The Master of Fine Art at HKU (Utrecht University of the Arts) was a one-year, full-time English-taught program that positions artistic practice within eco-socio-cultural and political contexts. Awarded the Gold Medal by 'EW Best Studies 2022', this internationally acclaimed program welcomes artists, researchers, activists, and cultural workers interested in developing politically engaged practices that address planetary urgencies.
The program moves away from individualistic art-making toward collaborative, transdisciplinary approaches that challenge extractive, colonial, and hierarchical systems. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of nature-cultures and supports practices that contribute to sustainable, solidarity-based communities. Rather than focusing on "talent" or "artistic signature," the program values concern, dedication, and engagement with contemporary ecological, social, and political crises.
The curriculum integrates three interactive dimensions:
Making – Explores expanded notions of production and collaboration, including unmaking, process-oriented work, and material-relational approaches
Thinking – Develops knowledge through dialogue with diverse entities (colleagues, books, water, histories, disciplines) emphasizing collective learning
Sharing – Cultivates relational practices through communal activities, from meals to exhibitions, fostering affective ecologies and mutual support
Learning Environment
Students engage through courses, seminars, workshops, guided walks, tutorials, institutional collaborations (Casco Art Institute, BAK, puntWG), curatorial projects, and experimental formats. The program maintains strong alumni networks through the Mutual Support Platform (MSP), extending community beyond graduation.
Key Features
Focus on artistic research as practice and practice as research
Partnerships with local and international cultural institutions
Emphasis on feminist, queer, decolonial, postcolonial, Indigenous, and disability studies
Preparation for further research (PhD, practice-based research)
Collaborative and process-based graduation with extended research report
Located at HKU Loods (moving to IBB-laan in 2026)