Based at a new cultural campus in Rotterdam-Zuid, the new ‘Hogeschool voor de Kunsten’ aims to offer study programmes to new generations of students in the arts and sciences.

Administrators of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences / Willem de Kooning Academy, Codarts ‘Hogeschool voor de Kunsten’ and the Erasmus University Rotterdam signed a declaration of intent to achieve their ambition on 20 January 2022. The arts institution will be a new entity linked to both Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences and the Erasmus University Rotterdam. The municipality of Rotterdam supports this special initiative.

The educational institutions are joining forces with the municipality to develop the so-called Culture & Campus on the Charloisse Hoofd of Maashaven. This new cultural campus will combine education, research, and social initiatives. At the same time, the location offers the educational institutions the opportunity to intensify their mutual connection and their relationship with the city. The campus itself will be the location for the practice of art, and for artistic and cultural reflection which, on this scale, is not possible anywhere else. In addition, the campus will facilitate encounters, research, education-related social initiatives, and cultural programming that the partners will develop jointly.

High-quality internationally oriented art education
“The joining of forces of two art academies rooted in Rotterdam and complementary to each other, as well as the collaboration between university of applied sciences and university, enables us to offer teaching materials that are well suited to the needs of students: from preparatory education and high-quality, internationally oriented bachelor and master programmes to doctoral research, according to Ron Bormans, President of the Executive Board of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences.”

“Based on our collaboration in the education and research programme Rotterdam Arts & Sciences Lab – which addresses and redefines social issues with the aid of art and science – we have learned that there is a great need for such a large umbrella educational institution”, says Jeroen Chabot, Dean of the Willem de Kooning Academy.

In addition, the new educational institution will provide a better transfer from higher education to university education, adds Wilma Franchimon, President of the Executive Board of Codarts. “In addition to the bachelor’s and master’s degrees, the new art institute will offer opportunities for joint educational programmes and combinations of study programmes in higher professional education and academic education. In this way, we can serve students even better.”

The Erasmus University Rotterdam will contribute academic education and research to the new art institution. Ed Brinksma, President of the Executive Board: “Uniting the visual and performing arts, design and academia in the new art institute creates new possible collateral benefits in education and research for all the partners involved, who play a major role in tackling the major challenges facing society, not only here in Rotterdam but also nationally and internationally.”

Bustling and creative cultural campus at Rotterdam-Zuid
The Rotterdam Municipal Executive supports the initiative. “We applaud this collaboration between educational institutions in Rotterdam. In the future, Rotterdam will be able to distinguish itself as a leader in the field of art education, with an extensive range of professional art programmes. This new educational institution is also a powerful boost for the Culture & Campus in Zuid, where we are already working together intensively”, says Said Kasmi, Vice Mayor for Education, Culture and Tourism for the City of Rotterdam.

“This will be a vibrant, creative hub where energy, creativity and young talent can come together. It is a fine development for Rotterdam-Zuid: it inspires children and young people from the area, provides employment and cohesion in neighbourhoods and attracts tourists. We are proud that we are going to work on this together with these educational institutions.”

Photo: Codarts students on Charloisse Hoofd. Photographer: Plaatwerk.