Transcultural Collaboration

International Graduate Semester Programme in the Arts

Description

Transcultural Collaboration is a unique international MA semester programme in the arts, and a cooperation between Shared Campus partner institutions in Asia and Europe.
Students from all arts and design disciplines have the chance to explore different locations of the Shared Campus network, collaborating on experiments with open outcomes.

The programme takes place at different locations in Europe and in Asia. These locations serve as a base and common playground for joint research. Their different cultural and historical developments and living environments provide interesting insights and opportunities for reflection on a variety of topics such as value systems, politics, traditions and cultural hybridization, or power structures.

The main focus is on practice-based collaboration and teamwork between the participants in changing constellations. An annual semester topic and a related lecture series serve to focus debates and provide a framework for practical experimentation. The programme is complemented with additional inputs by guests, excursions, and workshops. The semester includes public presentations.

Premise and Vision

Today, artists, performers, musicians, curators and designers need a multi-perspective mindset, as well as a genuine commitment and willingness to communicate, exchange, and debate ideas and opinions within a global framework, critically reflecting on manifold interconnected issues and questions. Given the complex and pressing nature of the problems facing all of us, we are convinced that close cooperation is imperative for tackling these issues.

For contemporary creative practioners, a transcultural mindset and attitude is necessary in order to deal with different cultures on many levels. They act as facilitators between different political, social, economic, and cultural contexts. Not only professional expertise is required, but also the ability to understand and negotiate the diversity of global cultures and societies. Artists and designers can take the role of agents who constantly observe, reflect, distinguish, and position themselves in dynamic environments, withstanding frictions, and demanding to make things visible, to mediate, to produce, and to act precisely.

When making use of different working methods or approaches, one might come up with ideas and conceptions that are beyond regular imagination and capabilities. Collaboration as a principal working method exposes participants to different mindsets, traditions, and aesthetic understandings. Working in cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary teams allows for direct exchange and debate on topics of common interest, while at the same time critically reflecting on each other’s perception, values, and way of working. It is a way of expanding the artistic toolkit, helping participants to better understand their own discipline.

Participants

The programme offers places to MA students from the participating partner institutions from a wide range of arts and design disciplines, including performing arts, music, fine arts, media arts, curating, design, and art education. Emphasis is placed on a good mixture of disciplines.

Faculty

Participants receive close support from selected faculty from all partner institutions, as well as from independent artists and experts from various arts and design disciplines.
You can find information about the involved faculty at the corresponding programme information.