Preprints, once largely confined to the sciences, are now making their way into the arts, offering new avenues for creative research to flourish. Traditionally, the arts have relied on different types of academic dissemination, such as peer-reviewed journals and books, but the rise of preprints is changing the landscape. These early versions of research are being shared before formal peer review, allowing artists and researchers in the creative fields to release their work, receive feedback, and engage with the broader community more quickly. In this article, we explore how preprints are influencing the arts and the exciting opportunities they present for creative research.

Breaking Down Barriers to Access

One of the most compelling aspects of preprints is the opportunity for open access. By making research freely available, preprints eliminate the barriers posed by costly journal subscriptions or publishing delays. For artists and researchers in the humanities, preprints offer a chance to share work without the restrictions of traditional publishing models, which can be particularly expensive or difficult to navigate.

In the arts, preprints can open doors for underrepresented voices and more diverse perspectives. Artists who may not have access to expensive publishing platforms or academic networks can publish their work openly for a global audience. This level of access is especially valuable for creative researchers in non-Western countries or those from marginalized communities who face institutional barriers to academic dissemination.

Facilitating Early Feedback and Collaboration

For creative researchers, receiving feedback early in the process can be incredibly valuable. Preprints allow for immediate dissemination of research, inviting feedback from peers, academics, and even the general public. This openness can foster a sense of collaboration and inspire new ideas, making it easier for artists and researchers to refine their work and improve the quality of their research.

Preprints in the arts can also stimulate interdisciplinary dialogue. Creative research often overlaps with fields such as sociology, anthropology, history, and psychology, and preprints can provide a way for scholars from various disciplines to engage with and provide feedback on the work. This cross-pollination of ideas can spark innovation and lead to novel approaches to both research and creative practice.

Promoting Transparency in the Creative Process

Transparency is a core principle of open science, and it is increasingly being embraced in creative research as well. Preprints enable artists to share not only their final results but also their process—whether that involves sketches, drafts, performance recordings, or other forms of creative development. By making the creative process as transparent as the final product, preprints allow others to understand how an artist arrived at their conclusions and offer a more comprehensive view of the work.

Moreover, sharing creative works early through preprints can encourage greater collaboration within the creative community, as artists may become more willing to share their developmental process in the public sphere. This transparency leads to a more dynamic exchange of ideas and challenges traditional concepts of the “finished product” by showcasing the work-in-progress, which is central to the nature of creative production.

Challenging Traditional Notions of Authorship

Preprints in the arts may also challenge conventional ideas of authorship and originality. In the visual and performing arts, authorship can often be more fluid, involving collaborations, collective practices, or the sharing of inspiration and ideas. Preprints allow for multiple authors to contribute to a work and claim their contributions without the pressure of final publication.

In many artistic disciplines, the process of co-creation or collaboration with various actors (such as in theater, dance, or multimedia art) complicates the traditional notion of authorship. Preprints allow for the acknowledgment of all contributors in an open and transparent way, promoting a more inclusive understanding of artistic authorship that goes beyond individual achievement.

New Ways to Share Art and Creative Works

The rise of preprints in the arts also presents new ways for artists to share their work beyond the traditional journal or gallery space. Visual art, performance pieces, music compositions, and other creative works can now be shared as preprints, along with detailed descriptions of the process, context, and methodologies behind the works.

These early, publicly accessible versions of creative research allow audiences to engage with and reflect on the work in ways that go beyond simply observing the final product. For example, preprints could be used to share video performances, digital art installations, or experimental music compositions, enabling the public to interact with the work at a much earlier stage than before. In doing so, preprints create opportunities for engagement and conversation around art and creative research.

Expediting the Dissemination of Creative Research

In many disciplines, the lengthy peer review process can delay the dissemination of important work. For artists and researchers in the creative fields, this delay can be particularly frustrating, especially when the work is timely or context-specific. Preprints offer a faster alternative, allowing for the immediate publication and sharing of creative research as soon as it is ready.

This speed of dissemination is crucial in the arts, where trends and cultural movements can evolve rapidly. Preprints allow artists to share their ideas and discoveries with the world before they are outdated, positioning them as leaders in their respective fields and ensuring that their contributions are recognized in a timely manner.

Future Implications for Creative Research

As preprints continue to gain traction in the arts, they are likely to play an even more prominent role in the future of creative research. The adoption of preprints by art researchers and creators will enable faster communication, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and improve the accessibility and visibility of creative works.

The future of preprints in the arts holds exciting possibilities, from new forms of open-access creative research platforms to more inclusive and transparent practices within the art world. As the creative community embraces the benefits of preprints, it will reshape how art is produced, shared, and consumed, paving the way for a more open and collaborative creative landscape.