Prepare well

Would you like to start a programme at the ArtEZ Academy of Art & Design Zwolle?

Visit one of our open days to experience the atmosphere at the academy for yourself. You can speak with lecturers and students, have your portfolio reviewed, attend information sessions, ask questions at the Student Information Point (STIP), and explore the classrooms and student work.

Get inspired

To prepare well, it helps to start exploring art and design. Visit exhibitions and browse platforms such as MetropolisM, Kunstbeeld, Frame, DAMn and Dezeen.

Each year you can also visit the academy’s ArtEZ finals exhibition. This usually takes place in June or July and presents the work that fourth-year students created for their graduation.

Portfolio

For your portfolio, we ask you to bring examples of your own work. This should be a selection of work you have created during secondary school or a preparatory course, assignments you made for others, and work you created independently.

Take time to develop work in different media. If you want to know what is expected, or whether your portfolio is strong enough, you can bring it to the open day. Students will be happy to look at it with you and give you tips.

Tips for your portfolio

• Show a range of work, such as comics, sketches, drawings, graphic novels, storyboards, animations or short picture stories. It does not have to be perfect – we are mainly interested in your ideas and approach.
• Include work you have created yourself. This could be a comic strip you drew in your spare time, a character you created yourself or a picture story about something that is on your mind.
• Also show the process. Show drafts, notes or intermediate steps. What went well? What would you do differently? This will help us to understand your way of working.
• Practise observational drawing. Observational drawings are an important part of the programme. For example, you could draw people on the train, on the street or at home. Make a habit of drawing something every day.
• Present your work clearly. Make sure it is easy to view digitally. Combine image and text if necessary. Submit your portfolio preferably as a PDF or use a clear website or link.

At our open days, you can have your portfolio reviewed and receive tips from lecturers and students before submitting it.