In spring 2020, the idea of a cooperation between different design and art schools from North Africa, the Middle East and Europe was born. This idea has since evolved into an articulated, joint online programme. The project has been further developed and it is planned to continue until 2023.
The partners
American University of Beirut, AUB
American University in Cairo, AUC
University of the Arts Berlin, UdK
École Supérieure des Arts Visuels de Marrakech, ESAV
Zurich University of the Arts, ZHdK
Haute École d'Art et de Design Geneva, HEAD (currently not active)
2020 Fall: Curricula Exchange
In this first phase of getting to know each other, all six institutions presented their schools, curricula and various study projects.
See: https://www.linking-cultures.org/00-page
2021 Spring: Student Project
The theme of the students' projects was “What design can do - for society, culture, economy, education, gender or environment?” and ten mixed teams of 52 students developed projects accordingly. The projects were introduced and discussed in a large online presentation.
See: https://www.linking-cultures.org/04-page
2021 Spring: Virtual Lecture Series
Parallel to the students projects, a series of lectures was organized as a stimulus for the project work. Nine interventions with the active participation of the five schools addressed questions about culture and design from very different perspectives – in other words, the view from five countries, three languages and three continents.
See: https://www.linking-cultures.org/00-acitivity-2021
2021 Fall: Students for Students
The focus for the fall semester is on the exchange between students. For this purpose, five dates are planned where students from the individual schools will present their projects and put them up for discussion.
For programme and participation see www.linking-cultures.org
2022 Spring to summer 2023
It is planned to carry out a project similar to “What design can do” each spring and to organize the programme “Students for Students” each fall semester. All programmes will be conducted online. A Summer Schools are planned in 2022 and 2023. If the pandemic situation allows and funding is available, a Summer School will be held at one of the five participating schools. Details are still to be figured out. An expansion of the participating art and design schools is being considered for the spring semester.
Organisation and contact
Larissa Holaschke, larissa.holaschke(at)zhdk.ch
Peter Vetter, peter.vetter(at)zhdk.ch
The current development of the project can be followed continuously on https://www.linking-cultures.org in the "News" section.