A conversation between Napo Masheane, Rogério M. Pinto & Nike Jonah.
Moderated by Napo Masheane.
This session explores the intersections, tensions, and possibilities between artistic practice and academic research. It invites both artists and scholars to reflect on how knowledge is produced, embodied, challenged, and shared through creative processes. As artists increasingly occupy research spaces, and scholars experiment with creative methodologies, we ask: Can art and research live side-by-side—or are they already deeply entangled? Whether you’re steeped in academia, rooted in community-based practice, or navigating both, this conversation centers multiple ways of knowing and making. We reflect on methodologies, ethics, authorship, access, and the shifting landscapes of research and representation.
Napo Masheane is a multi-award-winning playwright, producer, poet, performer, director, cultural activist, translator and acclaimed curator on both international and national stages. Until recently, Napo served as the Artistic Director of the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State (PACOFS), continuing her dedication to enriching the South African cultural landscape.
Rogério M. Pinto is the Berit Ingersoll-Dayton Collegiate Professor of Social Work at the University of Michigan (U-M), School of Social Work in Ann Arbor. He has an appointment as a Professor of Theatre and Drama at U-M’s School of Music, Theatre & Dance; and he is a University Diversity & Social Transformation Professor.
Nike Jonah is the Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of the Pan-African Creative Exchange (PACE) and the Director of Connecting Dots, an arts consultancy supporting clients across the creative industries.
