Nowadays, everyone can capture their lives and publish images on their personal platforms, such as social media and blogs. However, photographers remain professionals with the skills to create, curate, reflect, and operate within this field at a high level.As a photographer, you contribute to shaping how we see and understand the world. At the WdKA, you will explore the role of photography in contemporary visual culture. You will develop your vision and learn to use photography as both a medium and an art form.
We approach photography in the broadest sense—it can be both a starting point and a final outcome. You learn to create, collect and combine images, working purely with photography or through mixed media. We encourage our students to explore both traditional analogue techniques, as well as AI. You can choose to work autonomously, socially or commercially according to your own interests and drive. The bottom line is, you decide how you want to engage with photography to create new, meaningful work for the future. We provide a lot of freedom but consequently we also expect you to be proactive.
When studying photography here, you will start with experimenting and investigating the medium of photography. You will move into developing your own projects and form your artistic vision. During your studies, you will learn to position yourself as a professional maker and connect with your future professional context. You do this through projects both inside and outside of school.
Throughout your studies you will continuously develop your technical, research and practical skills. You will be trained to function as an individual photographer but also learn to function as part of a team and with external partners. We emphasize collaborative (interdisciplinary) methods, to prepare you for continuously changing professional practices.
Cover project: AI installation
Open Days & Recruitment activities
Want to know more about life at the Willem de Kooning Academy? Check out our extended programme, full of (online) activities and interaction with student ambassadors and tutors via this link.
Knowledge & skills
- Knowledge of photography as a medium and a message
- Analogue and digital techniques, both within and outside the studio
- Conducting research, concept development
- Working collaboratively with artists and designers from different disciplines
- ...and more
Career opportunities
- Photographer / Artist
- Researcher / artistic researcher
- Facilitator / collaborator in the cultural field
- ...and more
Stations
Most study activities take place at the Stations (Workspaces). All students, regardless of their bachelor programme or year, are welcome to work at the Stations. These are places where students can test their ideas and figure out how to turn them into fully functioning creations. They can experiment with tools, techniques, materials, and equipment, and receive support and inspiration by working with fellow students, tutors, and instructors.
For more detailed information about our Stations, please visit this webpage
Dual Degree programme
Are you artistically talented, and at the same time thirsty for academic knowledge? The Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) and the Willem de Kooning Academy (WdKA) offer you the possibility to combine theory and practice within a five-year Dual Degree programme. Students completing the RASL programme obtain two bachelor degrees: one from the EUR (Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science) and one from WdKA (Bachelor of Arts).
