21–26 August
Nida Art Colony (NAC) of Vilnius Academy of Arts
E. A. Jonušo str. 3
LT-93127 Nida, Lithuania

The ethos of the 8th Nida Doctoral School (NDS) foregrounds practice in the development and process of research. The aim of this week-long programme is to invite PhD candidates to explore their research through interactive propositions and to further their research enquiry through interdisciplinary exchanges initiated from their own artistic practice. The programme takes inspiration from the idea of “mid-stream”. Firstly, as a way of commencing conversations from the current place in each candidate’s research enquiry and their own artistic process. Secondly, candidates will be introduced to sonic, tactile and sensory prompts designed to facilitate interdisciplinary discussions about how different entry points might elasticise, expand and energise their research and the creative processes of their research topics.

In 2023 NDS is organised in collaboration with 12 partnering universities: Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture in Helsinki, Estonian Academy of Arts, HDK-Valand, Gothenburg University, Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, The Royal College of Art in London, Stockholm University of the Arts, The Academy of Fine Arts Zagreb, University of the Arts Helsinki, University of the Arts London, and Zurich University of the Arts.
 

The tutors of the summer school, each with their own artistic practices, have developed a keen interest in pedagogy as a practice in which political commitment and aesthetic expression serve to advance shared learning that constitutes an artistic practice itself. In this sense, the practice of pedagogy takes inspiration from the experiences and words of Maxine Greene:
 

“To learn and to teach, one must have an awareness of leaving something behind while reaching towards something new, and this kind of awareness must be linked to imagination.”

– Releasing the Imagination (1995)

The concept and structure of NDS 2023 is developed by Jyoti Mistry (HDK-Valand, Gothenburg University) in close collaboration with the NDS 2023 working group: Nduka Mntambo (Netherlands Film Academy), Rūta Spelskytė (VDA), and Egija Inzule, Director of NAC.

NDS 2023 Tutors

Dr. Dubravka Sekulić (The Royal College of Art, London)
Dr. Henna-Riikka Halonen (University of the Arts Helsinki)
Dr. Jyoti Mistry (HDK-Valand, Gothenburg University)
Dr. Nduka Mntambo (Netherlands Film Academy)
Dr. Rūta Spelskytė (Vilnius Academy of Arts)
Prof. Dr. Vytautas Michelkevičius (Vilnius Academy of Arts)
Dr. Hanna Husberg (Stockholm University of the Arts)

NDS 2023 Participants 

Amanda Newall (University of the Arts London)
Ana Muscet (The Academy of Fine Arts Zagreb)
Blanca Valdes (The Royal College of Art, London)
Britta Benno (Estonian Academy of Arts)
Dániel Máté (Hungarian University of Fine Arts)
Eglė Počiuipaitė (Vilnius Academy of Arts)
Gabrielė Gervickaitė (Vilnius Academy of Arts)
Hannah Walter (Zurich University of the Arts)
Jack Faber (University of the Arts Helsinki)
Josephine Rydberg (Stockholm University of the Arts)
Lina Persson (Stockholm University of the Arts)
Maryam Fanni (HDK-Valand, Gothenburg University)
Miglė Križinauskaitė-Bernotienė  (Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre)
Miklos Tamas Ambrozy (Vilnius Academy of Arts)
Natalie Novik (HDK-Valand, Gothenburg University)
Naukkarinen Katri (Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Helsinki)
Nesli Hazal Oktay (Estonian Academy of Arts) 
Orla McHardy (University of the Arts Helsinki)
Raminta Naujanytė (Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre)
Rasa Jančiauskaitė (Vilnius Academy of Arts) 
Simona Rukuižaitė (Vilnius Academy of Arts)
Srinivas Surti (University of the Arts London) 

Nida Doctoral School takes place annually at the end of August. It is organised by the Department of Doctoral Studies and Nida Art Colony of Vilnius Academy of Arts.