Eva on Education in Arts: “I even thought for a moment: maybe I should become a professional activist”

The world was on fire. At least, that’s how it felt to Eva Krammer. She had been working in theatre for years as a maker, designer, teacher and director, but increasingly found herself wondering how she could combine her love of theatre with the social issues that concerned her. During the Master’s Education in Arts at ArtEZ, she found her answer.

Activist or theatre maker?

After years of working in the cultural sector, Eva increasingly began to question her role as a maker. So much was happening in the world that she started wondering where her energy was needed most. “I seriously thought: maybe I should become a professional activist. But then I also thought: I love theatre too much. So can I use theatre for something that has social relevance?” That question led her to the Master’s in Arts Education. “I really had no idea what it would look like. But looking back now, I almost think: how could I not have seen that this is where I would end up? It just felt like a perfect fit.”

The answer was closer than she thought

During the programme, Eva explored how art can contribute to addressing social issues. That search led her to a subject that was literally unfolding on her doorstep. In Amsterdam, she was seeing more and more people experiencing homelessness. At the same time, something personal was going on. “I have a brother who is struggling. If he hadn’t had a home, he might have ended up living on the streets too. That made me look at the people I saw differently. I thought: what do I actually know about them?” While working on her graduation project, she discovered that around a third of people experiencing homelessness are women. “I found that fascinating. The entire system around homelessness seemed to be designed for men. I wanted to know: who are these women?” Through De Regenboog Groep, she got in touch with several women and began collecting their stories.

“This is really about me”

One of the women Eva worked with was living on the streets and struggling with alcohol addiction. Based on their conversations, Eva wrote a monologue. Before she had even finished the text, the woman disappeared from the radar for several months. “No one knew where she was. Not even the shelter.” When she unexpectedly returned, Eva wondered whether the text was good enough to let her read. “I thought: who am I to write this story about her? Imagine reading something like this about yourself.” Still, she gave her the monologue. Two days later, the woman came back. “She said: ‘This is really about me. How did you manage to capture this so well?’” That moment changed the way Eva looked at art and education.

Art goes straight to the heart

Eva originally wanted to use the monologues to reach policymakers working on homelessness. “They wouldn’t get a policy document, but a real human being. Someone who moves you, someone who makes another person’s life tangible.”Although that ultimately didn’t happen, she did see the impact the stories had on the people who encountered them. “Art goes straight to your heart. A policy document doesn’t.”

For Eva, that is also at the heart of art education. “I see education as what you pass on to someone else. Not just knowledge, but also how you and the other person relate to each other. Art plays a special role in that. Because you’re not simply communicating something to someone; you meet somewhere in between.” The programme has permanently changed the way she works. “I feel much more autonomous in my work. The social issues that matter to me are much more present. That might sound subtle, but for me, it makes a world of difference.”

Why she recommends the Master’s

According to Eva, what makes the programme special is the freedom to find your own path. “I wanted to connect art with social engagement. Other students were doing completely different things. Everyone gave it their own shape.” Eva started the programme at the age of 55. So she knows better than anyone that people may hesitate about going back to studying. “If you’re wondering whether to do it: do it. Really. It’s the best gift you can give yourself. It’s an investment in yourself. Having the space not to know, to explore and to ask new questions. That really is a great gift.”

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