Nicoline Loeper: the architect of independently-minded AKI
- Fine Art
- Design
For Nicoline Loeper, a good art academy can be compared to a well-built house: "In a good building, the details match the whole: you can tell that even the door handle has had thought put into it. And that's how I see education, too: the details contribute to the whole". Since September, Nicoline has been the director of AKI ArtEZ Academy of Art & Design in Enschede. How does the new director see her role and the future of AKI? And how did Nicoline, who trained as an architect, end up in education? Nicoline talks about it in the brand-new edition of the podcast series Het Keukentafelgesprek.
administrator. What is the work of an administrator like? What do they talk about after a long day's work? This time it was Nicoline Loeper's turn to tell her story, along with her special sidekick: Crossmedia Design alumnus Nicole Schyns.
Doctor, artist or... architect?
Some people know what they want to do when they grow up even as children: astronaut, pop star, teacher – or politician, perhaps. That's how it was for Nicoline: she knew what she wanted to be from quite a young age. Was that to be the director of AKI? "Ha! No, not quite! Actually I wanted to be a doctor like my father. But my mother was an artist. So I chose something which to me lies exactly halfway between the two: architect!”, explains Nicole laughing. "And then via architecture I somehow ended up in education."
Education with firm foundations
But how does an architect end up in education? For Nicoline, it was a fairly smooth and natural progression. She believes working in education is comparable to working as an architect. "I really do believe you can compare education with building a house. Like an academy of art, a house absolutely has to meet its residents' needs, but it must also be strong and robust. The architect and education are also both subject to requirements, standards that the house – or the academy – must meet. When you build a house, you want it to look good, but on the other hand you also want the light switches to work! And that's how I see education, too: the details are just as important as the whole", explains Nicoline enthusiastically.
I really do believe you can compare education with building a house. Like an academy of art, a house absolutely has to meet its residents' needs, but it must also be strong and robust."
Enschede: city of art and technology
Nicoline didn't have to think for long when deciding whether to accept the post of director at AKI. The architect, who was born and bred in Almelo, had been familiar with AKI from a young age. And the fact that the academy is based in Enschede makes it even more interesting for Nicoline. Nicoline: “Enschede is the only city in the Netherlands that has both a technical university and an academy of art. I see so much potential in that! What's more, as an architect, I love technology as much as I love art. I also think that Enschede has a lot more potential than people think. I really want to bring out that potential."
Enterprising and self-reliant students
What did Nicoline enjoy most about her own course that she is now bringing to her role as director? This is what Crossmedia Design alumnus Nicole Schyns is curious to know. Nicole has barely asked the question when Nicoline responds: "that's a really great question!" She briefly ponders, then continues: "The best moment for me was when I took control of my own course. Because for the longest time, I did what was expected of me. Then at a certain point I thought: I don't have to! Looking back, I wish I'd had that realisation much earlier. So I think it's very important that, as soon as young people start studying, they take control as quickly as possible, are given responsibility for what they do with their course and dare to think big! I always have that in the back of my mind in my work as director of AKI.”
AKI: an independently-minded art academy with an experimental edge
At the moment, Nicoline is still primarily focused on the internal culture of AKI. "I think that's where my most important work lies for now. But I hope to also direct my efforts outwards too. I aim to improve our connection with other regional institutions, such as Twente University, Saxion and the local authority. That's very high on my list of priorities!" But, Nicoline stresses, she will also maintain her focus on supporting and stimulating autonomous art. “If you only ever approach art in terms of cross overs , it soon becomes a means to achieving something else. So I'm really looking to strike a balance between autonomous art and applied art in my work and at AKI."
AKI has always had a reputation, and created a reputation, of being independently-minded and having quality. I think those are great, important values."
Although Nicoline hasn't been director of AKI for very long, she already has a good idea of where she would like to be in five years' time. "AKI has always had a reputation, and created a reputation, of being independently-minded and having quality. I think those are great, important values: being independently-minded and having quality. In five years' time, I would love AKI to embody those values even more, to be financially healthy and to have social safety completely in order. To be, even more, an art academy with an experimental edge!"
Listen to Het Keukentafelgesprek with Nicoline
This story is based on an edition of the podcast “Het Keukentafelgesprek”, in which hosts Willem-Jan Velderman and Tom Morssink talk to different administrators. You can listen to it on streaming services including Spotify and Apple Music.
About the ArtEZ AKI Academy of Art & Design
The ArtEZ AKI Academy of Art & Design is an autonomous, small-scale and complete art academy. AKI ArtEZ offers three bachelor’s courses in the area of design and visual art. At AKI, the emphasis is on autonomous thinking, with the role of structures, norms and control systems being minimised as far as possible in the education. It's about you; the courses are there to support you in refining your ambitions, developing your talent and professionalising your competencies.
