| PIE Annual Meeting 2025 Programme |
Main venue: Seu Llotja Sant Gervasi 10:00 – 12:00
Optional activities
Meeting point: main entrance of Llotja Sant Gervasi at 10:00, tour of park at 11:30 10:00 – 15:00
Registrations openVenue: main entrance 14:00 – 14:45
Institutional speed dating with coffeeVenue: main entrance 15:00 – 16:30
Official openingVenue: Hemicycle
Felip Vidal Auladell, Dean and Jordi Guillemí Basté, International Coordinator
16:30 – 17:00
Coffee breakVenue: Hemicycle 17:00 – 18:15
Plenary presentation + discussionVenue: Hemicycle Urban regeneration through participatory arts Mahmoud Saleh Mohammadi, Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, Belgium This presentation explores the transformative role of participatory arts in fostering inclusion and dialogue within marginalised communities. Drawing from cross-cultural projects and collaborative methodologies, it examines how art can bridge divides, amplify underrepresented voices, and inspire long-term social impact. Through case studies of site-specific installations and community-driven artistic initiatives, it highlights the potential of adaptable artistic practices in addressing themes of displacement, cultural identity, and social justice. By critically reflecting on the intersection of internationalisation and equity, this presentation underscores the arts as a powerful catalyst for societal change. The (international) Nomadic School of Arts Frauke Velghe, KASK & Conservatorium, HOGENT, Belgium The Nomadic School of Arts (NSA) was a 1.5-year project by KASK & Conservatorium, rethinking art education through interdisciplinarity, interculturality, and inclusivity. Inspired by nomadic thinking, NSA fostered fluid learning environments that break traditional structures, enhancing adaptability for students and educators. Built on three pillars—Off-campus Education, Diversity & Inclusiveness, and Modular Education—NSA encouraged experimentation with nomadic methods to reshape institutional learning. By challenging conventional academia, it sparked discussions on embedding sustainable, dynamic, and accessible approaches in art education. Join a discussion on how nomadic principles can be embedded into the fabric of art education, making it a sustainable, adaptable model for the future. 18:15 – 19:00
Trip to Dipòsit del Rei Martí19:00
Welcome to Barcelona District – ESMUC ConcertVenue: Dipòsit del Rei Martí 19:45
DinnerVenue: Dipòsit del Rei Martí Main venue: D-Hub (Design Museum of Barcelona) 09:00 – 10:00
RegistrationVenue: main entrance 10:00 – 11:30
Plenary presentation + discussionVenue: Foyer The international community and all the mistakes we made Cor Groenenberg, Minerva Art Academy, the Netherlands This session offers a critical reflection on the journey of Minerva Art Academy, which hosts a diverse student body representing 50 nationalities. While transitioning to an English-taught, internationally oriented curriculum, unexpected challenges emerged—impacting the community, curriculum, staff, and institutional structures. An international setting alone does not guarantee diversity or inclusivity, especially in art education’s exclusive landscape. Participants will explore accessibility, integration, and sustainable internationalisation policies, drawing on PIE experiences. Through a critical yet constructive debate, the session aims to celebrate international art education—where both foreign and domestic students are equally recognised as part of a truly global learning environment. Who is your boss, what is your mandate and where are you located in your institution? Florence Balthasar, Zurich University of the Arts, Switzerland Based on the example of Zurich University of the Arts, this contribution will explore organisational structures and how they impact the strategy and implementation and, consequently, the added value of internationalisation in higher arts education. All PIE members work in 'international affairs' within their institutions, yet the exact mandate and positioning of their teams within the institution varies. The aim of this contribution is to spark an open exchange on the organisational structures that can best foster the added value of internationalisation. 11:30 – 12:00
Coffee breakVenue: Foyer 12:00 – 13:00
Parallel sessionsBirgit Haasen, Merz Akademie, University of Applied Arts, Design and Media Stuttgart, Germany At Merz Akademie, a non-profit university of applied arts, design, and media, internationalisation is seamlessly integrated into the curriculum through intensive one-week workshops and year-long guest professorships. This presentation explores how these initiatives foster creative excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and transformative learning. Gwen Farrelly, National College of Art and Design (NCAD), Ireland Art and Design pedagogies are student-centric, based on experiential learning, innovation, and project-based approaches, often engaging with communities and industry partners. In this participatory workshop session, we will gather insights from participants at leading international HEIs for art and design on the impacts they see through art and design in the context of internationalisation. The goal is to collect examples and case studies from PIE member organisations, which will then be shared with broader higher education communities worldwide. Ildiko Feher, Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Hungary In 2019, EU4ART was formed, an alliance of four European universities of fine arts: Academia di Belle Arti di Roma, Hochschule für Bildende Künste Dresden, Latvijas Makslas Akademija Riga, and the Hungarian University of Fine Arts. The aim of the alliance is to offer students a joint education to study fine arts on transnational campuses. The four universities also have a common Quality Assurance System based on the ESG 2015 (Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education). This presentation will focus on how the alliance has evaluated the quality of the joint education system between students and teachers from the four countries. Dušanka Jelenković Vidović, Norwegian Academy of Music, Norway Núria Sempere Comas & Àngels Llorens Garcia, Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (ESMUC), Spain How can a European University Alliance lead to institutional transformation through focused, innovative, transnational collaboration? By uniting eight universities in music and arts across Europe, IN.TUNE Alliance addresses challenges such as evolving professional landscapes, technological advancements, and societal shifts. Through stakeholder-inclusive initiatives like professional development programmes, joint curricular innovation scheme, and seamless mobility frameworks, the alliance reimagines art pedagogy and fosters sustainable institutional transformation. This presentation offers practical insights and strategies for empowering art schools to integrate internationalisation into their core strategies, delivering long-term benefits, and positions IN.TUNE as a visionary model of best practice in sustainable transnational collaboration. Thomas Greenough, The Glasgow School of Art, United Kingdom How to align the Hidden Curriculum with Internationalisation Goals? Explore practical strategies for fostering a globally-minded hidden curriculum. What concrete steps can educators and institutions take? 13:00 – 14:30
LunchVenue: Espai Cub 14:30 – 16:30
Parallel workshopsYana Dimitrova, LUCA School of Arts, Belgium Brooke Berndtson, Parsons Paris – The New School, France This interactive workshop explores how collaborative art processes can foster intercultural community building in higher education settings. Participants will engage with key concepts of intercultural competence and the social-emotional skills often hidden in international arts education. Art can serve as an exercise in cultural humility, perspective-taking, and empathy while navigating diverse realities. Through activities like co-creating community agreements and examining identity, power, and cultural norms, participants will gain actionable tools for fostering inclusive multicultural communities through art. Ingrid Grünwald, Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, the Netherlands Ingrid Grünwald’s Beyond Language research explores the role of English as a bridging language in art education. Through two years of artistic inquiry and six years of empirical study within her English Clubs, she examines how language shapes perception, communication, and connection in an international academy. Her work addresses issues such as listening skills, the use of non-standard language (pidgin), and the dynamics of closed and open networks. As she seeks to continue her research on English as a bridging language and disseminate her findings in the Graphic Design Curriculum of her department, she is looking for grassroots initiatives in other academies addressing language use in art education. Christine Saalfeld, AKV St. Joost, the Netherlands This workshop explores how visual storytelling can drive internationalisation and foster intercultural exchange in academic settings. Using creative methods, participants will uncover the hidden dimensions of internationalisation and develop actionable strategies for future projects. The workshop integrates drawing exercises and group work to create "invisible path" narratives, which are later reinterpreted from various perspectives. Participants will develop concrete solutions and strategies for improving intercultural communication and collaboration. The session will conclude with presentations and reflections on how to apply the ideas and strategies to real-life academic scenarios, fostering a more inclusive and interconnected learning environment. 16:30 – 18:00
Coffee break & poster presentationsVenue: Foyer Isabelle Kaiser, Ecole Européenne Supérieure d'art de Bretagne (EESAB) | Bénédicte Mahé, Ecole des Beaux Arts de Paris | Jacquel-Blanc, Ecole Supérieure d'Art et Médias (ESAM) Caen / Cherbourg, France This presentation examines the impact of international mobility on the careers of graduates from French and francophone Belgian art schools. Through a survey of graduates from the past five years, the study investigates who pursued mobility during their studies and whether they moved abroad again after graduation. It explores factors such as background, access to mobility, funding, and hidden benefits gained. The presentation will outline the survey methodology, analyse key findings, and highlight international post-graduate opportunities. Concluding with an open discussion, it invites reflection on the role of mobility in professionalisation and internationalisation within art education. Inge Eller, Ecole Supérieure d'Art et Design Saint-Etienne (ESADSE), France This presentation explores the impact of the Digital Tools for Creative Collaboration project, a two-year Erasmus+ initiative led by ESADSE in partnership with the Estonian Academy of Arts and Hochschule für Gestaltung Schwäbisch-Gmünd, with BEDA as an associated partner. Emerging from the disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic, the project critically examined digital tools in art and design education, questioning their influence on creative processes, pedagogy, and professional practices. By integrating diverse approaches—including hacking, tinkering, and both proprietary and open-source software—the project fostered new pedagogical perspectives and enriched international collaboration. The presentation reflects on key insights and evolving methodologies in post-pandemic creative education. Valerie Marfo, University of the Arts London, United Kingdom The African Beauty Business School (ABBS) revolutionises beauty education by integrating entrepreneurship, science, management, technology, and sustainability. To address Africa’s untapped potential, ABBS broadens students’ perspectives through transformative learning experiences and global collaborations. This presentation explores the role of internationalisation in creating equitable opportunities, promoting institutional cooperation, and transforming lives. With a focus on inclusivity, well-being, and cross-disciplinary learning, we’ll examine how the beauty industry can inspire change across agriculture, medicine, science and technology, business, and beyond. Stefan Askew, Saint-Luc Liège School of Art and Design, Belgium Blended intensive programmes (BIPs) can be a powerful tool for promoting internationalisation in art schools. Drawing from various experiences of implementing BIPs—both as host and organising institutions—this presentation highlights the benefits of BIPs: inclusion, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, and the development of soft skills. Implementing a BIP can be challenging, so understanding the intricacies of the (Erasmus) programme is crucial. Aligning pedagogical objectives with administrative and organisational constraints is key. International officers play a vital role in this process and must be creative and versatile in their approach. Lúa Coderch, BAU College of Arts and Design Barcelona, Spain The European project DESIGNMATTERS, funded under the 2024 Erasmus+ program, aims to innovate doctoral education in art and design by promoting inclusion, diversity, and innovation. It seeks to establish shared methods for PhD programs across Europe, addressing inequality in higher education. The project fosters collaboration between academia, civil society, and local communities, bridging research with real-world needs. Adopting an intersectional approach, it aims to implement inclusive PhD practices and challenge discrimination. DESIGNMATTERS also facilitates connections and best practices across countries, enhancing art and design education’s societal impact and fostering inclusive solutions for Europe’s pressing challenges. Ludovica Matarozzo, Lucas Wild, Beaux-Arts de Marseille – INSEAMM, France This session explores multilingualism and accessibility in art education through the lens of the PiSourd.e programme at the Beaux-Arts de Marseille—the only nationally funded initiative in France supporting Deaf and hard of hearing students in higher arts education. Since 2005, the programme has implemented tailored pedagogical tools and inclusive strategies, positioning sign language not as a marker of disability, but as a vehicle for artistic creation and multilingual expression. International collaborations—with institutions in South Korea, the United States, and across Europe—will also be highlighted. 18:00 – 19:00
Exhibitions at D-Hub19:00 - 20:30
DinnerVenue: Foyer Main venue: Seu Llotja Sant Andreu 10:00 – 12:00
Open session (incl. coffee)Venue: Seu Llotja Sant Andreu The Open Space is a methodology of running gatherings where participants create the agenda. Participants will be encouraged to propose topics that they would like to talk about.
12:00 – 13:00
Official closingVenue: NAU U 13:00 – 15:00
Paella lunchVenue: Espai Olivera 15:00 – 16:00
Visit to Sant AndreuOptionalVenue: Seu Llotja Sant Andreu 19:00
The 250th contemporary Llotja exhibition at Villa del ArteOptionalVenue: Villa del Arte, Passeig de Gràcia 38 Artists: Jaume Plensa – Madola – Núria Guinovart – Noemí Palacios – Albert Espona – Lluís Cera – Annalù Boeretto – Isao Artigas – Roger Coll - Miquel Aparici Find out more> |
