About Ground Works

Ground Works is a compendium of exemplary interdisciplinary arts-inclusive collaborative research projects, and a hub for reflection on the processes that drive such work.




Mission

Ground Works promotes research-based, interdisciplinary collaborations through rigorously peer-reviewed presentation of arts-inclusive work, and guided reflection on the processes that support them. It aims to support a robust, critical community of practice in support of such work, while sharing best practices for interdisciplinary collaboration to ever wider spheres of practice, within and without the academy.

CONTENT

What are the contributions?

We’re looking for:

  • Mature projects with arts-inclusive focus, interdisciplinary
  • At least part of the project has a research component
  • Innovative processes or outcomes that have impact with
  • External recognition/validation
  • Demonstrated understanding of context and precedent.

AUDIENCE

Who is it for?

Ground Works aims to represent the many and diverse ways interdisciplinary work takes place. It's for those reflecting on how they collaborate at the intersections of disciplines. This includes researchers, scholars, and practitioners engaged in arts-inclusive collaborations that lie within and without the academy, but which at some point in their process depend on academic review in the establishment of rigor and impact.

PROCESS

How does it work?

The core of Ground Works is a compendium of projects, critically reviewed for their interdisciplinary research aims and impact. Successfully reviewed projects are accompanied by rich media and, in some cases, reflection by contributors about process and best practices. Search and indexing capability will facilitate discovery of projects for those both new to, and familiar with, the growing field of arts-inclusive interdisciplinary research.

As part of the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru), select projects also receive further examination and analysis of the collaborative process in an effort to illuminate and understand the mechanisms and conditions that foster these innovative projects. Project contributors will work with a team from a2ru to rigorously articulate, document, and reflect on the modes of collaboration found within their work. Through co-authored whitepapers, interviews, presentation and conversation, each project will join a community ‘lab’ to discover knowledge, best practices and insight around interdisciplinary processes.

Submission Workflow

  1. Suitability Review - New submissions are reviewed by (Managing) Editors to check they fit the scope of the journal and showcase interesting interdisciplinary explorations. Submissions to this stage are brief, requiring only a short summary of the project, a statement of relevance, and appropriate links.
  2. Project Review - Projects that progress to the second stage are asked to provide a 1,000 word narrative and media for their project. This is examined by two external reviewers. Successful projects are included in our online compendium of projects and invited to contribute reflections and best practice on process.

More information on submissions is offered in our guide for authors. You can see examples of successful Ground Works projects on our Journal page.

Ground Works Editors are happy to discuss submissions in any stage of development, even very early. Contact an Editor

PEOPLE

Ground Works is a collaborative endeavour with the involvement and support of many individuals. Current team members are:

Veronica Dittman Stanich
Managing Editor
Daragh Byrne
Platform Lead

The Ground Works founders, Editorial Board members, and Advisory Board members are listed on the Learn More page

Ground Works is the product of a collaborative, multi-institutional effort. An initiative of the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru), Ground Works is made possible by the generous investments of a2ru's network of past and present partner institutions, with exceptional contributions from Carnegie-Mellon University, the University of Illinois, the University of Michigan, and Virginia Tech.