Gerrit Rietveld Academie (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

The Gerrit Rietveld Academie is a university for applied science offering programmes in Art and Design at both bachelor and master level. Based in Amsterdam the academy has approx 850 students (BA: 700, MA: 150) of which about 70% is non-Dutch representing 50+ nationalities. The academy offers small scale high intensity programmes in a broad range of subjects taught by professionals with active practices in the fields of art and design. The academy has a staff of approx 200 teachers and several hundred guest teachers.

Programmes offered by the academy cover the entire field of art & design. The four year bachelor programme has specialisations such as: audio visual, architecture, photography, graphic design, fashion, jewellery, textile, writing, ceramics, glass and fine art. The two year master’s programmes provide a platform to artists and designers, either giving room to the development of a professional practice or within a research oriented scope based in one of the temporary programmes.

The academy actively promotes cooperation with parties outside of the academy such as businesses, municipalities, art spaces, magazines and museums challenging students to engage with society. Alumni of the academy move on to become practitioners in art & design taking an independent stance and thus shaping the future of their discipline.

The academy has a long tradition in international cooperation and exchange. In 1990 the academy was one of the founding members of Aias, the Association of Independent Art & Design Schools. Throughout its existence Aias endeavoured to strengthen the position of art schools in higher education. The academy maintains a large number of bilateral relations with its international peers. Resulting in student mobility (within and outside the Erasmus+ framework) and a broad range of international projects (publications, exhibitions, joint programmes).