Architecture

Specialisation of: Arts and Culture
Degree: Master of Arts in Arts and Culture
Mode of Study: Full-time, part-time
Duration: 1 year
Start date: September, February
Language of instruction: English
Location: Leiden
Croho/isat code: 60087
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Architecture is a specialisation in the MA in Arts and Culture. In this specialisation you not only study architectural history from the perspective of the architects, their designs and the way in which their work is implemented, you also pay attention to clients, the public and how the public responds to architecture and the built-up environment.

Central themes include:

  • Italian baroque
  • exchanges between Italy and the Low Countries in the period from 1500 to1750
  • alternative architecture discourses in the 20th century, from regionalism and traditionalism to neo-baroque
  • architecture theory, where thinking on the impact of buildings on the public is key, as in classical rhetoric or the sublime.

In Leiden you will study these themes in close co-operation with the Dutch interuniversity art history institutes in Rome and Florence. Excursions are a structural part of the programme.

Career

As a graduate of the MA in Arts and Culture, you will be qualified to work within a variety of professional fields, such as museums, galleries, cultural institutions or (art) libraries and archives. You will also find employment opportunities within the publishing and general media sectors, or within the art trade, in journalism or public relations.

Teacher-training in Arts and Culture

If you are interested in a career in teaching, you can follow a teacher-training MA at the ICLON Graduate School of Education once you have graduated from the master’s programme. You have to speak fluent Dutch to follow the course, and there are some additional entry requirements.

For more information see the Lerarenopleiding Kunstgeschiedenis (in Dutch).

Some figures about graduates of Arts and Culture

How successful are they in finding a job?

  • 87 % found a job within six months.
  • 75 % found their first job at academic or HBO (higher professional) level.
  • 84 % held a position at academic or HBO level when the study was carried out.

In which sector do they find jobs?

  • Culture, Leisure, Sports: 240
  • Business services: 205
  • Teaching: 172
  • Research: 103
  • Publishing / book sector: 103
  • Government / semi-government: 69
  • Other: 104

What are their main tasks and responsibilities? (%)

  • Policy-making / preparation: 31
  • Writing/ editing / translating:28
  • Co-ordination of work:24
  • Teaching / lecturing / training:24
  • Research:24

Source: Employment Market Study among Leiden Graduates of History (2009, Student Career Service Humanities )

What our Alumni say

Eva Kooijmans

“The skills I acquired in my master’s I use every day in my work.”

“I enjoyed my bachelor’s in Art History in Leiden, so, once I had finished the programme, I decided to take the master’s in Art History in Leiden, too. The master’s year – that included all kinds of excursions and interesting lectures – simply flashed by, and before I knew it, I had graduated.

I now work as General Manager at the new auction house Gavelers. My job is very varied, from arranging the logistics for the auctions to providing general press information for the company, and holding discussions with our PR and IT offices to supervising trainees.

Even more than in my bachelor’s programme, the master’s called for a deeper study of the material. Not only was the final thesis demanding, the subjects that made up the master’s programme were also an intellectual challenge. During the master’s I learned how to analyse and interpret information, how to search for relevant research and how to write effective texts. I also acquired many practical skills during my research internship. These are all skills that I use every day in my work with Gavelers.

Although my job is made up primarily of management activities, I also have contact on a daily basis with the field of art. This might be dealing with the works of art that we are auctioning, holding valuation days or keeping up to date with current events in the art world. In any event, art history plays a major part in my daily life.”

Eva Kooijmans – General Manager at Gavelers auction house

What our alumni say

Azinta Plantenga

“I learned a lot during my study about the objects that I now actually see in my work. “

“Although art and art history have always fascinated me, it took some time before I realised that I wanted to work in this field. After completing my bachelor’s in Languages and Cultures of China at Leiden University, I moved to China to gain work experience. It was in Beijing that I really got into the art world. I loved it so much that I decided to focus on this area and to return to Leiden to take a Master’s in Arts and Culture.

Before I could start the master’s, I first had to do a pre-master’s programme. This programme proved to me that applied art and design was the right direction for me. I did a research internship at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, where I had my first opportunity to put my research experience into practice. Another big advantage of this internship was the chance to meet a lot of good contacts: one of these was Uniquole, a project consultancy that organises exhibitions on Dutch applied art and design.

While completing my master’s thesis, I joined the company as art historian and project assistant. I recently started to work at the Stedelijk Museum as research assistant, where I carry out research on different objects in the collection. Both these positions give me every opportunity to apply my research skills. The good work ethic that I acquired during my study, as well as the ability to handle deadlines, are skills that are important assets in my work today.

The Design and Decorate Art Studies programme was a good introduction to the different subjects that form part of my specialist field. I would recommend this master’s to everyone who is interested in applied art and design. There is an immense amount of knowledge available within Leiden University. The excellent training that I received during my study from true specialists taught me a lot about the objects that I am now seeing in my everyday work.

Azinta Plantenga
Art historian and project assistant at Uniquole
Research assistant at the Stedelijk Museum