The CDI supports a sustained discursive, critical and explorative environment, committed to ambitious long and short term research projects focusing on intersections and dialogues across critical and creative writing, as well as critical inquiry into artistic practices, and other fields of systematic research. It promotes a diversity of topics and forums emerging from the interests and pedagogy of faculty in the School of Critical Studies, advancing rigorous and original work through partnerships between individuals, academic institutions and other non-academic affiliates, locally, nationally and internationally. Activities include, research groups, publications, journals, hosted and collaborative events, as well as CalArts initiated conferences, seminars and curated speaker-series.