KASK FACULTY OF FINE ARTS UNIVERSITY COLLEGE GHENT – B ENGLISH-LANGUAGE MASTERS
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WELCOME AT KASK!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Master of Visual Arts and Audiovisual Arts Programmes . . . . . . . INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PhD in the Arts at the Association University of Ghent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Studying in Ghent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Welcome at KASK !
1 Faculty of Fine Arts, University College Ghent The Ghent Academy is one of the oldest in Belgium. It has borne the title of Royal Academy since 1771. Today, this old, royal lady is a trendsetter in training pioneering artists and designers. With more than 1,300 students and 300 highly specialized instructors, the academy is a breeding ground for excellence and creativity. In a world of unfettered economic globalization, with social, ecological and military instability as a result, the Ghent Faculty of Fine Arts (KASK) is an oasis in which humanity can continue to rediscover itself. Being a student at the Ghent Academy is the start of a far-reaching adventure. The Royal Academy of Fine Arts (Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten, or KASK) is one of 13 faculties of the University College Ghent, the largest independent college in Flanders and its third-largest institution for higher education. The University College Ghent is a member of the Ghent University Association, which supports close working relationships with Ghent University. In addition to visual and audiovisual arts, the University College Ghent also offers study programmes in drama, interior design and cultural management. The KASK campuses, Bijloke and Kunsttoren, are at the epicentre of Ghent, the cultural capital of Flanders. This haven at the heart of the historic city is very welcoming to students. Ghent is very receptive to the international art scene. Just a stone’s throw from the KASK campuses are the Vooruit arts centre, the S.M.A.K. (Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art) and the Higher Institute for Fine Arts (H.I.S.K.). The Bijloke campus hosts an abundance of cultural activities, notably the Gent Jazz Festival, the Conservatory’s jazz programme, the KASK drama programme, the Ghent municipal museum, or STAM, the Bijloke concert hall, the LOD production house for music and musical theatre, the Compagnie C de la B theatrical troupe, the BAM Institute for Visual, Audiovisual and Media Art, and more. KASK works together with all of these cultural players, as well as the International Film 3
1 Festival Ghent, S.M.A.K., MuHKA, Netwerk Aalst, the Croxhapox Gallery, and others, offering our students an ideal artistic framework for their studies. In addition to being imbedded in this artistically rich environment, KASK itself is a cultural actor, organizing exhibitions (including KIOSK), festivals (including the One Minutes Belgian Open film festival), weekly lectures and film presentations, and co-producing the international art magazine, A Prior (www.aprior.org). All of this makes it easier for students to take an active role in the art and design world and establish careers of their own. KASK week, a festive and public presentation of master projects, concludes the academic year. Information on the many initiatives organized by KASK can be found on our website : www.kask.be. All the activities mentioned above are open to the public. As a prospective student, you are always welcome to sample the atmosphere and energy of KASK activities and meet our students and instructors.
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2 The Master of Visual Arts and Audiovisual Arts Programmes In the ‘master’s year’, KASK offers students moving on from bachelor’s programmes in visual and audiovisual arts a chance to grow as artists or designers. Giving your artistic process further direction and substance is central. Students who have completed the three-year bachelor’s programme are invited to complete their own master’s project. The substance of this artistic master’s project is embedded in a framework of extensive possibilities for reflection, research and consultation. In the master’s programme, the opportunity to make artistic choices within a solid supporting framework is strongly emphasized. The master’s programmes of the KASK include : Master of Visual Arts fields of specialization : Fine Arts Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Installation Art, Media Art Textiles Design Fashion Photography Graphic Design Graphic Design, Graphic Arts, Web & Interactive Design, Illustration Multimedia Design Master of Audiovisual Arts fields of specialization : Animation Film Film Programme Descriptions : The master’s programmes in audiovisual or visual arts are divided into four segments, totalling 60 ECTS or credits. The complete curricula, objectives, means of evaluations, and so on, for each field of specialization, can be found in the master’s programme curricula on our website (www.kask.be). All segments of the programme are taken in the single academic master’s year. In order to facilitate part-time studying, the master’s project is divided into two parts. In general, for each student, the programme is as follows : 5
2 1. Master Projects I and II : The master’s project is an artistic work based on research. Its starting point is the master’s proposal submitted by the student when applying for the master’s programme. In the first half of the academic year the principal problem stated in the master’s proposal is further developed and formulated through preparatory research and the early realization of images, design or film content. During the academic year, the student further develops this process by completing his or her own work of art, design, film and/ or animation film in a personal and critically sensitive manner. This work is expected to bear witness to a creative and critical approach to the medium or media employed. The student’s skills and competences must be able to make it possible for him or her to complete a work with sufficient inherent qualities for the work to be artistically meaningful outside the school context. The work must give proof of independent artistic practice at the level of a beginning professional researcher, artist, designer or filmmaker. Faculty guidance during the master’s project is provided by two mentors, one of whom is a theory instructor and the other an instructor in a studio subject. On request from the student, an additional, third mentor is also possible. This third mentor can also be from outside the school, in which case, he or she must be approved by the two in-house mentors. 2. Thesis : In the thesis segment of the programme, the student undertakes a language-based, discursive investigation resulting in a written work. The thesis demonstrates that the student is capable of conducting relatively independent research and report on that research. Students write a thesis of at least 10,000 words. The problem being considered, the development of the theme and the conclusions must all be clearly stated. The student is expected to convince his or her mentors that the chosen subject, which he or she is free to choose, is in fact related to his or her master’s project and/or his or her artistic research 6
2 in general. The student is also free to choose to write in part or wholly about his or her own work. The faculty advisors for the thesis segment of the programme are the same as for the master’s project.
A = academic courses / B = studio classes / C = guided independent study D = total course hours / E = credits
Master of Visual Arts SEM 1 + 2 Master of Audiovisual Arts Title programme segment. . . . . . A. . . . . B . . . . . C . . . . . D . . . . E Master Project I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12. . . . . 120. . . . 232 . . 9 Master Project II. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 . . . . 180. . . . 626 . . 21 Thesis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 . . . . . . . . . . 250 . . 9 Seminars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 . . 12 Selective courses for 9 credits : A.Arts in Practice (3/6/9 credits) B.Elective courses within the University College Ghent or the Ghent University Association (3/6/9 credits) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270. . . 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 . . . . 96 . . . . 300 . . . 1678. 60
3. Theoretical seminars : At the start of the academic year, students register for three seminars. Each seminar focuses on specific problems and investigations. They are thematic in nature and not intended as overviews. In terms of contents, the theoretical seminars in the master’s programmes are open to all kinds of subjects and themes linked to the study of visual and audiovisual arts. The specific focus of the seminars generally tie in with the instructors’ area of research. In June, a complete overview of the seminars to be held in the upcoming academic year can be found on our website (www.kask.be) and also, upon request, be provided by the programme counsellor. 4. Elective courses : In this programme segment, 9 credits can be earned with selective studies, either with a single programme segment or in a combination of the student’s choice. a. Arts in Practice (3, 6 or 9 credits) Contemporary art and design are part of a wider field of cultural and social practice. This programme segment links artistic production to the public domain of discussion, visual investigation, product development, audiovisual presentations and exhibition and presentation practices. In a broader framework, the substance of this programme segment is about ‘relating to the context of
artistic practice’. Examples include : – professional engagement within the cultural community ; – setting up and participating in a project in the arts ; – completing assignments and/or projects generated by a partner external to KASK ; – completing an apprenticeship in a company or cultural institution with a defined task as designer or exhibition builder ; 7
2 – participation in projects in society in which students can make an artistic contribution ; – work that builds experience in context with one or another segment of a production in the audiovisual field ; –… b. Elective Subjects within the University College Ghent or the Ghent University Association (3, 6 or 9 credits) Within the selective options available, each student has the possibility of taking courses that are organized elsewhere within the Ghent University Association. These include courses at the University College Ghent, Ghent University, the Arteveldehogeschool or Hogeschool WestVlaanderen. For information concerning the possibilities and procedures, prospective students are advised to contact the KASK programme counsellor.
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3 International Students Since 2003, higher education in Flanders has seen fundamental reforms. Currently, both professional and academic bachelor diplomas are awarded and recognized in Flanders. Professional bachelor programmes focus on the acquisition of professional skills and do not directly train graduates for admission to the KASK master’s programmes. Academic bachelor programmes, rather with an emphasis on research skills, do prepare graduates for admission to the master’s programmes. In Flanders, the majority of art schools provide academic training. The research skills aimed for are artistic, as well as theoretical and reflexive. Immediate admission to the master’s programme at KASK is only available to those who hold an academic bachelor’s diploma in the visual arts or in audiovisual arts, or an equivalent diploma. If you wish to apply to one of our master’s programmes, we will examine whether your bachelor diploma can be considered equivalent to an academic bachelor’s diploma. Once the equivalency has been determined, you can directly apply for the master’s programme. A recognition of equivalency can be obtained in two ways : (1) When applying for the programme, the candidate provides us with a copy of his or her diploma, diploma supplements and, where possible, curricula descriptions. On the basis of the programme you followed, we will decide whether the diploma is the equivalent of a professional or an academic training. (2) An equivalency acknowledgement can also be acquired through the Ministry of Education. This is provided by the NARIC Flanders organization (contact naric@vlaanderen.be). Please note : this is not a requirement. You are free to wait for the internal KASK decision. If we are unable to recognize your bachelor’s diploma as the equivalent of an academic bachelor’s diploma, you can still apply. Depending on the decision of the orientation committee and in consultation with the programme counsellor, you can 9
3 follow a preparatory programme to prepare for the master’s course. This course of study will depend on your previous studies. For more information about the preparatory programme, feel free to contact the programme counsellor.
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4 APPLICATION The master programme itself starts every year in the last week of September. In applying for KASK, the applicant has the choice between a selection round in April or a selection round in September.
www.kask.be www.aprior.org www.ugent.be/en/research www.kioskgallery.be
Katrien Van Acker Central Students’ Administration Kortrijksesteenweg 14, 2nd floor 9000 Ghent – Belgium T +32 (0)9 243 34 59 E registrar@hogent.be
Pascal Desimpelaere Programme Counsellor & Foreign Student Advisor J. Kluyskensstraat 2 9000 Ghent – Belgium T +32 (0)9 267 01 67 E pascal.desimpelaere@ hogent.be
ADDRESSES
Katrien Vuylsteke Vanfleteren Research Coordinator katrien.vuylstekevanfle teren@hogent.be
Procedure for selection round in April : Step 1 : Submit administrative/ academic records Prospective students who are eligible for the master’s programmes on the basis of their previous schooling must report, with their administrative academic records, to the KASK department programme counsellor no later than 15 April. Application forms can be downloaded from our website www.kask.be (select‘English’). Step 2 : Fact-Finding meeting Once we have received the administrative records, we will review the equivalency of the diploma and the admissibility of the application. In April, applicants will be invited to present their portfolio’s to the orientation committee. The committee evaluates whether the proposed master’s project and the applicant’s profile is suitable for the applicant’s selected field of study. The committee also examines, where necessary, the applicant’s command of English, taking this into consideration in their decision. During the orientation meeting, the committee may also request a second orientation meeting with the applicant, if they feel it is needed to reach an optimal decision.
Procedure for selection round in September : Step 1 : Register with the central students’ administration Before you can apply for the master’s programme in visual or audiovisual arts on the basis of a foreign diploma or degree, you must be registered with the University College Ghent central students’ administration. 13
4 Foreign candidates who require a student visa in order to study in Belgium must contact the central students’ administration no later than 1 June (contact Katrien Van Acker). Once your application is approved, you can continue the process of applying for the programme. Step 2 : Submit administrative/ academic records Prospective students who are eligible for the master’s programmes on the basis of their previous schooling must report, with their administrative academic records, to the KASK department programme counsellor no later than 1 September. Application forms can be downloaded from our website www.kask.be (select ‘English’) Step 3 : Fact-Finding meeting Once we have received the administrative records, we will review the equivalency of the diploma and the admissibility of the application. In the 2nd week of September, applicants will be invited to present their portfolio’s to the orientation committee. The committee evaluates whether the proposed master’s project and the applicant’s profile is suitable for the applicant’s selected field of study. The committee also examines, where necessary, the applicant’s command of English, taking this into consideration in their decision. During the orientation meeting, the committee may also request a second orientation meeting with the applicant, if they feel it is needed to reach an optimal decision.
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5 PhD in the Arts at the Association University of Ghent (AUGent) Art and Research In modern culture the sciences and arts have secured autonomous positions. Their respective autonomy is objectified in institutions. Interestingly, art has established a mirroring relationship vis-à-vis science by having become a form of knowledge in its own right. Art is not just a matter of (technical) skills, expertise or metier, but also of research. Art, in grasping and revealing reality, comments on it and alters it in ways that differ from science. Art’s insights do not compete with the ones generated by the sciences ; they are rather complementary. The concept of the artist as seeker and researcher has become increasingly more prominent in higher art education in Flanders. Specialised research has become an inherent part of instruction. Art, education, theory and research have become closely knit. The Faculty of Fine Arts of the University College Ghent promotes ‘research in the arts’ that has distinctive methods and finalities. In doctoral research in the arts the practical and discursive components are intrinsically linked. PhD in the Arts Since, on the one hand, only universities are qualified to grant PhD degrees and since, on the other, the expertise and competence regarding the teaching of the art practice lies with the art departments of university colleges, it necessarily implies collaboration between a university and one or more art departments. University College Ghent (HoGent) and the University of Ghent (UGent) are joining forces when it comes to education, research, services and infrastructure.
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5 Three doctoral degrees can be taken at KASK : Doctor in the Arts : Fine Arts Doctor in the Arts : Audiovisual Arts Doctor in the Arts : Drama Prior to Formal Application If you wish to apply, it is advisable that, prior to taking up the formal procedures, to get in touch with members of the research staff or potential promoters. The research coordinator can give you more advice on this issue. Drawing up a research proposal is explicitly done in consultation with the promoters of the university and the art department. These contacts are essential for the research project to be adequately guided and embedded. More information can be accessed at www.kask.be and www.ugent.be/en/ research or through contacting the departmental research coordinator, Katrien Vuylsteke Vanfleteren (katrien.vuylstekevanfleteren@hogent.be).
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6 Studying in Ghent Flanders, in the centre of Europe Belgium has been an independent country since 1830. Belgium has an area of 30,528 km, and is located centrally and strategically in Europe. Two out of three citizens of the European Union live within a 350 km radius of Brussels, the capital of Belgium and Europe. Flanders has an area of 13,522 km, and is situated in the northern region of Belgium. This Dutch-speaking part of Belgium boasts about 6 million inhabitants. The southern part of Belgium, on the other hand, is called Wallonia and French is the official language “It is a marvellous here. The district around the capital is city, the meeting bilingual (Dutch and French). In conclusion, there is also a very small German-speaking place of four rivers, community at the eastern border. the Scheldt, the Lys, Flanders is at the intersection of the major Western European industrial regions. the Lieve and the The dense road, waterway and rail network, Moere. A network four seaports and three airports make Flanders the ideal gateway to Europe, of streaming water which is why many multinationals have dividing the town chosen Flanders as the base for their operations on the European market. in 26 islands. With its The historic city of Ghent was once barges, its bridges the mightiest city of Europe, and combines an impressive past with a vivid present. and the reflection It is, first and foremost, a warm and convivial of the old façades in city, inviting you for a stroll along its many attractions. Every day numerous tourists the water, Ghent is visit the historic heart of the city which a kind of Venice of offers many places of interest ranging from medieval buildings to the famous painting the North.” Victor Hugo, 1840. “The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb” by Jan Van Eyck. Nowhere in the world does one find so many historical monuments packed together in the heart of a city. Some of the campuses of our institution give testimony to this richness, e.g. the Bijloke campus, where KASK is located. Today Ghent is the busy capital of the province of East Flanders. It is a city with many faces : not only does it count over 50,000 students in higher education, it is also a city where many fairs and conferences are organised, an industrial city with a harbour, a “flower city” and a city in which many cultural events take place. 17
6 It is conveniently situated between Brussels and Bruges, and cities such as Paris, London and Amsterdam are within easy reach. The climate is generally mild but often wet … so don’t forget to bring your raincoat ! It can be both very hot (occasionally 30°C) and cool (11°C) during the summer. During the winter, temperatures vary between 10°C and -5°C. There is an extensive public transport network with buses and trams taking you to all areas of the city and its surroundings. Pubs and restaurants abound in Ghent (as in the rest of Flanders !) giving you a choice from fast food to exquisite cuisine. Ghent was declared the most enjoyable city of Flanders both in 2005 and in 2006. Approximate distance from Ghent to the nearest European cities: Amsterdam (NL). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3h Brussels (BE). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 min. Köln/Düsseldorf (DE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2h50 Lille (FR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1h30 London (GB). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3h Luxemburg (L) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3h45 Paris (FR). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2h
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR KASK APPLICANTS Application forms & tuition fees for English Master Programme and application for Bachelor programme : Students’ Secretariat, Faculty of Fine Arts (KASK) J. Kluyskensstraat 2 9000 Ghent – Belgium T +32 (0)9 266 08 90 F +32 (0)9 266 08 81 Prospective applicants for the master programme who have questions can directly contact the KASK programme counsellor. Programme Counsellor J. Kluyskensstraat 2 9000 Ghent – Belgium T +32 (0)9 267 01 67 E pascal.desimpelaere@hogent.be Prospective candidates for a PhD who have questions can directly contact the KASK research coordinator. Research Coordinator J. Kluyskensstraat 2 9000 Ghent – Belgium E katrien.vuylstekevanfleteren@hogent.be Candidates interested in joining a student exchange programme with KASK can contact our international office. International Office KASK J. Kluyskensstraat 2 9000 Ghent – Belgium E International.kask@hogent.be www.kask.be select ‘English’
This brochure provides relevant information for prospective candidates for the English-language Master of Visual Arts or the English-language Master of Audiovisual Arts programmes. It includes detailed information about the contents of the programmes and information on how to apply for the Master’s programmes offered at our academy. Master of Visual Arts Fine Arts Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Installation Art, Media Art Textiles Design Fashion Photography Graphic Design Graphic Design, Graphic Arts, Web & Interactive Design, Illustration Multimedia Design Master of Audiovisual Arts Animation Film Film
photography Š Sander Buyck graphic design: Bart Hebben, Studio Luc Derycke druk: drukkerij Lannoo, Tielt