In 2014, I was appointed Artistic Director for a master programme for artists at the Novia University of Applied Sciences in Jakobstad/Pietarsaari, Finland, which enabled me to develop an idea I had for some time.

The unique studyprogramme is the first low-residency travel programme for artists in the Nordic hemisphere, and is open for students from all over the world. This MA-program is free of charge for EU citizens. For students from non-EU countries there is a tuition fee. The travel expenses are to some extent covered by the University. Depending on where the students travel from, they might need to pay for parts of their tickets (the budget is calculated based on travel costs from Finland to the destinations mentioned below). The program has its own website, www.eitama.com with all hard facts.

The focus of the Master of Culture and Arts program is on creating the possibility for professional artists to create the international network that is relevant for their work. The program consists of 60 ECTS credits and run for the first time in 2015-16, and is running for its second time around in 2019 - 2020. The degree title is Master of Culture and Arts.

The program consists of eight weeks of on-location studies, with intense periods of self-directed long distance studies in between. The program has an international profile and will feature experts from various fields within the art world. A normal course of the programme looks like this: Two of the blocks held in Campus Allegro, Jakobstad (10-14 days), Finland. Four of the blocks of on-location studies and consist of trips (5-8 days) to various centers in the art world, in different cities around the world (destinations: Istanbul, Berlin, Dubai, Stockholm).

During the excursions students visit major contemporary art venues and meet up with their representatives including; the Istanbul Biennial; the March Meeting in Sharjah; Art Dubai art fair; museums and other exhibition venues, art academies and galleries which will provide a backdrop to discussions and primary experiences of contexts, spaces and different ways of mediating art. The studies culminate in examinations of the students essays and work. As the program is developed in both general terms, and through the individual needs of every student, the applicant is encouraged to have a general idea about personal goals with their education in their applications.

In 2022, Novia (and I) will run the programme for its third time, and the outline will look a little bit different, keeping in pace with the world, and will entail slower travels, and more intense weeks “on the road”. Images from earlier trips.

Over the years, teachers and lecturers have included: Swetlana Heger, Andreas Schlaegel, Fatos Ustek, Nicolas Bourriaud, Cevdet Erek, John Bock, Loulou Cherinet, Gulsun Karamustafa, Stefanie Hessler, Alida Ivanov, Michael Portnoy, Erik Nordenhake, Moataz Nasr, Hicham Khalidi, Ben Loveless, Tessa Praun, Nav Haq, Juan-Pedro Fabra Guemberena, Jonathan Habib Enquist, Jan Christensen, Marta Gnyp, Carolin Pommert, Tino Seghal, Sven-Olov Wallenstein, Alexander Koch, Jan Hietala, Richard Julin, David Mouze, Erik Nordenhake, Timothy Persons, Krist Gruijthuijsen, Christopher Kline, Sol Calero, Christoph Tannert, Anna van der Vliet, Carl-Michael von Hausswolff, Agnieszka Kurant, Sheyan Musaoglu among others. See many of them in the picture gallery.

First round of students: Andres Donadio, Joakim Hansson, Åsa-Maria Hedberg, Mikko Juntura, Susanne Kass, Timo Konttinen, Minna Parkkinen, Carolin Pommert, Anssi Pulkkinen, Maja Sjöström, and Therese Sunngren Granlund.

Second batch of students: Carina Ahlskog, Joakim Finholm, Camilla Gunnar, Madeleine Kozma, Kjersti Kravik, Johan Lundin, Ariadna Mangrané, Elena Nestorova, Cata Portin, Ann Mirjam Vajkla, and Johan Sandås.

Images by students and myself, many of which by Andres Donadio and Mikko Juntura especially from the first batch.

Online exhibition TV show here.