Main research and development directions at UNATC

Primary Research Directions, Objectives and Priorities

1. Theatre and Performing Arts, Film and Media – fundamental and applied research on the history, pedagogy, aesthetics, theory, and practice of performing arts, theatre, film, and media.
2. Arts for society, well-being and accessibility – exploring the role of the arts in education, social inclusion, community development, mental health, and art-based therapies.
3. Innovative and transdisciplinary research – integrating emerging technologies (artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, interactive media, XR, immersive environments) into performing arts and cinematography, as well as developing specific methodologies for artistic research as a form of knowledge production.

Secondary Research Directions

1. Theatre and Performing Arts, Film and Media – pedagogy, history, production

• Fundamental knowledge of theatre, performing arts, cinematography, and media
• Theory, history, and critical studies in theatre, performing arts, film, and media
• Pedagogical strategies for teaching theatre, film, and media
• Screenwriting, narrativity, transmedia, and interactivity
• Animation, interactivity, and digital storytelling
• Role-playing, puppetry, marionettes, avatars, and embodied representations
• Lighting and sound design for theatre, performing arts, film, and media
• Movement studies, voice, and acting techniques
• Artistic ecosystems: entrepreneurship, production, and management
• Physical and digital archiving in arts and culture

2. Arts for society, well-being and accessibility

• Accessibility in the arts and inclusive creative practices
• Art for vulnerable populations
• Emotional and cognitive enhancement through multisensory experiences, art, games, and immersive environments
• Development of psychotherapeutic tools using virtual environments
• Experimental research in experiential and art-based psychotherapies using objective measurements
• Brain imaging studies on neural mechanisms involved in theatrical and cinematic experiences
• Development of tools and methodologies to evaluate the psychophysiological impact of immersive, theatrical, and cinematic experiences
• Interdisciplinary research at the intersection of theatre, film, psychology, neuroscience, and related fields
• Sustainable practices, community development through art, and ecological arts

3. Innovative and transdisciplinary research

• Artistic research as a means of advancing knowledge
• Ethical use and critical evaluation of artificial intelligence in the arts
• Artificial intelligence and deep learning for artistic creation
• 3D, XR, and other innovative digital media
• New tools and methodologies for artistic creation
• Games, ludology, and interactivity as fields of artistic research
• Automation and algorithmic processes in the arts
• Development of brain–computer interfaces for creative applications
• Creative practices and research in image generation and production

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CINETic Research Directions

• Development of a production methodology for virtual set design
• Studies on and evaluations of animations in different environments, on both real and virtual media
• Research on sensory motion capture
• Generation of content by manipulating data obtained through sensors
• Studies and applications regarding the use of robotics in the performing arts
• Qualitative research of the impact on the spectators through biometric measurements
• Biometric and neuro-cognitive research on the processes specific to the performing arts, with a special focus on the emotional processes, specialization through corporal learning and the specific processes of creativity
• EEG emotion recognition systems
• Research on applications of BCI interaction systems (brain-machine interface)
• Qualitative research of light sources and optical sensors
• Research of the sound-light midi interaction
• Studies and applications on the interaction based on motion-sound-light sensors

Practical applications of research results

• Interactive installations
• 3D modeling and animation
• Brain-computer interface
• Digital games – strategy programs
• Applications for mobile devices (smartphones, tablets)
• Digital images and projections on different media
• Performances in public spaces with major social impact
• Therapy through various visual vorms (static and dynamic, including 3D)
• Holograms
• Internet art
• Emerging forms of social communication
• VR / AR / MR (virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality)