Inspirational creative practice: the work of artists in times of war and violent conflict (INSPIRE)

How do artistic expressions inspire and move others into action for social justice? What inspires and motivates people to engage in such creative practices? INSPIRE studies the role of artists and creative practice in and after war and violent conflict. The project introduces inspiration as a new and important field of research through studying the intersections between artists, art and activism during and after war and conflict. The project focuses on the role of local and transnational creative practices in Sudan and Myanmar, and studies artists and activists in exile in several European countries. The project is implemented by the Peace Research Institute in Oslo (PRIO), and is supported by an advisory board of artists, academics and representatives of cultural institutions worldwide that meets bi-annually. Trude Stapnes (PRIO, UiO Psychology), is doctoral researcher on INSPIRE with her project entitled ‘Inspirational creative practice. Art and activism in Myanmar’, to be completed in 2024. In 2021, an MA thesis related to the project was completed by Sara Christophersen (PRIO, UiO Human Geography), entitled ‘Embodied Possibilities: A study of dance as an artistic, everyday practice in Palestine’. In 2022, Sarah Jäggi (University of Neuchâtel) completed her MA thesis on the role of art, museums and humanitarian communication. INSPIRE draws on multi-sited ethnography, (creative) life history interviews with artists, collaborative arts-based workshops, qualitative interviews and focus group discussions, and a virtual platform. The project explores collaborative arts-based methods to develop ways of co-creating knowledge that draw on a combination of scientific and artistic methods with artists, activists and practitioners. Fieldwork is completed, with artists from Myanmar (mainly online due to Covid and the coup), with artists from Myanmar in Thailand and Bangladesh, with artists in Sudan (both online and in person) and with exiled artists in Norway, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands (both online and in person). As part of doctoral fieldwork, an art exhibition was organised with Myanmar artists in Oslo summer 2021. Collaborative arts-based methods have been developed through a virtual workshop on inspiration, co-creative interventions in public spaces with artists in Geneva and in Khartoum, art residencies in Oslo and Rotterdam, and an Open Space in Geneva and Warsaw. These collaborations involved a wide range of artists, curators and cultural institutions from the different country cases and beyond. More information can be found on the INSPIRE website (https://inspire.gallery/). The website is both a methodological tool as well as a collaborative platform that enables artistic practice, research and dissemination for artists and researchers. Visitors can get to know the artists that are part of the project, learn more about the different research activities that are taking place, follow and participate in news and events, and engage in a space that opens the possibility for collaborations between artists and academics. The website also hosts the INSPIRE Art Award, a collaboration with Nitja Centre for Contemporary Art, Goethe Institute, Residency Unlimited and Thanks for Nothing. The award was launched in February 2023, and the Art Award received 100 applications from 35 countries. Nitja will host the INSPIRE Art Award Ceremony and group exhibition of the five nominee artists in April 2024, and Residency Unlimited provides a one month residency for the winning artist. INSPIRE researchers have presented their work in numerous academic and public fora. The project also hosts a Seminar Series which is an open space for artists, researchers and cultural institutions to reflect on the core themes of the research project. Further, the initial results from the project were integrated into teaching at Webster University, Neuchatel University, the PRIO International Summer School, OsloMet, Høyskole Kristiania and KHIO. In 2022, a special section of ‘Conflict and Society’ (level 2) and a special issue of ‘Music and Arts in Action’ were published. In 2023, a monograph ‘Creative Resistance’ was published. While the primary objective is to develop a comprehensive theory of creative inspiration and thus contribute scientifically, the project is expected to have a strong societal impact as well. This potential lies in understanding the ways in which artists, through their art, move the intellect and emotions of others, especially activists and peacemakers. During and after war, representations and narratives play a substantial role in shaping the basis for a post-war future. To support this, the project facilitated a documentary film-making workshop for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

How do artistic expressions inspire and move others into action for social justice? What inspires and motivates people to engage in such creative practices? INSPIRE studies the role of artists and creative practice in and after violent conflict. The project introduces inspiration as a new and important field of ethnographic research through studying the intersections between artists, art and activism during and after war. The project will focus on the role of local and transnational creative practices in and after wars in Sudan and Myanmar, and study artists and activists in exile in four European countries. INSPIRE draws on work on inspiration in the humanities and psychology, combined with insights from research on artists and activism in anthropology, sociology, political science and conflict studies. It will particularly focus on spatial and temporal dimensions of inspiration in times of war. INSPIRE will draw on multi-sited ethnography, (creative) life history interviews with artists, collaborative arts-based workshops, qualitative interviews and focus group discussions, and a virtual platform. The project will explore collaborative arts-based methods to develop ways of co-creating knowledge that draw on a combination of scientific and artistic methods. While the primary objective of INSPIRE is to develop a comprehensive theory of creative inspiration and thus contribute scientifically, the project is expected to have a strong societal impact as well. This potential lies in understanding the ways in which artists, through their art, move the intellect and emotions of others. During and after war, representations and narratives play a substantial role in shaping the basis for a post-war future. New knowledge on how these representations and narratives are shaped by artists, art and their audiences can help stakeholders working with reconciliation processes after war, especially those who use arts-based methods.