Is art only a matter of aesthetic? Changes, potential and future challenges for artistic research in Italy

Art is not only a matter of Aesthetic, but it is also a matter of Knowledge. By acknowledging this, artistic research - the knowledge produced, and the knowledge applied from the arts - is an undeniable presence within Higher Education. There is no universal approach to artistic research, which necessitates an exploration from a national perspective to stimulate reflections applicable at a broader, supra-national, global level. In the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), since 2021, Italy has been experiencing one of the most crucial changes in art-related Higher Education: the implementation of art-based doctoral programmes. Moved by this recent event, this paper focuses on the recent developments of artistic research in Italy. Structured into three main sections, this study unfolds with a historical perspective on the context of artistic research in the EHEA, followed by the definition of artistic research through the theoretical framework Mode 3 Knowledge Production and Quadruple and Quintuple Helix, to finally delve into the recent developments of artistic research in Italian Higher Education, shedding the light on its changes, opportunities, and challenges.