The development of artistic research has had a strong focus in Europe and the former British colonies, reflecting the critical restructuring of educational institutions and research policymaking in the wake of extensive debates on art’s role in knowledge production. Throughout the Asia Pacific region, initiatives to support artistic research have been sporadic, and not always well networked across disciplines and national contexts. For this reason, the Asia Pacific Artistic Research Network (APARN) has been formed to: 

• Map artistic research initiatives and activities in the Asia Pacific region 
• Provide a regional framework for practical collaboration between individuals and institutions 
• Develop an understanding of local cultural dynamics influencing artistic research activities in the Asia Pacific region.