Program: Content and StructureThe program has two central characteristics that can be experienced and explored only in this unique setting. Its general focus are transcultural topics, such as traditions, identity, genealogy of the present, values, ethics, different forms of life, globalization processes in general and between Europe and East Asia in particular. Their social and cultural sensitivity makes art and design practices ideally suited to contributing to transcultural discourse and to expressing a variety of topics through aesthetic means. Hong Kong is predestined as an exemplary location within this thematic context.

The program’s second important focus is practical collaboration between different cultures and forms of art and design. This principal working method promotes intense exchange about and first-hand experience of transcultural issues. It also helps participants to further differentiate and extend their own discipline. Students receive close supervision and expert support from selected faculty from all partner institutions and from independent artists and experts from various art and design disciplines.

The core program is dedicated to practice-based collaboration and teamwork on self-defined topics. Theoretical inputs will enable participants to critically reflect on the main topic — transculturality — and thereby to gain further insights into this pressing issue. An annually changing topic for a specific lecture series on transculturality will focus debate and provide a framework for practical experimentation. The program will be complemented with additional inputs, excursions, and workshops on subjects like cross-disciplinary collaboration, current local/global issues, and contemporary art and design in East Asia and Europe.

The program will begin in Zurich before continuing in Hong Kong, its principal location, where participants will pursue their work at the various partner universities. The full-time program (15-week semester) is divided into two main parts: 1) “Exploration & Conception,” where participants will explore the different cultural settings and start experimenting in various smaller team constellations; 2) “Realisation & Production,” where fixed teams will be established based on the experiences made in Part 1 with the aim of developing comprehensive artistic projects. Special workshops with renowned artists and a field trip to one of the partner universities in Asia will complete the program. The last two weeks of the semester are reserved for public team-presentations in Hong Kong as well as for extensive feedback, reflection, and documentation of the process.

Exchange of Faculty and Faculty Development