Application deadline: March 15, 2020
Equality and the rights of nature are at the core of the master’s program at the Art Institute HGK FHNW in Basel. These are not subjects or topics of study, but the values, ideals, and discourses that define our seminars, international symposia, summer schools, exhibitions, and artistic projects. The future of many artistic practices and their relevance in society depends on learning to experience the world collectively with plants, animals, and every aspect of life on earth. As this is a matter of experience—an experience that is defined by a constantly changing behavior and legislation towards nature and life—it is also a matter of art. For centuries, art and artists have been dedicated to this revolution of the senses, to thinking alongside life and matter. Our master’s program is focused first and foremost on the development of every artist, while also creating a context in which the problems of advanced capitalism and the use of technology are considered in relation to justice and our bond with nature.
The core team of our master’s program is formed by Birgit Kempker, Roman Kurzmeyer, Renée Levi, Mathilde Rosier, Filipa Ramos, Chus Martínez, and Quinn Latimer. However, mentoring and support are also available to students from our visiting guests, technical staff, research assistants, and some of the team from the bachelor’s program. Mentoring and technical support are very important elements of the program; the time spent presenting and exploring one’s work in dialogue and learning about the materials and equipment leads to a better understanding of the works. Students can enjoy amazing workshops and technical facilities at both the Art Institute and the Campus of the Arts. We foster a love of combining reflective practices and encourage students not to be afraid of trying different ways of doing things, learning skills with digital and analog machines, or approaching the experts we are fortunate to have in our team.
The master’s program only accepts twenty students per year, and the Art Institute has around one hundred students in total. As a result, the program is defined by our belief in the importance of friendship and companionship as well as supporting each other, even once your studies are complete.
Our master’s degree is a two-year international program. During this time we expect you to make use of all our workshops, attend the many different seminars organized by our staff and guests, participate in the Plenum, a platform to collectively discuss your work, choose different mentors to support you, and engage with the projects, international partnerships, Summer Schools, and exhibitions we organize outside the institute, such as I-Hood, the 2019 graduation exhibition at Kunsthaus Baselland. Our main goal is to contribute to your development as artists; yours is to join the collective effort to develop a cognitive ease when making and thinking about art.
Studying in Basel may sound a little out of the ordinary, yet the city offers an unprecedented opportunity to gain fundamental knowledge about today’s art systems. Basel’s relevancy to contemporary art facilitates both an insight into the works of the many artists who are active around us and relationships with neighboring art institutions, non-profit spaces, and curators. The Art Institute and its exhibition space der TANK are located on the Campus of the Arts, a hub for creativity and artistic practices. This proximity to other art institutions and our outstanding workshops make the Art Institute a very special place for art production. As a public institution, our facilities and workshops are accessible at all times, and the fees are correspondingly low. Though the costs of living in Switzerland are high, there are many economically feasible options in Basel.
The application deadline is March 15, 2020, with the program starting in September 2020. More information about the Master of Fine Art’s program and the admission process can be found online.
Get in touch: info.kunst.hgk [at] fhnw.ch / T +41 61 228 40 77
