Maastricht is culture

The numerous historic buildings, works of art, and traditions tell the story of Maastricht’s illustrious past, and the city cherishes its status as ‘The Netherlands’ second monument city.’ Its other title, ‘The Netherlands’ second city of culture,’ is another rare accolade and source of pride. Maastricht has a vibrant and thriving cultural scene. With its mix of old and modern architecture, the international university city is a magnet for ‘creatives,’ researchers and makers who go there to study and to make their dreams a reality. Reflecting this, Maastricht offers study programmes in every art form.

Maastricht Institute of Arts

(Zuyd University of Applied Sciences)

The arts and, by extension, art education fulfil a vital role in our society’s development. Looking at our society and, indeed, the world as a whole, the word ‘change’ seems to most accurately encapsulate the current status quo. Art and creative technology are fun- damental to all societies. Without creative talent, there is no society. Maastricht Institute of Arts, which is part of Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. Commenting on this milestone, Director Angenieta Kuijpers says: ‘It’s an open community where you are challenged. Challenged to explore. Challenged to develop yourself and to reflect. Challenged to be creative. Maastricht Institute of Arts is a workspace that is both intercultural and international. A workspace where you develop expertise. Where talent blossoms. Where people with similar and contrasting outlooks come together, a vital place in the city. A place that is alive and exhilarating. Where you are welcome, where you feel at home. A place,’ Kuijpers concludes, ‘that you come to for a dose of optimism.’ www.zuyd.nl/ 200jaarmaastrichtinstituteofarts

Conservatorium Maastricht

(Zuyd University of Applied Sciences)

Maastricht has an international conservatory, firmly rooted in the region yet also connected with all parts of the world. In the words of its Director, Mare de Groot: ‘We believe in a collective spirit, the desire to challenge each other and to create together. To move and to add value, in and with music. Conservatorium Maastricht enables the ‘moving musician’ to realize their own ambitions in various fields of music, to move and to stimulate. ‘We use our passion for development to get the best out of the students. We believe in the strength of our community, made up of students, teachers, and the field of work. Teamwork is essential, and the best education stems from close cooperation,’ says De Groot.

The study programmes in Classical Music, Jazz Music, and Music Teaching prepare students for a career in the ever-changing professional field, enabling them to get the best out of themselves. This is achieved through individual artistic development, active collaboration, integration of theory, professional practical experience, cross-departmental activities, optional subjects, and the development of entrepreneurial and research skills. www.conservatoriummaastricht.nl.

Toneelacademie Maastricht, institute of performative arts

(Zuyd University of Applied Sciences)

‘Toneelacademie Maastricht institute of performative arts is a close-knit community of thinkers, risk-takers, and doers,’ explains Director Rob Ligthert. ‘We work hard, with a lot of passion. Actors, performers, directors, stage designers, and teachers - here, they develop in to ‘oeuvre builders.’ Maastricht provides the haven they need. Countless nationally and internationally famous actors in TV and film trained at the institute of performative arts, as did many directors, artistic directors, stage designers, and playwrights and screenwriters. The institute runs both bachelor’s programmes and a master’s programme. Free shows, performances, installations and exhibitions are regularly staged. ‘All schools should be Art Schools’ - Bob & Roberta Smith (artist Patrick Brill). www.toneelacademie.nl

Jan van Eyck Academie

As a multidisciplinary post-academic institute, the Jan van Eyck Academie supports a myriad of artistic endeavours by offering its international group of participants the time, space, and expertise to further develop their practice. Each participant has a private studio, receives guidance from advisers and experts, and can make use of its facilities and labs. The academy is not only a place for research and experimentation, but also a place for discussion, public debate, and cross-fertilization. Self-development is tied in with collaboration and exchange.

Says Hicham Khalidi, Director of the Jan van Eyck Academie: ‘For 75 years, the world-renowned Jan van Eyck Academie has been welcoming artists, designers, curators, architects, writers, and other creatives to Maastricht for an artist residency.

We dedicate this celebratory year to our artists, to the communal spirit of the academy, and are committed, together with our partners and the city of Maastricht, to ensuring continued support for these pioneers in the arts over the next few decades of the academy’s existence.’ www.janvaneyck.nl

Maastricht University, bachelor arts and culture

Maastricht University welcomes anyone who is keen to understand present-day society from cultural and other perspectives.

In Maastricht, culture is not set in stone, but is in perpetual motion and continually evolving. As a term, culture denotes the results of intellectual and artistic creativity and reflection, such as scientific and literary texts or artworks. It also denotes the cultural practices which shape peoples’ daily lives and are expressed in their individual tastes and behaviour. Lastly, culture lies at the heart of social processes in which people express and challenge ethical, aesthetic, economic, and political meanings and values.

At the Netherlands’ most international university, students get an education in a vibrant setting that embraces all the different cultures, and collaborate on research that contributes to the global issues of our time.

www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/ education/bachelor/bachelorarts-and-culture

De Stichting Restauratie Atelier Limburg/ SRAL, the conservation institute

Founded as a regional workshop for Limburg, over 35 years SRAL has grown into a large and leading institute in the Netherlands for practice, research, and teaching in four restoration disciplines: paintings, sculpture, historic interiors, and modern art. The SRAL studios are based in the ‘Wiebengahal’ industrial monument (1912). In the adjacent Bonnefanten, there is a public-viewing studio where museum visitors can watch SRAL restorers at work. The institute is nationally and internationally renowned for its scientific publications, academic teaching, and the working me- thods it develops, and techniques for carrying out restoration. SRAL restores entire historic interiors at all sorts of locations throughout the Netherlands, ranging from medieval frescoes, large wall hangings, gold leather wallpaper, ornamental mantelpieces, and church interiors to modern wall art.

Since it was founded, the restoration work has been combined with a strong teaching department. From 1990 onwards, SRAL initiated and developed restoration as a field of study, the basis for the present-day Master’s programme at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). Over the same period, its collaboration with Maastricht University has grown, in MACCH, at the FASoS, and on the Maastricht Science Program. www.sral.nl

This year’s Chapeau/Maastricht Region stand at TEFAF (no. 820) will be decorated in the style of Rembrandt’s oil-on-canvas painting The Standard Bearer, which will be on display at Maastricht’s Bonnefantenmuseum in March. The TEFAF stand will echo the painting’s style and run a range of activities related to this work of art. Also on display are several artworks by the late Limburg sculptor Arthur Spronken, in anticipation of a book to be published in June on ‘Arthur Spronken’s never-before-exhibited collection of artworks’. A prepublication of this

Chapeau/ Maastricht Region stand inspired by The Standard Bearer

book will feature in a special brochure available at TEFAF, and this edition of Chapeau Magazine will also shine the spotlight on it.

The Chapeau/Maastricht Region stand is a meeting place initiated by Chapeau Magazine, the Municipality of Maastricht, the Province of Limburg, Brightlands, Maastricht University, MECC Maastricht, and a number of other partners from the region. Its aim is to strengthen the link between TEFAF and the Maastricht-Limburg region.

The stand is located in the Expo Foyer upstairs, directly accessible from the fair on the ground floor. The entire Foyer will be furnished as business lounges and restaurants, complete with a spacious, central terrace.

And just like years gone by, the stand will feature a small TV studio to film the daily programme ‘TEFAF TV by Chapeau’. The programme will be broadcast live at hotels in Maastricht as well as online at www.tefaftvnews. com and www.chapeaumagazine.com.