The Higher Education Review

As recent events highlight, we need significant and meaningful arts education and, to deliver that, we need significant and meaningful arts educators. Arts and education fuses confidence in vulnerable communities, stimulates social interaction between people and can bring communities together. Now, more than any time in history, societies around the globe need socially engaged artist and arts-educators.

At ArtEZ University of the Arts (a reputed institute based in the East of the Netherlands), art education found a new shape in the form of an issues-based approach. Issues-based art education is the core of social learning. Issue based arts education is a social change and artistic practice and a powerful tool of change making in society. It clearly builds upon universalhuman values: equality, social inclusion, diversity and justice. However diverse and different people might seem nowadays, they are human after all.

Taking this philosophy as their core, the Graduate School Community at ArtEZ University of Arts was incepted in 2016 with a vision to give art its own space to be significance beyond the walls of establishedmusea or galleries spaces. Art is a forceful language of change and needs to move beyond industry boundaries into the public domain and debate. Art is an important expression of emotions for individuals, groups, communities and organizations.

ArtEZ feels it is co-responsible for (re) educating practicing artist and art-educators in the Netherlands and abroad. Being an artist is being responsible, engaged and building bridges through social interaction is one of the ways forward in our polarized world. Art itself can be defined as a phenomenon that compels us toward the celebration of the core values all life. This kind of art is a living aesthetic where compassion, trust, care and community service are core values.

Some of the Master programs at ArtEZ aim to create a new generation of critical artist educators. Artists who dedicate their intentions and work to the urgencies of our times for social change, equality and human rights. This is the time to take up this social responsibility as an artist. Are you with us?

Learning communities, critical and creative
ArtEZ provides a coherent range of preparatory programmes, Bachelor's courses in visual art, architecture, fashion, design,

music, theatre, creative writing, dance and art education for more than 3000 students in its three campuses in Arnhem, Enschede and Zwolle. The Master courses focus on research, social practice, critical inquiry and innovations to (re) activate society. ArtEZ is a reputed university, where lecturers link theory with practice and works together with a large number of strong and progressive partners both nationally and abroad, such as other educational institutes, companies, governments, social activists and non-profit organizations.

“At ArtEZ University of the Arts (a reputed institute based in the East of the Netherlands), art education found a new shape in the form of an issues-based approach”

In the courses, students are educated in a role that closely matches their talent, personality and social ambitions. The Master courses work with small learning communities without standing personal and social fabric. Research and artistic supervision are taken up by lecturers who have earned their spurs in professional or international research and artistic practice. Through this approach, students are optimally prepared for their new position as an artist in society, in the Netherlands but often abroad. The University has a total of 900 employees, including around 600 internationals and Dutch lecturers. Professors often work in their international professional practice or hold positions in reputed universities around the globe.

International Master Artist Educator: applications for February 2022 soon open!
Issues based art is the foundation stone of the international Master Artist Educator (iMAE), introduced at ArtEZ. iMAE aims to address the challenge set by the Brazilian educator Paulo Friere when he asked: `who will educate the educators.' Students who aspire to pursue this course should note that after you have passed your entrance examination/audition for your course at ArtEZ, you will have to meet the institute's enrolment criteria by 31 August to be able to start with your course at ArtEZ as of 1 September. Second intakes are fort he start of february 1st. The program starts twice a year: september and february.

Eligibility for a Master study in higher professional education in the Netherlands (HBO) requires that you have successfully completed Bachelor's programme(BA) and submit a Toefl or IELTS certificate. The university also strongly advises non-EU students to fulfil the enrolment early. Information about deadlines for enrollment are announced on the website. ArtEZ has a digital open day schedules, for prospective students. Indian students can directly call from India to participate in it through Zoom. So you can attend a Zoom session

from India ­ digital open days are in English.

Taking Arts Education to the socially engaged field, working grassroot
ArtEZ stands for an internationally recognized standard of quality in art education. Graduates of the institute know their position and the power they hold. They have developed their artistry and craftsmanship, have a clear interest in social engagements, and know how to imbue their art with societal meaning through working with others. They are prepared for professional practice at the highest level and in an international context. The University also acknowledges that a certain tension is required in art education. Issues of society or professional practice are sometimes focused on short-lived trends or immediate practical applicability.

However, professional practice ultimately benefits from encouraging and guaranteeing the autonomy and individuality of students. These form the basis for the development of artistry and are a prerequisite for truly innovative art. It is in this field of tension that ArtEZ provides education to their students. In 2022, the students at iMAE will conduct research in the Netherlands, Northern Ireland and non-EU destinations like Costa Rica, Morocco and/or the Israel/Palestine areas. Detailed programming is announced in during the digital open days.

While talking more about the operational ideology of the institute and their future aspirations, Dr. John Johnston, Head of Program and Associate Professor who is the leader of the International Masters Artist Educator at ArtEZ says, "ArtEZ stands for an internationally recognised standard of quality in art education. Our graduates are able to contribute to constant renewal in art and quality in society. We prepare our students to perform at the highest level as professional artists & designers or teachers, in a wide scope of contexts.

Over the last year, our directs, professors, heads of departments and heads of staff spoke intensively with one another ­ often at daggers drawn ­ about the future of education, research and support at ArtEZ. This led to the Institutional Plan 2016-2021. According to that, our plan focuses on three core tasks. It trains students to be artists, safeguards ArtEZ's high-quality education and research, and delivers a meaningful contribution to the arts. The Institutional Plan also enables ArtEZ to use the available means effectively for education and research, now and in the future".

Dr. John Johnston, Head of Program and Associate Professor
A pioneering educator that has been offering innovative and result-driven arts education to the students for many years.