Art & Design
Merel Tuitert, Fine Art and Design in Education Arnhem
“I think you shouldn't be afraid of not being good enough as a maker. It's okay to take risks. If you want to do the course, do it. Dare. It doesn't matter if everything doesn't work out right away: on this course, you get the chance to learn. Plus, you're not alone – I met so many great people that I feel very close to. That's a really valuable feature of the course.”
Luka Knez, Crossmedia Design
“Above all, have confidence in your own development. There is a lot of room within the course to chart your own path. I see that as a great advantage. But at the beginning of the program, the freedom of choice made me uncertain at times. With the help of teachers, I have been able to find my place in the creative field more and more. So, to first-years, I would say: you have four years to grow. Take that time and trust that it will be okay.”
Bibi Anker, Comic Design
Bibi has a tip for students that want to start their own business: develop yourself first. She explains: “When you go to art school, it is important that you start making autonomous work. The first two years of the course are a unique period in which you are given time to discover a lot about yourself and your creative process. So don't think about what will and won't sell. You need that autonomous basis. Focus on your academy work first.”
Music
Sam de Laat, Academy of Pop Music
“Go into it with an open mind. Although I knew nothing about Enschede before I moved here, I got pleasantly surprised. What I found here at the ArtEZ Academy of Music was a close-knit community of progressive, modern musicians. Due to the small scale of the school, the students here are quite reliant on each other, not only socially but also in the creative process. I have met my band members here, and whereas they used to be alongside me as the front person, they are now an indispensable link in what Droom Dit (the name of our band) does. I have been able to let them into something that is very personal to me.”
Camilo Bastidas, Jazz & Pop Arnhem
“If music is your dream, go for it with everything you've got! Before I started, I had no knowledge of music theory, I had never been to the Netherlands, and I was actually planning to become a veterinarian. Yet, there was something inside me that said: just try it, enroll in a music course, and see how far you can get. Because that was my real dream: to become an artist. I wanted this so badly that I invested all my time and energy into mastering theoretical skills like reading and writing music notation. Now, a few years later, I get to represent ArtEZ at the Conservatory Awards.”
Lucas, Music in Education Zwolle
“Embrace the versatility of a teaching degree. I organized my final exam concert and album release at the Hedon music venue together with my classmates and bandmates; from recording and mixing the album to arranging for a 17-piece live ensemble. This also included selling tickets and managing all the logistical challenges. That’s where I see the added value of a teaching degree. I’ve learned how to lead and bring structure to chaos—skills you can apply in the classroom, but also in a large stage production like ours.”
Theatre & Dance
Naomi Schouten, Dance Artist
“Follow your passion, stay true to yourself and develop your creative personality. As a dancer it is important to have a strong, individual identity on stage. In the bachelor’s course you are encouraged to develop this identity.”
Read Naomi's story
Liza Bukina, Artisteducator in Theatre & Media
During her studies, Liza learned to be both a creator and a teacher. Her advice for future students is to be open to the freedom you get in the course. "Creativity is key. Whatever comes to mind, do it immediately! It sounds simpler than it is, but if you follow your creative impulses right away, you'll always end up in great places."
Read Liza's story
Mark Kunst, Artisteducator in Dance
"Find your own place," advises Mark. "Do something that makes you happy. Only then can you study something with joy for years to come."