Frequently Asked Questions: MASieraad Hasselt-Amsterdam
Q: If I don’t have a jewellery or artistic background, is it possible to study at MASieraad Hasselt Amsterdam?
A: Yes, it is possible. Once you are selected for this program, you agree to take a basic course in jewellery technique in the first year. This course is obligatory to obtain your MA in Visual Arts, specifically Jewellery and Gold- and Silversmithing certificate at PXL Hasselt, which comes together with your MASieraad certificate.Q: What are your ideal candidates?
A: We are interested in people who have a different background of any kind, fine artists, performative artists, designers, fashion designers, architects, philosophers – as long as you are openminded, are interested in the human aspect of design, in detailing, the intimate and ritual, in reading objects and materials, and in the relationship between people and things.Q- What is the difference between the program MASieraad and the Master Visual
Arts specialization Jewelry Design, Gold and Silversmithing and a post-graduate
education program in PXL-MAD School of Arts Hasselt?
A: MASieraad as a program is very different from the Master Visual Arts
specialization Jewelry Design, Gold and Silversmithing. We offer a diploma of
the Master Visual Arts specialization Jewelry Design, Gold and Silversmithing
(and a certificate of MASieraad H-A) but the teaching is completely
different. The program MASieraad H-A aims at a high international level compared to the Master Visual Arts specialization Jewelry Design, Gold and Silversmithing. The study is 2 years instead of one and therefore offers more room for intense teaching and personal development of the students. The teachers are exclusively connected to MASieraad H-A.
Q- It is indicated as an integrated program of the PXL-MAD's Master Visual Arts
specialization Jewelry Design, Gold and Silversmithing and a post-graduate
education, then will we do the same classes together with the students from the
PXL-MAD's Jewelry Master students? If there are, then how many classes will we
be instructed together? What exactly does "integrated program" mean?
A: In the first year there will be a joined program of
6 weeks with the students of PXL-MAD's Master Visual Arts specialization
Jewelry Design, Gold and Silversmithing. Extra technical and subject-based
classes as Gemmologie, CAD,, if necessary, would be joined classes as well.
Furthermore, lectures from guest teachers could be organized for both groups.
All other instruction, which is most part of the program, will be separate. The
term” integrated program” doesn’t apply to the actual teaching but is meant to
clarify the formal status of MASieraad H-A within PXL-MAD and thus provide a
Master degree. ( Master in Visual
Arts specialization Jewellery Design, Gold & Silversmithing)Q- I have heard that the program "Challenging Jewellery" was happened
at Sandberg Institute as a temporary program, then is this 2021-2023 MASieraad
H-A also a temporary program running under the PXL-MAD School of Arts Hasselt?
And why did you choose to move it from Amsterdam to Hasselt this year? and will
it be moved to another place next time?
A: MASieraad H-A is not a temporary program. "Challenging
Jewellery" was always intended as a temporary program, which is part of
the philosophy of the Sandberg Institute. A prolongation in Amsterdam was not possible.
We choose for Hasselt because we liked the open attitude of the school towards
our ideas, the quality of the school, its facilities and the small scale city. We
hope to continue MASieraad H-A for a long time in Hasselt. Q- Will the students in MASieraad be able to use the workshops and other
facilities in the PXL-MAD building whenever they want? or will there be
limitations?
A: Yes, the workshops and facilities are open to the students. Of course
there are always the limitations of other students that also want to use them. The
opening hours are: Monday and Friday from 8.30 till 6 pm. Thuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday from 8.30 till 10 pm.Q: Can you study in Hasselt – Amsterdam, while not living in Hasselt or Amsterdam?
A: MASieraad is not an online course. However, it is possible to participate in the program as a parttime student. But there are certain rules and regulations which still have to be defined.
Q- I have learned there will
be workshop classes instructed by Gijs Bakker, Ruudt Peters, and Ted Noten, and
also theory class by Liesbeth Den Besten, but is there already a schedule of
the year? I mean the curriculum of the year? like which classes there will be,
and instructed by whom?
A: There
will be 3 intense workshops of 5 to 6 weeks instructed by Gijs Bakker, Ruudt
Peters, and Ted Noten. They will be present in Hasselt for about 3 days during
that period and will instruct the students as well online. They will be
assisted by partner teachers (Estela Saez, Louise Schouwenberg, Monica Gaspar,
Kalkidan Hoex) who will also teach partly
physical and virtual. We expect the curriculum to be finalized in March, but
even then, we want to keep it open to changes and needs of the students. Q- On the introducing page of the MASieraad website and also during the interview
by Autor Magazine, it mentioned that the four initiators would love to share
their connections and the networks they have with the program participants, and
will help students to learn and build up their careers, did I get it right? or
what does it exactly mean? what will the structure be? like will there be
collaborations with different studios and companies? will there be exhibitions
happening during the study? how would these inputs be reflected in the
curriculum? e.g. will there be classes talking about the market?
A: Yes, we think that it is an important aspect of the program to help
students build up their careers. In the 2nd year we will pay attention
to this. Work experience internships occur during the 2nd year of
the program. In developing this we expect an active attitude of the students
themselves and open discussions with us. Building up a career means taking
initiatives yourself. We have the networks and the knowledge to support you in
this. The curriculum will be a result of your needs as a student. Q: What is the kind of curriculum that MASieraad will offer to the students?
A: The main focus of the curriculum will be focused on the individual improvement of the student. You will have to fulfill the typical qualifications for a Masters degree.In the first year the sum will be shaped in 3 projects around the central theme “Challenging Gold” (year 2021). Each project will have a period of 5-6 weeks coordinated by Gijs Bakker, Ruudt Peters and Ted Noten accompanied with their partner teachers and many invited guest artists for lectures/workshops etc.
Liesbeth den Besten will, throughout the year, focus on research and theory. In the end helping the student come to their thesis concept.
In the second year the main focus is on your chosen masters project, you will come up with a thesis and final works. The first and second year starts with an intensive period in Amsterdam and everything will end up with the final critiques.
Q:What is the relevance of being located across the 2 cities of Hasselt and Amsterdam?
A: Hasselt is the place to find silence and focus-Amsterdam is the place to load yourself with inspiration by meeting musea/people and all kinds of cultural input.
Q:Gijs, Ted, Ruudt and Liesbeth: Individually, you are all pioneers of contemporary jewellery and jewellery education. What made you start a new Jewellery Education system of your own?
A: We are not very happy with the diversity that comes out from schooling systems, too much all alike. Automatically we look too much like the paradise bird, beautiful but not enough. Jewellery has so many possibilities, in my opinion even more than the arts. The connotations to human, history, material, emotions, memories, traditions and so on; we want to explore them more and not end up with beautiful brooches.
Q: What do you think is the relevance of questioning and learning about Jewellery making in today’s times, especially in the context of uncertainty posed by the pandemic?
A: With jewellery you learn to think on the square inch Q: How is the MASieraad system different from conventional Jewellery Education?
A: Many aspects are different: You will work with 4 renowned teachers and each of them have a partner teacher – younger blood and contrasting methodologies.We work in two cities-two cultures, two different atmospheres
We are inviting loads of guest teachers from other fields
We strive for not only having jewellery makers but also: architects/designers/artists/craftsman
Q:Has your view for the next masters changed after the CJ course?
A: Yes, I believe more in working in group projects during the first year where students are confronted with other opinions and learn to discuss ideas from their colleagues. Q:Who can apply for this course?
A: Everybody who has a serious and passionable mentality to discuss/develop/explore jewellery. The technical requirements include-You need a BA diploma and those who have no experience with certain jewellery techniques, that are like a brush for a painter, will have to do a few preliminary courses (included in the school fee).
Q: What about students coming from places where contemporary jewellery has not evolved as much as in Europe? How can people from these places contextualize this learning if they come to attend this course?
A: For those students it can be an advantage because they don't carry the ballast of european history and they can bring in their own culture in jewellery. Q: How much would it cost to study at MASieraad? Do you provide financial assistance and encouragement to students without the financial means?
The school fee is EUR 14.000€ a year
We cannot give you any guarantee, but we are working on a program that would enable some selected students to study with us on a scholarship-base. We encourage you to look for outside funding and have found some institutes that could support you.
We advise checking these pages as well as other funding pages found on the internet or specifically for your country.
1. www.cultuurfonds.nl/cultuurfondsbeurzen.
2. https://bit.ly/34BNezQ
Q: How do you view the future of Jewellery (and of the future students of jewellery making)?
A: As a huge playground for thoughts-idea’s-material love-discussion concerning live connected themes etc etc etc etc.Q: It seems that the contemporary jewellery world is back to gold. I like the idea although it is so crazy expensive right now! Why do you think it’s back in the game? Or was it ever really out?
A: Interesting question. As gold was always one of the most used materials in jewellery due to the fact that it is easy to handle (almost like butter), it always had a huge role in having your own “bank” on your body. Due to the fact that wars were almost dailies, and in some countries still are!But, the main discussion we want to create is not the fact that we plead for more use of gold, instead we would like to critically discuss all the aspects connected to it.
Politically/Socially-and in the end maybe we find a replacement.
All this is part of challenging Gold.
Q- What is the difference between the program MASieraad and the Master Visual Arts specialization Jewelry Design, Gold and Silversmithing and a post-graduate education program in PXL-MAD School of Arts Hasselt?
A: MASieraad as a program is very different from the Master Visual Arts specialization Jewelry Design, Gold and Silversmithing. We offer a diploma of the Master Visual Arts specialization Jewelry Design, Gold and Silversmithing (and a certificate of MASieraad H-A) but the teaching is completely different. The program MASieraad H-A aims at a high international level compared to the Master Visual Arts specialization Jewelry Design, Gold and Silversmithing. The study is 2 years instead of one and therefore offers more room for intense teaching and personal development of the students. The teachers are exclusively connected to MASieraad H-A.