Artistic outputs as research outputs equivalents in a South African university environment

Abstract

In this article I argue for the acceptance of artistic outputs as equivalent or congruent to research outputs when these artistic outputs are generated by lecturers at tertiary institutions. Central to the argument is the implementation of critical peer-review mechanisms. I argue that, whereas in research outputs the justification and substantiation of the research takes the form of an article, thesis / dissertation or book, for example, and the further justification and substantiation is confirmed in the publication peer review, for artistic outputs the presentation of the article equivalent - the artwork - requires the justification and substantiation to be carried out by the peer-review process itself. The article then suggests how this might be carried out in practice.