Immersing yourself in the world of art and design, experimenting with shapes, materials and techniques, realising your own ideas and inspiring others with this passion: teachers of art and design as well as technology and design are in demand. The profession combines openness with curiosity, craftsmanship with critical reflection and attitude with a passion for shaping and improving the world. ‘As an art educator, you have the opportunity to get to know young people and their approach to visual culture and to develop new projects with them on this basis. It's an opportunity to have a direct impact on society and use art, visual culture and teaching methods to convey socially relevant values such as solidarity and justice,’ says Birke Sturm, Assistant Professor of Art and Design Education, summarising the career prospects. You can see for yourself at the Open House. Here, prospective students have the opportunity to find out all about the teacher training programmes in Visual Education and Design: Technology.Textiles, meet students and lecturers and possibly discover one or more reasons to apply for a degree programme.
And there are plenty of reasons at Alpenstraße 75 in Salzburg, where the department is based: ‘I am always impressed by the variety of opportunities, especially when I see how graduates look back and appreciate the possibilities that were available to them during their studies. We have an enormous range of resources - from studios and workshops for all kinds of materials to our own gallery, we have everything under one roof. This is a great advantage that you can utilise intensively during your studies,’ explains Head of Department Patrick Schaudy, not without pride. This is where the teacher training programmes Visual Education (BE - school subject Art and Design) and Design: Technology.Textile (GTT - school subject Technology and Design) are offered - studies aimed at people interested in art and design who want to pass on their passion, ‘for people who like to think and get into action, who want to make a difference, who like to work with other people,’ says Iris Laner, Professor of Fine Arts and Visual Education. During their studies, students have access to extensively equipped workshops, work in small groups and develop individually and very freely. Particular emphasis is placed on a familiar atmosphere, interdisciplinary exchange and, above all, the utilisation of the diverse range of courses on offer.
In Design: Technology.Textiles, students work with wood, metal, ceramics, paper and plastic, among other things, and also realise textile projects in screen printing, weaving and tailoring. They apply the basic knowledge they have acquired in the workshops in interdisciplinary design projects, where they are individually supervised. They regularly reflect on their own creative endeavours and their effectiveness in small groups. And the course content goes far beyond the development of skills and technical abilities: ‘Students develop methods, strategies and processes to realise their own design projects as part of the course. This also involves topics such as sustainability, consumer awareness, resource management and the circular economy. The programme enables a holistic artistic and design practice, complemented by theoretical reflection,’ say Annette Fauvel and Corina Forthuber, both professors of Technology & Design Practice in the Design: Technology.Textile degree programme.
In the first year of the Visual Arts Education programme, students go through all areas: In addition to a sound foundation course in theory, practice and didactics, there are, for example, specialisations in painting, graphics, sculpture and photography. In the Plenum, a regular communication platform, students of Visual Arts Education from all semesters meet and can also learn from each other across all years. After the first two semesters, students focus individually and according to their preferences, applying the knowledge they have acquired in interdisciplinary projects, designing solutions and working on the realisation of ideas to develop their own artistic identity. ‘The development of an individual artistic identity is at the centre of art practice. Teaching at school should be based on a well-developed, self-experienced artistic attitude and accordingly bring creative and authentic personalities into the school setting. According to the motto: ‘think out of the box’,’ emphasises Bernhard Gwiggner, Professor of Sculpture.
And ‘working out of the box’ is also part of the programme: In addition to traditional lessons, collaborations with various external partners make it possible to connect school and society. ‘You can organise lessons in the classroom, but it gets exciting when you create new opportunities for projects through contacts - be it for procuring materials or unusual learning projects outside of the school day. You learn that it pays to be courageous and simply ask,’ emphasises Patrick Schaudy. There are regular collaborations with the Museum der Moderne - the next one will take place as part of the exhibition by Dutch artist Rob Voerman in autumn, with the Galerie im Traklhaus and sometimes with major international partners such as the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation. There are also multi-layered collaborations within the university, such as with the Studio for Electronic Music or Scenography. Cooperations are particularly valuable for students, they gain experience in real contexts and come into contact with people they would not have met within the university. Another important part of the degree programme is the experience that students gain in internships at schools. And they are encouraged to familiarise themselves with all available areas, workshops, design options, techniques and materials at university.
The desire to become a teacher of design or art is usually very personal and usually goes beyond the prospect of excellent job prospects: ‘The school subjects of art and design as well as technology and design are essential because they connect hands and brains. They promote creativity, critical thinking and aesthetic education - skills that are becoming increasingly important in our society,’ says Schaudy, addressing a substantial point in design and art education: It is aimed at people who work ‘hands on’, who want to make a difference, who enjoy working with people and who are passionate and committed to what they do. Students of design and art education bring with them a sensitivity for the importance of visual culture in a pluralistic society, a sensitivity for discrimination of all kinds, a high level of social competence and a thirst for knowledge - qualities that are indispensable in schools.
On 18 and 19 March 2025, the Department of Fine Arts & Design is hosting an open house at Alpenstraße 75 - an opportunity to experience the diversity of education at first hand. ‘Our aim is to provide a comprehensive insight into our work: students and lecturers present their projects, there are workshops, exhibitions, guided tours, parties, open doors and talks everywhere. The Open House is not only exciting for prospective students, but also for the community in Salzburg. It's an opportunity to broaden your own horizons and see what other students and colleagues have been working on,’ says Patrick Schaudy, who is also looking forward to the Open House. An invitation to everyone! Also to artists, designers and educators and, above all, to those who want to become one.
(First published in the Uni-Nachrichten / Salzburger Nachrichten on 15 March 2025)
