Art of the Contemporary World and World Art Studies

Specialisation of: Arts and Culture
Degree: Master of Arts in Arts and Culture
Mode of Study: Full-time, part-time
Duration: 1 year (full-time), 1.5 years (part-time)
Start date: September, February
Language of instruction: English
Location: Leiden
Croho/isat code: 60087
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Art of the Contemporary World and World Art Studies is a specialisation in de MA in Arts and Culture. You will be involved with the question of what challenges are offered in the present day by art history. You will gain insights into this by studying the developments in art in the broad context of visual culture, from social and political developments, developments in natural sciences and globalisation. Your insights will be directed by new perspectives that will teach you to understand the multiplicity/versatility of art. In this specialisation you will become familiar with all these subjects and you will research the wealth of modern and contemporary art the place occupied by art as a medium in the world of today. During excursions you will have the opportunity to experience the works of art personally and test your research.


Special features include:
  • Art in a global perspective
  • Art in relation to science
  • Art theory and aesthetics

Covering modern and contemporary art—such as photography, new media art, installation art, sci-art, etc., and their many crossovers—you will look at how art reflects change in today’s society, study the blurring borders between art, science and popular culture, the advancing embrace of (digital) technology, and the manifold processes of globalisation. We address art in its communicative agency. The focus is on intermedialisation and interculturalisation, and on the theory and methods of present-day art history. A further aim is to promote collaboration with artists and art venues.

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