Entrepreneurship in Higher Arts Education
It is more relevant than ever for art students to develop the right entrepreneurial skills. Many students pursue a career as freelancers after graduation, making it essential for art programs to prepare them thoroughly for this path. For that reason, ArtEZ is committed to actively embedding (creative) entrepreneurship within art education.
ArtisticEntreComp
During the kick-off on November 13, ArtEZ launched the ArtisticEntreComp—a model for entrepreneurial skills designed to help art students take control of their futures. ArtEZ is the first art academy in the Netherlands to adapt this model specifically for the art education field, presenting it in an accessible format and language. ArtisticEntreComp is a visual guide for classroom discussions or group sessions, addressing critical considerations for starting a professional practice. It also offers a framework for (self-)evaluation, helping students assess their entrepreneurial skills.
Explore the 15 entrepreneurial competencies that empower students to prepare for their professional careers.
Tip: download the interactive PDF and then open the document with Adobe Acrobat. You'll find the Dutch version here.
Is the interactive PDF not working properly? Download the version above.
Community of Practice
Across the country, there are numerous examples of successful approaches to integrating entrepreneurship into art education. However, these best practices are rarely shared, a missed opportunity. To address this, ArtEZ, Amsterdam University of the Arts (AHK), and Utrecht University of the Arts (HKU) have joined forces, commissioned by the Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RvO), to establish a sustainable national network for higher arts education.
This network, known as the Community of Practice (COP), will meet twice a year, bringing together educators and administrators to exchange insights and experiences related to entrepreneurship in art education. The first COP kickoff took place on November 13, 2024.
Would you like to continue the conversation on this topic? Join the LinkedIn community for Entrepreneurship in Higher Arts Education here.
Workshop: Take hold of your future
Alongside the ArtisticEntreComp model, ArtEZ has developed an accessible workshop introducing the various entrepreneurial competencies. The Take Hold of Your Future workshop serves as a reflection tool. It is ideal for educators in entrepreneurship and academic advisors who want to support students in developing their entrepreneurial skills. Offered as a train-the-trainer workshop, we are eager to kickstart this program with your department.
In addition to this workshop, we will soon launch a questionnaire to help measure students' levels across different entrepreneurial competencies.
If you're interested, please email us at abc@artez.nl.
Starting strong
The ArtEZ Business Centre supports students in developing essential entrepreneurial skills needed for professional growth in the cultural sector. One of its key focuses is helping students transition smoothly from academic life to a career in the creative industry. Through three impactful initiatives - the Voucher, Starter Café, and Starters Programme - ArtEZ provides young creatives with a solid foundation for their careers.
The voucher offers financial support, the Starters Programme provides training and mentorship, and the Starter Café fosters networking, knowledge exchange, and funding opportunities. With this integrated approach, the ArtEZ Business Centre equips students and alums with the practical tools, knowledge, and connections they need to launch and thrive in their fields.
*ArtisticEntreComp is an adaptation of the European entrepreneurship competence framework, EntreComp: Bacigalupo, M., Kampylis, P., Punie, Y., Van den Brande, G. (2016). EntreComp: The Entrepreneurship Competence Framework. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union; EUR 27939 EN; doi:10.2791/593884.