The writer as connector, researcher and maker

The writing world is changing. Where writers were once seen as solitary geniuses, they are now increasingly regarded as makers within broader networks: researchers, storytellers who engage not only with fiction but also with the world around them. This shift calls for a new approach to writing education. And that is exactly what our international master’s programme Creative Writing responds to.

What makes this master’s programme unique is the collaboration between three leading European writing schools: ArtEZ University of the Arts (the Netherlands), Escuela de Escritores (Spain) and Scuola Holden (Italy). Frank Tazelaar, one of the founders of the programme and director of the literary production house Wintertuin, stresses the importance of this:
"We read in an international context, but young writers often lack a natural European context for their work. This master’s programme provides that space. It brings together students from different countries and creates a platform for deep dialogue and collaboration."

Writer and programme coordinator Hanan Faour adds: "Each school has its own expertise and cultural background. Through collaboration, you learn to look at writing and authorship in a different way. That exchange makes this programme so valuable."

This master’s is about much more than developing writing skills. Students are challenged to conduct critical narrative research: to analyse their own work, the position of the writer, and the social impact of stories.

Frank explains: "In the Netherlands there is little tradition of research within literature. In the English-speaking world it’s different. We want to add a new layer, in which the writer becomes part of the research. Why do you write the way you do? How does your work relate to the world? These are the central questions."

Hanan adds: "Writing itself is research. By continuously creating and reflecting, new material comes into being. That process is at least as meaningful as the end result."

Three times a year, students take part in residencies in Arnhem, Madrid or Turin. These are not simple excursions but a fundamental part of the programme. Writers immerse themselves in the cultural, historical and political context of each location and develop work that reflects on it.

Hanan: "Writers are encouraged to build a relationship with the place they are in. It’s not just about attending classes, but about creating work that enters into dialogue with the surroundings and the community."

Frank: "We work with urgent themes: migration, colonial histories, shifting identities. These are stories that must be told. Writers play an essential part in bringing them to light."

This master’s programme is for writers who want to look beyond their own work. Whether you have just graduated, are already working professionally, or come from another artistic discipline, the programme is open to anyone eager to do critical research, deepen their practice, and connect with other writers and perspectives.

Frank: "Writers are increasingly seen as bridge builders – not only makers, but also translators, researchers, strategists. Their role in society is becoming more diverse, and this master’s reflects that development."

Hanan: "We want to educate writers who are not afraid of change, but curious about it. Who don’t shy away from new technologies or social developments, but embrace and explore them. This is not a master’s for the lonely writer locked in their room, but for the writer who seeks dialogue and wants to make an impact."

What do Frank and Hanan hope this master’s will achieve? A generation of writers who not only create stories, but also reshape the way we think about storytelling.

Frank: "A Spanish colleague said recently: we must stop writing dystopias, because they validate the current political reality. We need new utopias. This programme can help us find them."