Melanie breathes new life into glassblowing
Three years ago, ArtEZ alumnus Melanie Groote (24) first experimented with glassblowing while studying Product Design. Now she lives in a small village in Sweden, studies full-time at a glassblowing school and is determined to put the craft back on the map in the Netherlands. What brought her to this remote Swedish workshop, and what makes this craft so special?
The art of glassblowing seems to be slowly disappearing, but not for Melanie Groote. She can already envision the future entirely: her own glassblowing studio to maintain the craft and enthuse a new generation about it. Now that, with the help of the VSBfonds Scholarship, she is taking a professional glassblowing course at the Riksglasskolan in Nybro, a small village in southern Sweden, that dream of the future is one step closer.
In love with the material
The first time Melanie stood in front of a glass furnace, three years ago, she immediately knew she had found her craft. Two lecturers from the Product Design program at the Academy of Art & Design Arnhem organized trips abroad to explore various crafts. ‘I decided to take part in a workshop at a glassblowing factory in Sweden and instantly fell in love with the material and the atmosphere.’
Since then, she has continued to immerse herself in the profession: she interned with a Dutch glassblower, and when she graduated in 2023, she incorporated glass into her graduation project.
So the decision to move to Sweden wasn’t a difficult one. ‘My internship was very educational, but I was mainly assisting and observing. Here, I get to blow glass every day, and that’s exactly what I wanted. Without the VSBfonds Scholarship, which I discovered online, this wouldn’t have been possible. I wouldn’t have been able to fund this study on my own. The support from the VSBfonds makes a huge difference.’
Continuing her studies in the Netherlands wasn’t an option either. ‘There hasn’t been a glassblowing program here for years. You can apprentice with a glassblower, but you’ll spend far fewer hours at the furnace.’
In Nybro, she has the opportunity to truly build her skills step by step. ‘For example, we spent an entire week practicing how to blow a bubble into the glass with a pipe. Before, that was mostly a matter of luck, but here I have the time to learn the proper technique and really develop a feel for working with glass.’
Instant connection
Before packing her bags and heading north, Melanie visited several schools across Europe. ‘I immediately felt a connection here in Sweden. There’s a strong sense of community, and the students gave me such a warm welcome. When I started practicing, they came over right away to give tips, and afterward, we’d grab a drink together in the village. It felt like we’d already known each other for a while.’
Now that she lives in Nybro, she spends a lot of time with her fellow students. ‘One of the few facilities here is a bowling alley, and we’re there nearly every weekend. When the days were longer, we spent more time outside playing sports. Now that it’s often dark, we’ve switched to game nights and movie evenings. In a small village like this, we really try to make the most of it together. I really enjoy that sense of togetherness.’
A nerve-racking process
Applying for the scholarship was a bit nerve-racking at first, Melanie admits. ‘I wasn’t sure if I would be eligible, or whether the course would meet all the requirements. But the VSBfonds team immediately stepped in to see what was possible. They make the application process very accessible. You can always email them, and they’re very solution-oriented. In the end, everything went smoothly.’
Does she have any tips for other students considering a scholarship application? ‘Start early to keep the process as smooth as possible. And if you’re unsure, definitely get in touch with Barbara Heutink, the VSBfonds contact person at ArtEZ, or reach out to the VSBfonds directly. More is possible than you might think. And either way, it’s a valuable learning experience.’
Studying abroad with a scholarship
Are you about to graduate or have you recently graduated and do you have Dutch nationality or a demonstrable connection to the Netherlands? And would you like to pursue further studies, either within or outside the EU?
The application process for a VSBfonds Scholarship is accessible and well worth the effort. One in three applications is awarded a scholarship.
Do you have questions, doubts, or need help with your application? At ArtEZ, Barbara Heutink is your contact person for the VSBfonds Scholarship. She’s happy to help. Email her at b.heutink@artez.nl.
