To celebrate this special anniversary, several activities will be organised throughout the year. Starting with a party for students, (former) staff, alumni and relations. There will also be debate series, master classes, symposiums and exhibitions throughout the year for those interested. On 10 February, for instance, the opening of a special exhibition at the Bonnefantenmuseum, Between Art and Copy, will take place. On display there will be the rare plaster collection of the Maastricht Institute of Arts that originated when the Stadsteekenschool was founded: the Maastricht Academic Plaster Shop.
Art and dimensions
Art can move and enrich your life. Art can be thought-provoking, give a different view of the world. In this sense, art can also have practical significance for society. ‘Take the circular economy, for example,’ says Angenieta Kuijpers, director of the Maastricht Institute of Arts. 'Within Zuyd, that is an important topic, all kinds of programmes are working on it. Also our art programmes. Because even a circular product starts with a design - and in that, the artist plays a role.'
Art and morality
Anyone looking at the Maastricht Institute of Arts' anniversary programme will also come across master classes that deal with ecology, for example, or diversity. This points to the importance attached to artists' social commitment. American writer Patricia Highsmith once wrote: ‘Creative people do not pass moral judgments ... art essentially has nothing to do with morality, convention or moralising.' What does Angenieta Kuijpers think of that statement? 'An artist does not conform to what is, he looks with different eyes and glasses - independently and critically - at the reality that presents itself. In his art, he tries to relate to it in a certain way, to give it meaning. That need not be an immediate moral judgement.'
Art and tradition
When celebrating the 200th anniversary of an institute of fine art, the question may arise: is tradition important in art? The Academic Plaster Library Maastricht, on display at the Bonnefantenmuseum from 10 February, contains plaster heads, hands, animals and flowers.They are not original works of art, but copies of, for example, sculptures from ancient Greece.The idea was that by drawing them, students learned what the right proportions were, what ‘good art’ should look like.Visitors to the exhibition, by the way, can have a go themselves in that respect: pen and paper to redraw the plaster examples are at the ready.But art education looks different now. Angenieta Kuijpers: ‘Cultural history remains important, lessons in human and animal anatomy are still given, for instance at our Master Scientific Illustration, where scientific illustrators are trained. Walking into our workshops, you see looms, woodworking, ink and printing techniques.But also 3D printing and digital techniques.These are enriching, offering new possibilities.Artists can add quality in the broadest sense of the word.'
Valuable even in the year 2223
How does a 200-year-old institute look to the future?Kuijpers: ‘The focus of the visual arts is on the world. What is happening in that world around us? This can be about current themes: how do young people think about them?How do they look at the future?What dreams do they show us? Our students each want to explore their own authenticity and identity.They do this by making works of art, objects, pieces of clothing, and so on.This creates a close connection between the produced work and its maker.Our students are also curious by nature; they try to understand their surroundings and the world around them by studying it critically.This analytical ability results in wondrous solutions and visual translations. In short: our students are incredibly diverse and exceptional in the way they take a look at our society. With them, their personalities and their work are very close to each other.Above all, we want to bring the outside world, the professional field, inside.That is very important.'And if we look even further ahead, 200 years for example?What will the world look like then?Such a question is, of course, impossible to answer, yet Angenieta is adamant: ‘Art will always have a valuable place.’
Party at the Muziekgieterij, Maastricht
'Tussen Kunst en Kopie' (between Art and Copy): an exhibition of the Maastricht Institute of Arts' plaster collection at the Bonnefantenmuseum. These plaster casts are not original museum pieces but copies. The original sculptures come from ancient Greece, are ornaments from Dutch Gothic churches or they are 20th-century pieces of work by academy students. The collection was created with the establishment of the Maastricht art academy in 1823. The collection has developed over the past two centuries into a diverse and large collection.
As part of its 200th anniversary, Maastricht Institute of Arts presents 'The Citizens of Maastricht', in collaboration with Les Deux Garçons. Atelier Les Deux Garçons has been formed since 2000 by Michel Vanderheijden van Tinteren (1965) and Roel Moonen (1966), both studied at our institute.
Sculpture group The Citizens of Maastricht (Jonathan Vos Photography)
Unveiling sculpture group by André Postema, Burgemeester Wim Hillenaar, Roel Moonen, Angenieta Kuijpers, Marcella Pinckaers en Michel Vanderheijden van Tinteren
Series of master classes on Knowledge Power Arts Education. What movements are there in current arts education? Meet colleagues from the field, put your ear to the ground, and practice directly with the knowledge you have gained.
Event We Love The Future organised by Theo Ploeg, lecturer Maastricht Institute of Arts.
This new festival is special because it was conceived, organised and executed entirely by second-year students of the Fine Arts and Design teacher training programme.
They came up with their own festival based on their fascination with social connection and alienation. Perhaps this is the beginning of a long tradition. Maybe it will even become the new Cannes....
This festival is part of the celebration of 200 years of Maastricht Institute of Arts.
Together we watch the documentary ‘RAFELRAND, Limburg's last free port on the side’ by Niena Bocken (made for L1) about Landbouwbelang and then talk about fringes, art, culture and Maastricht with Niena Bocken, Marielle Yogi, Lars den Hertog and Hanna Zwart.
In the context of Maastricht Institute of Arts' 200th anniversary, alumni and former employees look back on their academy days and talk about their work and life after the academy.
From Marijke Stultiens who studied there in 1946 to Chris El Murr who graduated in 2023. This film was made by alumni and students in collaboration with visual artist and alumna Charlotte Lagro.
One of the highlights of 200 years of Maastricht Institute of Arts is the congress Cast Plaster, Art or Craft? which will take place from 22 to 24 November 2023 at location Herdenkingsplein.
The revival of plaster casting in interiors, education and museums forms the basis for the congress days in Maastricht. Plaster collections for art education are being used in new ways in these digital times. Replicas of important sculptures from times gone by are coming out of museum depots and regaining their lustre. The focus will be on how all this heritage can be used alongside and with modern digital techniques.
The organisation of the conference is in the hands of Maastricht Institute of Arts, Rocaille B.V. and the Stichting Het Nederlandse Interieur
Based on the exhibition ‘Between Art and Copy’ during the 200th anniversary of Maastricht Institute of Arts at the Bonnefanten, Design | Design students worked on a contemporary translation of the plaster sculptures.
Alumnus Thom van Schaik then interpreted and photographed the work in his own way. Some of the results were temporarily on display in the windows of our institute at Brusselsestraat 75.
The project was realised with support from Marjan Melkert and the Bonnefantenmuseum.