Are you a visual artist, (artistic) researcher, practitioner, thinker, or collective and do you wish to deepen your knowledge, refine your visual voice, and further develop your practice? Expanding the rich histories of visual art practices —acknowledging the need to navigate our situatedness within today’s ecological and political landscapes—this program invites you to critically re-investigate, re-read, re-learn, re-open, and re-imagine your artistic and critical frameworks. Through your practice-based research, you will be invited to develop the aesthetics and poetics of a desirable future.
Program Overview
- Master of Arts in Fine Art & Design Pathway: Visual Arts & Post Contemporary Practice
- Duration: 24 months (4 semesters)
- Mode: Full-time
- Language: English
- Location: Den Bosch, the Netherlands
- Credits: 120 ECTS
- Degree: Master of Fine Art and Design
- Institution: Avans University of Applied Sciences
- Accreditation: Fully accredited by NVAO
Program
Learn in an inclusive, interdisciplinary environment where you will develop intellectual and practical skills to create independent or collaborative art projects and critically redefine your practice. You will learn from tutors, guests and peers. You will work on a practice-led research that seeks to transcend existing human-made boundaries, and draws from a wider diversity of various cultural, intellectual, and philosophical traditions.
Year 1
Informed by research seminars, interdisciplinary modules, and field trips, you will be challenged to redefine your art practice within a collaborative, peer-to-peer environment. To support this growth, we encourage you to dive into our extensive technical facilities. Our workshops provide expert instruction in 3D visualization, VR/AR, spatial design, and interactive storytelling. You will also have full access to traditional media labs—including film, photography, print, wood, ceramics, and metal—where you can develop innovative projects under the guidance of our experienced technical team.
A core component of the first year is the Rethinking the Artist Economy Residency. In this program, all Master in Fine Art and Design students explore how to make their practice both socially engaged and ecologically grounded. By providing the tools to move beyond extractive systems, we help you transition toward ways of working rooted in care, reciprocity, and connection. Ultimately, the residency supports you in building a sustainable livelihood based on what you value and find meaningful.
Year 2
In the second year, theory and practice are closely intertwined as you work towards your final thesis. The third semester features a group exhibition at an external location, and the fourth semester culminates in the graduation show. Here, you will present your graduating work and research to a relevant professional network. Furthermore, professional practice modules prepare you to enter the professional field and establish your career after completing the Master’s program. You will be trained in writing funding applications, developing a professional portfolio, and building a comprehensive CV.
