Manifesto

“Centre for the Study of Perception and Art” (CArPe)

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“Centre for the Study of Perception and Art” (CArPe)

Departments

P.I.
Marco Bertamini DPG

College

Advisory Board
The Centre will appoint an International Advisory board.

Duration
4 anni

[Jump to: Struttura * Background * Aims * Activities]

Background

The University of Padua (UniPD) was founded in 1222 to defend academic and teaching freedom. It is one of the oldest universities in Europe and a leader internationally in research and scholarship. In parallel with its famous University, Padua is extremely rich in art history and heritage. From the Trecento (Giotto and the artists that were inspired by him), to the Renaissance (Donatello, Mantegna), to the influential work on architecture by Palladio in the 16th century. Art and research in perception often interacted, as in the "arte programmata" of the 20th century, a tendency which was developed in Padua by Gruppo N, a collective of artists. Tourists, but also students and scholars travel to Padova every year to visit and study. The fact that Padova is a city of Art is an asset for the University.

At the University of Padua there are already important traditions in the areas of empirical aesthetics, psychology of art, history of art, art communication and public engagement. There is also an important tradition in the study of perception and cognition (Benussi, Musatti, Kanizsa). The experts on these related research topics are from different fields and belong to different Departments. There is no other Centre (either Centro Studi, Centro Interdisciplinare o Centro d'Ateneo) that focuses on the study of perception and art. Neither of these two keywords are specific to a single Department or field of study. This new Centre therefore fills an important gap.

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Aims

The Centre aims to integrate the activities of different groups of researchers (Psychology of Art; History of Art; Preference formation; Neuroaesthetics; Studies of Creativity; Music; Comparative Psychology; Art in therapy and well-being, Synaesthesia, Film studies and more), also in collaboration with public and private bodies, companies and scientific associations with converging interests, Italian, EU or foreign, for:

  • Stimulate and support interdisciplinary and transversal research, teaching and collaborations. This starts with collaborations within the Centre, but it will benefit from our existing international networks. This aim will also be achieved through the presentation of joint research projects.
  • Stimulate effective collaboration/knowledge transfer between cognitive science, neuroscience, and the humanities.
  • Stimulate effective collaboration/knowledge transfer between basic and applied research, including the role of Art in promoting mental health and well-being.
  • Facilitate Knowledge exchange ("terza missione") activities, including scientific dissemination.

[Jump to: Struttura * Background * Aims * Activities

Activities

There has been increased interest in this field as demonstrated by the many associations, journals, and events. The American Psychological Association (APA) for example, has a division "Society for the Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity and the Arts", with its journal (PACA). Inside the Italian Psychological Association (AIP) there is a thematic group on "Psychology, Art and Neuroaesthetics" (PAN, created by Bertamini). We have links with the International Association for Empirical Aesthetics (IAEA) which for many years has brought together researchers from different disciplines.

The methodologies relevant for research in these fields span from the theoretical and historical perspective, to psychophysics and modern imaging techniques. Responses to art in the broadest sense include the study of affect and emotion.

The Centre will consolidate existing collaborations and create new ones. Here are some examples. As part of the University of Padua 800th Anniversary Celebrations, some of the applicants (Bartorelli, Galfano, Bobbio, Grassi) were involved with the organisation of L’occhio in gioco. Il Gruppo N e la psicologia della percezione (Palazzo del Monte di Pietà). The theme was understanding art in movement and the relationship between the psychology of perception and creativity. Another event that was part of the Anniversary was the La forma della memoria (Director Brotto) at Palazzo Bo. Both events were very successful, with scholars and with the public.

There are other events that have been organised which have integrated research and knowledge exchange. An example is the Visual Properties Driving Visual Preference workshop (VPDVP) created by Bertamini in 2015. This has been organised in various places, including Padova in 2022, and has established itself as a key occasion for the European community to meet. These activities benefit from a coordinated approach from the Centre to involve all the relevant Departments.

Coordination of teaching and training activities will also be facilitated by the Centre. Research in these areas is fundamentally interdisciplinary and therefore students often study and work across Departments. Some specific courses already exist (triennale and magistrale). The Centre includes a postgraduate Master in Creative Arts Therapies for Resilience Support (CAT), directed by Ines Testoni (FISPPA). DBC has an agreement with CRIC (Centro di Ricerca sull’Invecchiamento Cerebrale) in order to define methodologies and activities that use art in Alzheimer therapies.

The Centre through these activities will promote and disseminate the culture and knowledge in the study of the arts and the broader role of aesthetics in people's lives. These activities involve citizens, public bodies, businesses, and artists and art organisations.

[Jump to: Struttura * Background * Aims * Activities]