Graduation Show 2020 | Chain of Events

Please keep an eye on this page for continuous programming.

Click here for the Chain of Events - Graduates 2020 Online Calendar

 

December 2020

POSTPONED | Piet Zwart Institute: Master Fine Art Graduation Exhibition at the former Archive building, Robert Fruinstraat, Rotterdam 
A separate invitation with detailed information and codes of conduct will be sent to all our relations and partners later this month.
Please note: For all the live events outside the WdKA buildings, we follow the government and municipality's regulations and guidelines for art spaces and musea. We will organise the events only if we can guarantee our participants and visitors a safe and pleasant stay according to the Dutch government guidelines.

December 9, 2020 | Reach Out - Zoom-in, Drempelprijzen & Research Awards Ceremony and launch Zoom-In
An online festive event where we proudly presented the winners of our annual Research Awards and Drempelprijzen, and the launch of Zoom-In, a film portrait of selected students and their graduation projects.

For more information on this years’ Research Awards and Drempelprijzen nominees, please visit this link with outstanding performances of our Graduates. The evening will be moderated by Miriam Rasch, Coordinator Research Station. 

Next to the programme initiated by WdKA, many of our graduates are working on the organisation of their own events. We are proud to promote these events on our websites and social media.

Previous Events

November 2020

 

November 4, 2020 | Too Little,Too Late? at BlueCity, Rotterdam
 Too Little,Too Late; an online event where a new generation designers and artists question the global warming, the ‘Problem from Hell’. These graduates do not provide a tailor-made solution, but because of their critical view and imagination they offer new prospects. This online event was part of the online Climate Weeks Amsterdam and Rotterdam and of the Climate festival Groenlicht, organised by Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences

October 2020

October 15-18, 2020 | Fashion Experience - Online Event 
From October 15-18, the Willem de Kooning Academy's Fashion Design graduates 2020 hosted their online Fashion Experience.
Please visit their website for interviews and 360 Tour of their Fashion Experience here.

October 26 - November 4, 2020 | Jury-sittings Drempelprijzen and BA & MA Research Awards
The nominees have received a detailed mail on Thursday, October 8th.

August 2020

 

August 2020 has marked the start of the series of more online and physical events that will run until the end of March 2021. The work of Bachelor and Master alumni can be seen, experienced, admired and discussed in various places in the city. The main location is the building of the former City Archives on Robert Fruinstraat, which was made available to us by Stichting Kunstaccomodatie Rotterdam (SKAR). In addition to the exhibition, various programmes and events will take place there.

Our Extraordinary Chain of Events continues with the kick-off of a WalkByExhibition on billboards throughout the city of Rotterdam. Check here for the exact locations. All works were freely accessible outdoors from Monday, August 10 until August 23.

July 2020

 

The Experimental Publishing (XPUB) class of 2020 has celebrated their graduation with the launch of the final publication, Collectiveioning.

The students presented collective and individual research on Friday, July 10, 2020, followed by a Q & A session. Although the presentation will be concise and spectacular, if you miss it, a web-to-print website will remain online, where you can choose to make your own co(ll/nn)ections. You may also print out what you collect from it at your own leisure. A complete, deluxe, shelf object (i.e. a printed version) will follow in October 2020.

We have commenced the Chain of Events on July 17, 2020, with:

 

• The launch/presentation of the online platform, where our graduates will share their practices with the world.

• The presentation of the Putsebocht Award, that will provide the winner with a SKAR workspace based on an entrepreneurial plan for the future.

• The kick-off of a WalkByExhibition on billboards throughout the city of Rotterdam. All work was freely accessible outdoors from August, 10, the city was our exhibition space for a few weeks.

• And of course, the festive and long-awaited moment of the Graduation Ceremony!

In recent years we all have seen that continuous collaboration in the strengthening of the cultural and creative sector in Rotterdam and beyond, is of vital importance and a matter of survival. And now, more than ever, we are committed to further building of a strong and vibrant art and culture sector.

We believe it is essential to work together with the various cultural institutions and initiatives, large and small, to ensure that the new generation of creatives gets the best platform to show their work. As our main partner and the first in a series of cooperating partners, SKAR facilitates the exhibition/studios spaces in the old City Archive building, which will be our main exhibition location.

We are looking for further connections with a wide range of partners and events in the local and national sector of arts, culture and design. We would, therefore, like to appeal to all institutions and organisations that are passionate about art, design and culture: let us act together and commit to a strong and vibrant art and culture sector in this city!

Be the first to hear about our future plans

Stay informed about our programme, get in touch with our alumni and be the first to hear about our future plans. We will keep the programme up-to-date at wdka.nl and graduation.catalogue.wdka.nl, and invite everyone who would like to stay informed to follow us on WdKA Instagram and Facebook or sign up here to receive updates. Questions, requests or interested in collaboration? Please contact Carmen de Groot, c.m.f.w.de.groot@hr.nl.

Willem de Kooning Academy Bachelors

The world is changing fast – and so is the role of art and design. The WdKA has reinvented itself to adapt to these changes. This blurring and cross-fertilisation between majors reflect both the fast-changing world around us and the shifting role of art and design. Artists, designers and educators are trained within one of three future professional practices.

Piet Zwart Institute Masters

The Piet Zwart Institute houses the international Master programmes of the Willem de Kooning Academy at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. PZI specialises in a combination of in-depth specialisation and interdisciplinary exchange within an intimate learning environment. The programmes all share an interest in the complex social, cultural and political underpinnings of each discipline.