This website uses cookies to store information on your computer. Some of these cookies are used for visitor analysis, others are essential to making our site function properly and improve the user experience. By using this site, you consent to the placement of these cookies. Click Accept to consent and dismiss this message or Deny to leave this website. Read our Privacy Statement for more.
Visual Communication and Space Design/Interior Architecture departments, and workshops
Presentation of HEAD’s Visual Communication and Space Design/Interior Architecture departments. Historical and architectural visit of the building and its technical workshops (metal, woodwork, prototype, printing, engraving, digital, photography, video,
and sound).
Fine Arts and Cinema departments, and workshops
Presentation of HEAD’s Fine Arts and Cinema departments. Historical and architectural visit of the building and its technical workshops (metal, woodwork, prototyping, digital).
Fashion, Jewelry, and Accessory Design department, Chair in Watch Design, and workshops
Presentation of HEAD’s Fashion, Jewelry, and Accessory Design department and its chair in Watch Design. Historical and architectural visit of the building, its ceramic workshop, and its gallery space.
11:30 – 12:30
Meet and mingle
(optional)
11:30 – 13:00
Evolving with purpose: Responding to new demands in art and design education
(optional)
Aurélie Elisa Gfeller, Dean of Studies, HEAD – Genève This interactive workshop will take as its starting point two related challenges that HEAD and, more broadly, higher art education, are facing today:
the need to strengthen professionalisation by better preparing students for their future careers during their studies; and the need to offer more flexible study tracks to foster professional experience alongside
academic learning and to open access to continuing education for older learners, in line with life-long learning principles. Join us for a dynamic conversation on how institutions like HEAD and your own school
can adapt to the evolving demands of students, the job market, and society at large.
12:30 – 13:45
Light lunch
13:00 – 13:45
Empower the many to transform your institution with ASIMUT
Snacks and refreshments will be served by ASIMUT software during this session.
Artistic excellence thrives when the whole community – students, teachers, administrators and production teams – works seamlessly together. Yet, managing the complexity of timetables, spaces, events and resources
in an art school can easily pull focus away from your core mission: cultivating creativity. In this session, discover how ASIMUT empowers art institutions exactly like yours to harness the collective intelligence
of your entire community. By providing one collaborative platform where everyone contributes to, communicates and stays aligned with academic schedules, room utilisation and production plans, ASIMUT turns these
administrative challenges into opportunities for cohesion, transparency and innovation.
14:00 – 15:30
Official welcome |HYBRID|
H2O – POWER! Performance by Priya Mara Lanfranchi, Visual Art student from HEAD– Genève
Keynote: Power With, A Wake-Up Call by Marie-Laure Salles, Director of the Geneva Graduate Institute
Our world is shaking. A convergence of crises generates radical uncertainty and carries existential threats. Many of the challenges we face today are shared – they even have a planetary dimension. Yet, the instinctive
response is often individualistic, competitive, driven by a zero-sum logic that may yield short-term gains for a few, but offers no sustainable path forward. The only approach that makes sense over the long-term
is collective mobilization and collaboration in the face of common challenges.
In a moment increasingly dominated by dynamics of “power over” — the resurgence of force as a first resort and its destructive consequences — we must advocate for an alternative : “power with.” This is the power
of collaboration, of shared purpose, of what we can do together.
Institutions of higher learning – and art schools in particular – have a unique role and responsibility in that context. Current challenges demand bold, imaginative responses and solutions. Nurturing creativity
and critical thinking, but also courage and engagement, is more than ever a necessity. These are the skills that will shape the future, and we have the urgent responsibility to cultivate and deploy them.
15:30 – 16:00
Coffee break
16:00 – 17:15
Breakout session 1
The cost of cuts in higher arts education (case study + discussion)
Huug de Deugd, the President of the University of the Arts The Hague, where he holds ultimate responsibility for the university’s strategic direction.
Challenges in national political contexts (case study + discussion)
Milena Stefanovic, Assistant Professor of Strategic Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts, University of Arts, Belgrade responding to student protests in Serbia.
Meisner technique for mental health and development (workshop)
Presented by Christopher Bailey. The Meisner Technique is a tried and true acting discipline that evolved as an offshoot of the Stanislavsky Method in the mid-twentieth century. At its core, it focuses
on how to live and express yourself fully in a moment-to-moment fashion. In this workshop, participants will not only learn about the technique itself and its relevance to mental health practice—particularly
in resource-poor settings—but also have the opportunity to participate in foundational exercises in the technique.
"Be part of something bigger" – archery as a blueprint for leadership and collective intelligence (workshop)
Presented by Annette Birkholz. The common understanding of archery is about hitting the target individually. However, over time—by shooting in movement and information—you will experience that your individual
performance improves the more you connect with other archers and become involved in a team experience. The collective shot, with everyone's arrows synchronously hitting the target, is an unforgettable experience!
And it shows the power of collective efforts and communities.
Are we alone? (open session)
As leaders in higher arts education, we find ourselves navigating a rapidly shifting landscape. Budget cuts, political pressures, global uncertainty, and the growing demand for internal well-being have created a complex environment where traditional roadmaps
no longer apply.
How do we lead when the territory is unknown? How do we navigate the isolation that often comes with responsibility, especially when we face situations for which we were never prepared?
This Open Space session invites honest conversation about the realities of leadership today. Participants are encouraged to propose topics, raise difficult questions, and reflect on how leadership must
evolve in response to these pressures.
The discussion will continue throughout the Symposium, with a provocation to be carried forward to the AEC Annual Congress in Salzburg—to
continue the dialogue and amplify your voices.
17:30 – 18:30
In Conversation with Roni Brown, Creative Higher Education Specialist, UK & Venka Purushothaman, Deputy President and Provost, LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore |HYBRID|
19:30 – 22:30
Dinner at Café Papon
Enjoy dinner at Café Papon, one of Geneva’s oldest restaurants nestled in the old town. Savour a diversity of meals ranging from gourmet selections to traditional cheese raclette in a setting that celebrates the
city's rich history.
08:30 – 09:30
Registrations open
The Backstage Conversation Room
(optional)
09:30 – 11:00
Panel conversation:Leading through the collective |HYBRID|
Laurence Rassel, Director of ERG (École de recherche graphique) in Brussels, who is leading a project oriented towards the collective, process and transmission. She redefines the notion of authority
and envisages an institution, where everyone has the possibility to act on the structure.
Carine Ayélé Durand, Director of the Ethnographic Museum Geneva. She has dedicated herself for more than twenty years to the study, management, and development of heritage collections, exhibitions,
and visual arts. She specialised in the field of material culture and visual arts, working closely with indigenous peoples in the Arctic, the Brazilian Amazon, and Canada.
Kadiatou Diallo, a freelance curator, mediator, and cultural practitioner, has an academic background in cognitive psychology and visual arts. Her work explores artistic practice, with a focus on
Africa, as a tool for transformative social processes and knowledge generation.
11:00 – 11:30
Coffee break
11:30 – 13:00
Breakout session 2
Pursuing meaningful change through policy and advocacy practices (theory + discussion) In national and international policymaking pathways to tackle
today’s challenges and leverage tomorrow’s potential are urgently needed. In this conversation with experts from the field, we explore transformative and transdisciplinary collaboration, community-driven
work, and the power of innovation and research.This panel discussion will feature insights from Simon Marti (European University Association), Veerle Van der Sluys (LUCA School of Arts) and Vera Winthagen
(European Commission).
Unlocking creativity: Key skills for the future (workshop)
This interactive workshop invites participants to step into the CYANOTYPES way of thinking—co-creative, future-oriented, and designed to navigate complexity.
Guided by Erla Björnsdóttir, David Crombie, Barbara Revelli, and Angelika Zelisko, the session offers a hands-on exploration of how creativity can unlock fresh perspectives and collective potential. Together,
participants will engage in playful yet purposeful activities that challenge assumptions and open new pathways for leadership in the arts.
The role of the arts and design in building dialogue, fostering humanitarian action (theory + discussion)
Pascal Hufschmid, Director of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum in Geneva, and Javier Fernández Contreras, Head of the Space Design/Interior Architecture Department at HEAD – Genève and one of the principal investigators of the research project The Future of Humanitarian Design.
Wellbeing at work: The heart of success (workshop)
Sustainable leadership is not only about achieving results, but also about creating the right conditions for leaders and teams to thrive. By placing wellbeing at the core of leadership, we can strengthen resilience, support mental health, and build the
foundation for lasting success. This interactive workshop offers reflections and practical tools to cultivate wellbeing at work, support mental health, and help both leaders and teams thrive sustainably. The
workshop is facilitated by Annika Månsson – Founder & CEO, Happy at Work.
Introduction to orchestra conducting as related to collective intelligence for leadership (workshop)
Facilitated by Béatrice Zawodnik, Director of Haute école de Musique Genève. The Haute école de musique de Genève offers an immersive and original experience: a conducting workshop. Participants will be introduced to the fundamentals of musical conducting
and will have the opportunity to conduct an orchestra of around thirty HEM musicians brought together especially for the occasion. This hands-on workshop will be preceded by a lecture exploring the orchestra
as a model of collective intelligence: active listening, implicit coordination, and distributed leadership. Drawing parallels between orchestral conducting and leadership in other contexts, the session will
address the conductor’s contributions—conveying a vision, fostering a shared dynamic, and inspiring others—as well as the essential role played by each member of the orchestra.
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch
14:00 – 15:30
Panel conversation:Power in the plural: Inclusive leadership |HYBRID|
Crystal Williams, the 18th president of Rhode Island School of Design as well as an advocate, artist, and an authority on diversity in the arts and higher education.
Jenny Althoff, Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design in Sweden.
Matylda Taszycka, Head of Research Programmes at AWARE: Archives of Women Artists, Research and Exhibitions.
15:30 – 16:00
Coffee break
16:00 – 18:00
Visit of Geneva's art scene
Musée de la Croix-Rouge
The Humanitarian Adventure — a unique experience to discover the world of humanitarian action and gain a deeper understanding of its history and current challenges, with a guided visit through the Red Cross’ permanent exhibition.
Le Plaza Centre Cinéma
A rare visit to one of Geneva’s most ambitious cultural redevelopment projects. Guided by the President of Le Plaza, explore the site ahead of its public opening and gain firsthand insight into the vision
driving this landmark project. Please note that the venue is not accessible for people with reduced mobility.
Quartier des Bains
The Quartier des Bains Contemporary Art Association brings together 22 cultural entities (galleries, institutions, art spaces). Its aim is to promote and enhance the visibility of contemporary art and culture within the Quartier des Bains, in Geneva and
beyond. Discover a selection of its galleries through a guided tour. Some galleries may not be accessible for people with reduced mobility.
Museum of Ethnography tour
Through a guided tour of its permanent and temporary exhibits, discover the MEG (Museum of Ethnography), one of Geneva’s vibrant museums that addresses global social and environmental issues, with a focus on decolonisation, collaboration, and sustainability.
Mirabaud Collection of Contemporary Art (Private Bank)
The Mirabaud Group is pleased to invite you to discover a part of its Contemporary Art Collection, exhibited at its headquarters in Geneva. Through painting, photography, and sculpture, the collection embodies the signature of a bold institution that
transcends the ages while keeping an eye on the future.
Dreamscapes – A Screening Programme by HEAD – Genève
"Dreamscapes" offers a curated program of standout short films from the Cinema Department at HEAD where fiction, documentary, and animation intertwine in unexpected and powerful ways. With over 1,000 international festival selections and numerous awards
each year, the diploma and workshop films from the Cinema Department at HEAD – Geneva embody a bold, diverse, and socially engaged cinematic vision.
18:30 – 23:00
Dinner at Grand Théâtre de Genève
Enjoy a seated dinner at the marvellous Grand Théâtre de Genève, where you will dine under the rich décor of the foyers and be warmly welcomed by an enchanting performance from Ensemble Antarès.
08:30 – 09:30
Registrations open
The Backstage Conversation Room
(optional)
09:30 – 11:00
Breakout session 3
Fundraising as strategic vision: Securing support in challenging times and building resilience for organisational development (theory + discussion)
Leticia Labaronne, Professor and Head of the Center for Arts Management at the ZHAW (Zurich University of Applied Sciences) School of Management and Law. A former ballet dancer, she wrote a doctoral dissertation on evaluating performing arts institutions
and focuses on cultural policy, fundraising as well as evaluation in the nonprofit and arts sector.
Collaborations with partner institutions in countries at war (case studies + discussion)
Featuring a talk by Henry Redwood, senior lecturer in War Studies at King's College London. His research explores the intersections of conflict, trauma, archives, and the arts, with a particular focus on participatory and arts-based methodologies in post-conflict and war-affected settings.Followed by a presentation from the UAx platform.
Enhancing student engagment (workshop)
Anna, Louise, Phoebe and Thomas (the Hives Collective) gather weekly for their new role-playing game, The Swarming. They shed their own personas, embodying new characters inspired by their personal experiences and research as student artists. Facing anomalous situations, they organise together and build usable tools for collaborative mobilisation. Today, the Hives Collective invites you to join them to play and learn together.
NASA problem solving: Challenge your collective intelligence (workshop)
Presented by Annette Birkholz. If you think you are a brilliant thinker, challenge the collective brain of your community by solving a NASA case. You will find that in 95% of cases, collective intelligence
produces better results than even the highest-performing individual thinkers.
Health and wellbeing in higher education: From institutional systems to cultures of care (case study + solution lab)
Jeff Schwartz (Ringling College of Art and Design) and Noor Khader (TU Braunschweig) explore institutional wellbeing from two complementary angles: structured systems of student support and the subtler, often unacknowledged ecologies of care that shape academic life. The session begins with a case study of integrated services at Ringling College, highlighting practical strategies for addressing learning challenges, neurodivergence, and student wellness. It then shifts into a reflective solution lab that reimagines wellbeing beyond policy, moving from professionalism as armour toward vulnerability as a shared resource. Through narratives, interactive prompts, and dialogue, participants will consider how institutions can cultivate further resilience, relational awareness, and authentic collaborative connection among staff and students.
11:00 – 11:30
Coffee break
11:30 – 13:00
Keynote by Christopher Bailey: Hope as a Creative Act |HYBRID|
In this summary keynote, Christopher Bailey will reflect on the cumulative sessions of the symposium in the context the neurology and evolutionary biology of creativity as a coping and trascendence strategy.
Official closing
13:00 – 14:15
Farewell lunch
14:30 – 15:30
The Backstage Conversation Room
(optional)
14:15 – 17:00
Excursion to Palais des Nations
(optional)
Step into the heart of Geneva’s international diplomacy with an exclusive guided tour of the Palais des Nations. Explore iconic spaces like the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilisations Room, the UN Museum, and
the grand Assembly Hall, while learning about the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the workings of international conferences. Please note that entry requires a valid ID card or passport.
Visit to CERN Science Gateway
(optional)
Enjoy a visit of the CERN Science Gateway, the new public education and outreach centre where visitors can explore science through authentic and innovative experiences. Located near CERN’s facilities, detectors,
and teams, it offers a unique journey into the heart of research at CERN — the world’s largest particle physics laboratory, known for its collaborative spirit and inclusive leadership.
18:00 – 20:00
Dinner at Bains des Pâquis
(optional and at participants’ own expense – usually around 30 CHF per person + drinks)
Enjoy a pre-dinner walk on Geneva’s lakeside and dinner at the iconic Bains des Pâquis, where you can taste delicious Swiss fondue by the lake.
The Office for the Use of Mistakes and Coincidences
A performative installation and an artistic intervention by Hoernemann&Walbrodt. Coincidentally passing partcipants give one of their mistakes to the artists at the office. Using typewriters, stamps, gold leaf,
pens, paints and various other materials H&W co-create unique artefacts. Finally, the certificate for the mistakes is read aloud and ceremoniously handed over.
