Overview

Are you keen to gain more insight into the innovative potential of painting? Do you want to know how to grow as an artist who relates to a medium that has been reinvented many times over and in different places in the world, responding to political changes, the digitisation of society, the urge for a postcolonial perspective and the critique on the current runaway art market?

About this programme

Our master’s programmes each span two years and comprise 120 credits (ECTS). Point of departure is your own artistic practice (30 ECTS per year). They each build on a weekly Seminar focusing on an in-depth exploration and critical discussion of your work with the group and on investigating topical issues in the curriculum. High importance is given to all aspects related to professional Presentation, Log and Archiving, and to your thesis. Furthermore, the programmes each offer theory sessions [explorations of discursive contexts], a variety of projects, LABs − which are more practice-focused −, conferences, and significant contributions of prominent guest lecturers. The curriculum also includes trips to art exhibitions, fairs, artists’ studios, and visits to other master institutes in Europe or further, such as, recently, Kassel, Venice, Berlin and Brighton. In the field of research, we closely collaborate with the Hanze Research Centre Art and Society, and the professorships Image in Context and Art and Sustainability, as with many other organisations, art platforms and galleries.

As a student, you have access to a wide range of facilities, through which to explore new avenues in the world of visual art, such as 3D scanning and printing, smart materials, fluid crystals or biomaterials. A diversity of 14 workshops and several exhibition spaces are at your disposal here. Besides that, there is a Project Bureau, where students can find jobs and project placements, and there are individual and shared workspaces available for our master students, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Study structure

• Year 1 - Exploring possibilities

The first year of this study programme is mostly about exploring your chosen field. You will carry out your own research and studio work in our Hybrid Arts Lab. We will challenge you to explore how you can innovate and renew the art of painting, looking beyond the boundaries of traditional approaches and investigating new artistic possibilities. At the same time you will reflect critically on your own work and artistic practice. You will learn how painting is intertwined with other media, technology and disciplines and how you can tap into these innovations in your own artistic practice. This will allow you to improve your knowledge and skills, get to know the international field of practice, forge new concepts and discover avenues of artistic research. During your first year you will gradually start to focus on the area you want to concentrate on in your second year, gathering ideas, improving your skills and gaining new knowledge to prepare for your practical research. This will help you to develop and refine the research plan that you will carry out in the second year and which will form the basis for your master's thesis. At the end of your first year your work will be assessed to determine whether you are ready to start the second year.

• Year 2 - Achieving your artistic goals

At the start of your second year, you will begin to work on your graduation project. Most of your time will be devoted to working on this project. You will still attend classes, but fewer than in the first year. Supervisors will advise and guide you and stimulate your progress. Your goal in this year is to complete your research project and write your master's thesis. There will be plenty of opportunities throughout the year to share what you have learned and experienced with others during group sessions, discussions and presentations. Depending on your needs, one or more guest lecturers may also be asked to contribute to the supervision of your research project. Second-year students also take part in a series of public dialogues to discuss their work with guest lecturers and others, which will help you to enhance your work and take it to the next level. Towards the end of your second year, you will create your graduation work and write a master's thesis in which you demonstrate your analytical skills, critical view, ability to reflect on your own work and overall research abilities. Your thesis should set out how you envisage your future position in the art world. You will present both your artistic work and your master's thesis during your public graduation ceremony. Upon graduation, you will be awarded a Master of Arts degree in Fine Art and Design with a specialisation in Painting.

Admission procedure

• Step 1: Enrol in Studielink

To enrol in this master's degree programme, submit an enrolment application through Studielink (studielink.nl). On the enrolment form, under the master's programme, select 'Master of Arts in Fine Art and Design' and then either MADtech, Painting, iRAP or MAPs. You will receive by email a login link and details for the 'Hanze Apply' and details of the documents we require from you.

• Step 2: Hanze Apply

Answer the questions and upload the requested documents: Under "Entrance Minerva" you have to upload the portfolio and other requested documents. The application form and additional information can also be found in the Hanze Apply. Under "International students" you have to upload your passport/ID card, diploma, etc. After everything has been filled out and uploaded, click on the "submit application" button.

• Step 3: Meeting

After we have received your application form and portfolio, the admissions committee will criticize your application documents and decide whether to invite you for a meeting with them. If you live abroad and cannot come to Groningen for this, we can conduct the interview by Microsoft Teams.