Master Institute AKV|St.Joost
Programmes
Master Institute AKV|St.Joost in The Netherlands 1
Welcome from the Dean
5
2
Introduction to the Institute
6
3 Education
7
4 Network
14
5
15
Study in the Netherlands
6 Facilities
17
7 Contact
18
1
Welcome from the Dean
The Master Institute of AKV|St.Joost invites you to broaden your perspective on your practice and challenge yourself to transition towards a new and relevant position in art or design. Through a curriculum that enhances and debates your understanding of a research based practice and offers lively interdisciplinary and intercultural exchange, you will be able to realize your ambitions. Our modern, 24/7 facilities and open studio concept create a fertile environment in which a rich, multidisciplinary practice can grow. Art and design’s role in society changes continuously and that of course means that Master’s Programmes have to as well. Art schools need to reflect changes in society and challenge themselves to formulate how art education will allow students to connect their ambition with a position that has relevance in their chosen field. The Master Institute of AKV|St.Joost maintains a continuously curious and reflective attitude towards changes in society and the arts—striving to deeply understand what the drivers behind shifts are and of course educating students to understand them as well. This allows students and tutors to conduct open discussions on the meaning of these changes and the possible responses to them. The Master's Programmes build on a thorough understanding of the disciplines and allow students to push the boundaries with their questions and ambitions. The programmes create the conditions for students to discuss, test and challenge their work, opinions and abilities in a research community of artists and designers from very different cultural backgrounds and disciplines. We welcome you to the Master Institute of AKV|St.Joost! Femke den Boer, Dean of AKV|St.Joost 5
2
Introduction to the Institute
The Master Institute is an international research and education institute in ’s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands. The Institute is committed to creating autonomous makers with a critical view of the world and the profession. Situated in the heart of European art and design, we offer Master’s programmes that deepen your practice and broaden your perspective. The Master Institute is the postgraduate department of The School of Fine Arts and Design|St.Joost �AKV|St.Joost� at the Avans University of Applied Sciences. Avans University is one of the highest ranked schools in the Netherlands and maintains a leading position within Dutch education. Renowned for its project-based approach to learning, the university’s philosophy is rooted in its social environment. 2.1
Mission and vision
The Master Institute operates from the intersection of the profes sional field, research and education. Through an experimental and relevant curriculum, young artists and designers professionalize their practices and lay the foundation for long-term, sustainable careers in the arts. We prepare our students to: • Take a strong position within the field and thereby establishing a professional identity; • Contribute to and actively shaping the profession and its future; • Establish themselves within an international network; • Develop interdisciplinary, collaborative and entrepreneurial skills. The Master Institute plays a leading role in the art and design discourse and is firmly rooted within the professional field, both regionally and internationally. 6
3 Education 3.1
Our vision of Education
The programmes at the Master Institute are fluid, multidisci plinary and self-driven. The individual student’s educational and professional goals are central, and every student is there by an active participant in the shaping of the curriculum. In conjunction with this, the student’s personal development is aligned with the realities of the professional field, upon which the programme is based: A process-oriented approach The art and design fields are in rapid and continual flux; students are therefore challenged to find a process-based approach to their medium�s�. Theory and practice are fully integrated, and research is performed through experimentation. Interdisciplinary Today’s artists and designers work across and between mediums. For this reason, collaboration with other disciplines—both inside and outside of the academy—is a core element of the curriculum. Students and faculty work within a wide range of contexts parallel to art and design, including research, activism, journalism and curation. An international network The art and design fields are distinguished by their international nature; In keeping with this, the Institute is committed to cultural diversity and exchange. Students and faculty come from all over the world, and there is a lively agenda of guest lecturers. Furthermore, the Institute maintains key partnerships with institutions and organiza tions abroad, and travel forms an important element of the curriculum. Artistic agency The role of artists and designers in society is changing. The students will learn not only how to respond to the current challenges and 7
8
opportunities, but also how to shape this new reality. By developing organizational and collaborative skills, students will create the international context for their own practice. 3.2
Research
The Master Institute supports the individual research of students. Theory and practice are fully integrated in the programmes and the Institute provides resources, knowledge and opportunities for collaboration within the professional field. The Expertise Centre for Art and Design �EKV� plays a key role in this process. The EKV is a research group within AKV|St.Joost and the Avans multimedia design courses. Research is commissioned by and conducted in collaboration with AKV|St.Joost, the Master Institute and students. The mission of the EKV is twofold: • To strengthen the relationship between education and professional practice through research; • To enable students to test the value and impact of their work in a professional context, thereby shaping the field and its future.
9
3.3
Programmes
The Master Institute offers the following four programmes: 2 years, full-time: Fine Arts The Master's Programme of Fine Arts is committed to empowering artists. With a focus on self-organisation and the exploration of alternative professional models, you will learn to take your practice apart and put it back together again. Graphic Design Created by and for a world in flux, the Master's Programme of Graphic Design guides emerging professionals towards the development of a process-based approach to design. Through research and collaboration, you will gain experience in a wide range of practices and establish a valuable network within the working field. Photography The Master's Programme of Photography challenges students to think and act outside of traditional definitions of the medium. In a critical and supportive environment, you will learn how to position yourself on a conceptual level within the international professional field. 1 year, full-time: Animation The Master of Animation is for professionals committed to exploring the growing application of animation within art, design and interactive media. Through a curriculum embedded in the professional field, you will learn how to navigate animation’s expanding sphere, and how to establish a strong position within it. 10
3.4
Structure
All the Master’s programmes are full-time programmes. There are two to three contact days per week at the academy, and an equal amount of time is expected for your self-directed practice. The programme structured into three phases: Orientation phase The Orientation Phase is a time for looking afresh at your practice and the world in which it is situated. The focus is on exploring your underlying theoretical interests and the roles available to you within the current social, political and economic realities. Research Phase The Research Phase is a time of experimentation. Through selfinitiated projects, you will break open your practice and allow unexpected avenues to emerge. Eventually you will focus on the methods that are most fruitful for you, aligning your personal development with developments in the field. Graduation Phase The Graduation Phase is a time for drawing conclusions: you will create work that embodies your positioning within the field and that represents your future ambitions. The programme concludes with a group exhibition, where you will present your project�s� as well as your published thesis. The exhibition takes place at an external platform with high exposure to the professional field.
11
12
3.5
Application requirements
The Master’s programmes are open to graduates of a bachelor programme in the arts and practising professionals in the field, and in some cases, applicants from other disciplines. Verbal and written proficiency in English is required. Our community is diverse and the level of experience is varied, but most students have been active in the field for at least one year before beginning their studies. This time in the professional sphere is essential to developing the theoretical questions and independent working attitude that will enable you to thrive at the Master Institute. 3.6
Accreditation
The Master’s programmes are fully accredited by the Dutch higher education authorities and comply with European standards as set by the Bologna Agreement. You will graduate with a degree of Master of Arts. For more information on the international value of our degrees, please visit akvstjoostmasters.nl.
13
4 Network The Master Institute partners with a variety of institutions, artist-run spaces and studios in the Netherlands and abroad. Our international network enables us to maintain an ongoing dialogue about developments in society and how these changes influence the field. External collaboration also allows our students to apply their practice within a professional context. By adding their research and experimentation to the development of public projects and programmes, students not only build a strong foundation for their own professional practice, but they also actively shape the field and its future. The partners with whom we regularly work include: Submarine Channel, Playgrounds Festival, PostPanic, Eye Amsterdam, Club Solo, Electron, Greylights Projects, Enough Room for Space, What Space, Van Abbe Museum, SM’s Museum, P////AKT, W139, Kaus Australis, Witte de With, V2, FOTODOK, FOAM, Melkweg gallery, BAK, Nederlands Fotomuseum, Fotomuseum Winterthur, FW:, Unseen, Parsons New School of Design, MOTI, Dutch Design Week, Open Set, What Design Can Do, and Pratt University, among others.
14
5
Study in the Netherlands
5.1
An ideal location for a profession in the arts
Pursuing your Master’s degree in the Netherlands means you will be part of a vibrant arts and design scene with a rich history. At the Master Institute of AKV|St.Joost, engagement with this community is encouraged and facilitated. Students regularly make their work public through symposia, exhibitions and assignments executed in conjunction with our partners. The Netherlands is also an excellent base from which to explore Europe. Bordering Belgium and Germany and linked to England by the North Sea, the Netherlands is well-connected by train and air. London, Paris and all the other major European art capitals are within a few hours reach. 5.2
Life in the Netherlands
Dutch society and education are renowned for their openness and accessibility. The country is culturally diverse and socially progressive, with a comprehensive public transportation and cycling infrastructure that makes getting to any part of the country easy and affordable. English is the ofďŹ cial language in postgraduate education and the unofďŹ cial national second language.
15
16
6 Facilities While the Master Institute is being constructed, the programmes are being housed in a former postal distribution centre in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, a ten-minute walk from the central station. The building echoes the programme’s interdisciplinary approach: individual studios are located within a large, transparent workspace that promotes dialogue and exchange. Critiques and weekly studio visits take place in this shared studio, as well as outside of the Institute. There is an on-site canteen and bar and the building is accessible 24/7. The Institute also shares the well-equipped workshops with the bachelor studies of the academy. There are workshops for wood, construction, plaster and ceramics, plastics, metal, media, photography, 3D printing and much more.
17
7 Contact Master Institute AKV|St.Joost Parallelweg 21 5223 AL 's-Hertogenbosch The Netherlands masters.akvstjoost@avans.nl At: Coordinator of the Master's Programmes: Miriam Bestebreurtje akvstjoostmasters.nl
18