NL

Integrating Art Experience in cultural management

Esther Willemse is a lecturer at HKU’s Art and Economics course. In her PhD track at the University of Humanistic Studies, she is doing research into methods for increasing the knowledge, understanding, and vocabulary of students and teachers about the existential meaning of art experiences. In this way, she is contributing to cultural management education by developing a vocabulary via art-led research methods.

The purpose of her research is to give students a better understanding of what their exact role will be in their future professions at the intersection between art and management.

A log of in-depth knowledge

The research is done across the multiple years of study of the Art and Economics course. Students and teachers are keeping a log in which they reflect on new (forms of) education, with ‘art-led’ methods such as walking, wonder labs and photo diaries. Together with a select group of these students and teachers, she is seeking more in-depth knowledge.

Integrating in the curriculum

The insights that Esther gains from her research, are eventually meant to be embedded in the curriculum’s learning goals, thereby improving the educational quality. And not just at HKU, but other institutions for higher education in the field of art management.

Enriching the debate

In a broader sense, Esther wants to apply her insights to enrich the debate on the value of art and culture for society, by providing an understanding and a vocabulary for expressing the meaning of art (experiences) for people. This can promote both the personal and professional developments of teachers and students.

Meaningful Artistic Research

The research is part of the programme Meaningful Artistic Research: a collaboration between HKU and the University of Humanistic Studies that offers PhD tracks in artistic research within the UvH’s Graduate School.

Integrating Art Experience in cultural management