DDCA
The Australian Council of Deans and Directors of Creative Arts
The DDCA is a leading national peak body representing the creative arts in higher education. Our discipline base includes visual arts, design, theatre, dance, music, screen production, digital arts and writing.
The DDCA exists to inform, connect and amplify the voices of people and organisations responsible for scholarly and research leadership of the creative arts in higher education. Our role is to champion the effective leadership of teaching and research in our disciplines, enhancing understanding, promoting diversity, inclusion, excellence, collegiality and sustainability, and contributing to the challenges of our age.
DDCA holds regular conferences and co-hosts other events in collaboration with member institutions and peak bodies. Details of these events, presentations and papers, and further information on the organisation can be found on the DDCA website.
NiTRO + Creative Matters
NiTRO + Creative Matters is an online publication of The Australian Council of Deans and Directors of Creative Arts.
Since 2016 NiTRO has been a platform for creative artists practicing in academia to contribute to informed discussion about issues and activities relating to practice, research and teaching taking place in the university sector. It is also a place for policy-makers, administrators and leaders who are likewise key players in the discussions relevant to the creative arts in the university.
Creative Matters was born in 2023 in response to the growth and maturity of the sector which saw itself in a more affirmative way than the ‘NiTRO‘ reference to ‘non-traditional research’. We host the NiTRO archive which is importantly a record of the changing landscape of creative practice research over the years. Our aims remain the same, we remain an open platform that invites all practitioners, leaders and administrators to contribute to discussions that affect all levels of the experience of creative arts research. We are importantly not peer-reviewed publication (mostly, see below) so that we can publish fresh, responsive and topical pieces.
Peer-review is reserved for one issue per year which is the postgraduate-led edition: Creative Researchers in the Making.
We also maintain a NEWS board to help keep you in the loop with relevant events, publications, policy changes and debates.
This is a forum shared with the art, university and government sectors, locally and internationally.
Contribute – Creative Matters, ISSN 2982-0057
Share your research, teaching and learning experiences and expertise.
Creative Matters provides an opportunity to share your research, experiences, musings and learnings with a community that may benefit from your insights or engage with you on matters you are currently working with.
Each edition focuses on one theoretical work and one creative work. If you have an upcoming publication or a project you would like us to showcase, please let us know.
Contribute your views on current systems and practices in relation to creative practice research.
Be part of debates as they take shape locally and internationally. This is your vehicle to discuss and shape the future direction of tertiary creative arts. Help us make it relevant to your needs and the messages that you wish to convey.
Exchange news, events and opportunities in creative arts.
Profile your events, conferences and postgraduate student opportunities. Let us know about job opportunities, awards and prizes. Let us know of upcoming performances and exhibitions that might be of interest to our community.
For Peak Bodies
We want to support the wonderful work peak bodies in the disciplines we represent are doing. We’re interested in the work you’re doing with and for your membership. Let us know how we can promote and support your activities.
Be a guest-editor
If you have an idea for a theme or topic that you think we need to cover, get in touch.
Letters to the Editor
The current Editor of Creative Matters is Smiljana Glisovic. Please write to her with ideas, suggestions, and responses to anything published on the platform. She would love to hear from you and facilitate a conversation amongst the community.