Recognising and understanding creative practice research in the modern university

The problem of historical blindness, some theories, and a new NTRO benchmarking project.

This article reviews the status of creative practice research over a 30 year period. It identifies some of the current issues with creative practice research in the academy in Australia, while advancing some theories about the declining support for creative arts disciplines across the sector, arising from institutional responses to research assessment exercises and the merging of formerly discrete schools, faculties and institutions into larger structures.

The term ‘non-traditional research output’ is critiqued whilst presenting historical evidence to show that it is a misnomer. The article concludes with an update on the author's national project to benchmark NTRO management processes in the Australian sector.