam Gent), Trees Dewever (boeddhisme, stervensbegeleiding) en Marlies De Munck (UAntwerpen, muziekfilosofie). Moderatie: Anna Luyten, concept en samenstelling: Pascal Gielen (ARIA, UAntwerpen). (NL)
14.10.2026 
20:00 - 22:00
Royal Conservatoire Antwerp 
​Avondconcert 'STOP & BeRoer, Antwerpener Version by Karlheinz Stockhausen' in DESINGEL (Theaterstudio) in het kader van het doctoraat van ARIA doctoraatsonderzoeker Karin de Fleyt
21.10.2026
14:00 - 17:00
Royal Conservatoire Antwerp
Networking event & symposium by the Young Academy about valorization of artistic research output, with Dr. Mario Nell (University of Stellenbosch Zuid-Afrika), Dr. Florian Vanlee (UGent, ECOOM) and others. Spoken language: English
22.10.2026 
12:00 - 13:00
Royal Conservatoire Antwerp
​Lunchconcert ​
​22.10.2026 
17:00 - 20:00
Royal Conservatoire Antwerp
​Publiek avondprogramma gecureerd door FORUM+ met als thema 'De nexus. Artistiek onderzoek in verbinding met Hoger Kunstonderwijs', met walking diner. Bijdragen van o.a. Dr. Falk Hübner (Fontys), Dr. Annelys De Vet (Sint Lucas Antwerpen), RAIVE Summer School (Dr. Umut Eldem, Dr. Giusy Caruso, Dr. Frederik De Bleser - Koninklijk Conservatorium Antwerpen en Sint Lucas Antwerpen), Rosine Mbakam (KASK/Conservatorium Gent), Simone Basani en Alice Ciresola (RITCS).
23.10.2026 
14:00 - 16:00
Royal Conservatoire Antwerp
Workshop Gambiarra conversations #2 - with ARIA PhD researcher Renata Lamenza Epifanio

23.10.2026 
avond
Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp
Opening tentoonstelling, Lange Zaal. Met werken van masterstudenten n.a.v. Long white playground - Research Class door ARIA doctoraatsonderzoeker Yuki Okumura 
​​29.10.2026
Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp
Beyond Binary II – symposium rond kunst & technologie door ARIA doctoraatsonderzoeker Kristof Timmerman
28.10.2026
17:30 - 20:00
Sint Lucas Antwerpen
Opening onderzoekstentoonstelling met rondleiding en performances, met ARIA doctoraatsonderzoekers Garine Gokceyan, Loraine Furter, Dimitri van den Wittenboer en Irma Foldényi.
29.10.2026
17:00 - 22:00
Sint Lucas Antwerpen
SLARG filmprogramma, met films van o.a. recent afgestudeerde ARIA-doctorandi Danial Shah, Sammy Baloji en Bianca Baldi
30.10.2026    14:00 
Sint Lucas Antwerpen
SLARG onderzoekspresentaties (taal: Engels)
30.10.2026
18:00
​​Sint Lucas Antwerpen
SLARG invites, publieke lezing door de Palestijnse schrijver Adania Shibli (taal: Engels). In Language as an Impasse, Shibli explores the breakdown of language in writing, the disappearance of words, and silence as a counterpoint to speaking.
​02.11.2026
20:00 - 22:00
ARIA & Toneelhuis
"Aan Tafel: Kak, seks en dood", discussie-avond over ethiek in tijden van overmoralisering. Met (gasten te bevestigen). Gastvrouw: Aurelie Di Marino, concept en samenstelling: Pascal Gielen (ARIA, UAntwerpen)​

Full programmes soon to be published at: