Unacknowledged Knowledge

Can (Art) Exhibitions Operate as an Alternative to Peer-Reviewed Articles?

Abstract

This paper explores the potential for art exhibitions to be recognised as an alternative to peer-reviewed academic publications, examining how exhibitions contribute to knowledge creation at the intersection of artistic, curatorial, and academic practices. It addresses challenges in museum research obligations posed by current academic evaluation metrics, and the institutional biases that prioritise textual documentation over performative and material engagements inherent in curatorial and artistic practices. Drawing on theoretical perspectives and institutional frameworks, the study discusses the impact of integrating practice-based art studies into academia. It investigates how exhibitions, beyond their traditional role as mediatory tools, can be recognised as legitimate sites of research production and research publication on their own terms. Hence the paper calls for a reconsideration of research assessment of museum practices in academic contexts, advocating for acknowledging exhibitions as possible alternatives to peer-reviewed articles.