Course content. 
The Minor in "Art, Work and Labour" equips you with practical and theoretical knowledge of different forms of artistic labour, from studio and exhibition practice to self-organization and collaboration. You learn about models of making art as a profession and explore the economic and legal frameworks (salaries, employment agreements, funding, financing). You also engage with contemporary as well as historical discourses about labour in the arts. Based on your own interests and artistic practice, you develop an individual or collaborative project (e.g., a work of art, a publishing venture or an artist-run space, a project to be realized in collaboration with an institutional or commercial actor). You discuss the status of your practical project with students, lecturers, and guests in community formats.

Skills acquired in the course. 
You learn how to 
—  use your practical and theoretical knowledge of the relationship between labour, the economy, and art to develop your own professional understanding of what it means to be an artist;  
—  apply the economic and legal frameworks of artistic production and presentation to your own practice;  
—  develop, implement, and reflect on a practical project by yourself or in collaboration with other artists and/or institutional or commercial actors;   
—  identify actors, institutions, and businesses in the local and national art field that are relevant to you and expand your professional network.

Admissions requirements. 
The Minor in "Art, Work and Labour" is designed for Master’s students who intend to pursue careers as artists and want to consolidate their knowledge of the field. You have your own artistic practice and knowledge of contemporary art as well as initial experience in publicizing your work. You have well-developed social and communicative skills that enable you to work in a group environment and on your own. 

Language skills required.
You need the following languages to take this minor:
–  English: to be able to follow a discussion
–  English: to actively participate in a verbal exchange
–  English: to understand a text
–  English: to write a text

Benefits of studying at ZHdK. 
The Minor in "Art, Work and Labour" prepares you for the diverse professional requirements and opportunities in the field of art and culture. A range of weekly seminars (context module offerings in semesters 1 through 4) lets you consolidate your knowledge of different subjects related to artistic work or engage with artistic practices. The large share of project-based work (semesters 1 through 4) enables you to chart your practice field of choice based on your own interests and goals. Modules in this Minor are held in English, enabling you to improve your language skills. 

Time structure.
The modules of this minor take place on Friday afternoons between 1 and 6 p.m. throughout the academic year. In calendar weeks 2, 3 and 4, as well as in calendar weeks 8, 9 and 10, the minors are taught in block weeks from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The exact times depend on the minor chosen.

→ More about this minor (PDF download)

Minor Coordinator

Lecturers

At ZHdK, students choose a Major. In addition to this core subject, they can choose one or two Minors to deepen or expand their major skills and knowledge across various disciplines. This wide choice of courses is unique in Europe and enables students to develop and sharpen their individual profile.