Accompanied by an essay by Lieneke Hulshof and over six hundred images, this publication documents nearly fifty years of Studium Generale at ArtEZ University of the Arts, spanning from 1979 to early 2025. Set against the backdrop of broader developments in (arts) education, it outlines a diverse program—comprising international workshops, lectures, festivals, reading groups, interdisciplinary art projects, and publications—designed to foster connections with society and engage with current trends in science, art, culture, and arts education itself.
ArtEZ Studium Generale served as a space where students, faculty, artists, and other thinkers could exchange ideas, pose critical questions, and discover new perspectives. It functioned as an open space—a “free space”—where students could delve into disciplines beyond their own core curriculum and collaborate with peers from other fields. In doing so, they experienced the magic of exchange—a fitting endeavor for an arts university where disciplines converge and students are trained to engage with society in an active, inquisitive manner.
Arts education requires such a “free space”—a space to examine the world critically, explore alternative viewpoints, and think beyond established frameworks. In an era where education is increasingly under pressure, this freedom is vital. Studium Generale provided that space, and this book demonstrates just how valuable it is to cultivate and cherish such a place for encounter and development.