Mission and vision

We educate professional artists and teachers who are deeply engaged with society, and we conduct research into their fields of practice.
We offer a learning environment in which our students develop their own voice: critical, curious and connected to the world around them. We believe in the art of education and the education of art. Art and education both have the power to guide people towards a more meaningful and better life; as artists, as students, and as human beings.

At Artez, art is given space to be significant to others; for individuals, groups and organisations. ArtEZ feels a shared responsibility for an inspiring and stimulating cultural environment as well as for the cultural infrastructure in the eastern Netherlands, in particular its locations in Arnhem, Enschede and Zwolle.  

Art education always moves between two worlds: that of social questions and that of artistic autonomy. The outside world sometimes asks for quick answers or practical solutions. Yet the true strength of art lies in developing your own vision and voice. At ArtEZ, we believe that real innovation can only emerge when students have the freedom to explore who they are and to follow their own path. It is within this field of tension, between relevance and autonomy, that our education takes place.

Your voice, your ideas and your creativity make a difference.

We want our students to learn to make their own independent choices about their personal development and well-being. We have created a vision for our students’ well-being, as well as for the education we offer. We want students to feel confident, strong and able to grow in a safe environment. We talked to our students and staff to find out what we need to do to make that a reality, and used the insights from those conversations to develop a vision that complements the National Framework for Student Well-being.