ICFAR was launched in April 2006 to support collaborative and critical fine art practice across the University of the Arts London. Hosted at Central Saint Martins and with a university wide remit, ICFAR was seen as integral to developing an identity for practice based fine research, catalysing a shared research culture amongst fine art staff and generating associated funding. Reflecting the international reputation and interests of the Centre’s constituent colleges, Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, Chelsea College of Art and Design, Camberwell College of Arts and Wimbledon College of Arts (which joined ICFAR in 2007), ICFAR began to develop working partnerships with international galleries, museums and arts universities that represent both established and emerging centres of research excellence.

From its inception ICFAR has had a strong commitment to creating an interface between the research methods of working artists and the models of practice based research developing within the University. During its initial year, 2006-2007, ICFAR worked with Afterall and Double Agents to curate conversational events with artists, including Vito Acconci and Carlos Amorales, attended by research students and recorded for a future archive. The Centre also initiated a doctoral research seminar series, Here Tomorrow, led by Senior Research Fellow, Susan Trangmar and focused on the articulation of practice based fine art research in visual and material terms.

Its founding constituency included established groups and projects from across the University. These were brought into the ICFAR network with the intention of growing further initiatives through setting up sites of exchange and collaboration in which staff and doctoral students could take part. The projects and people indexed on this site reflect that initial constituency, giving a snapshot image of the breadth of work and interests to date that constitute fine art practice based research in the University, and suggesting the lines of enquiry that will shape ICFAR’s future.