About Studium Generale

With the following FAQ (frequently asked questions) we’d love to (re-)introduce ourselves!

Who are you?

We are Studium Generale Rietveld Academie, the academy’s transdisciplinary theory programme, headed by Jorinde Seijdel and coordinated by Jort van der Laan with a rotating group of collaborators, guest curators, artists, thinkers, designers, and students.

What is Studium Generale?

Studium Generale is a space for critical making and thinking across the academy. Each year, we explore a new theme through lectures, performances, screenings, workshops, reading groups, and publications. We are fascinated by how art and design entangle with other fields of knowledge—from the personal to the political, the vernacular to the academic, and from past futures to here and elsewhere.

Why does Studium Generale exist?

An art school is not just a place for making things—it is also a place for questioning how, why, and under what conditions we make them. Studium Generale creates space to encounter ideas, practices, and people beyond your own discipline, bringing making and thinking into dialogue.

━☆・。Programme 2026–2027 ━☆・。

What’s this year’s theme?

This year, we turn to magic. ‘Doing Magic — Enchantment and Prophecy in an Age of Illusions’ explores magic as both a belief in another world and an act of summoning that world into being. We will delve into enchantment, prophecy, and ritual, asking how magic might offer feminist, decolonial, and other ways of knowing and making.

How is the programme organized?

The preliminary Programme consists of eight consecutive Wednesday afternoons starting at 14:00 from January 13 to March 10, 2027, in the GYM, Theory Stairs, and Library. It includes talks, performances, screenings, reading groups, workshops, and seminars.

The conference-Festival is A multi-day public event from March 17–20, 2027, at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, parallel to Rietveld Uncut.

How does Rietveld Uncut relate to Studium Generale?

Rietveld Uncut is the academy’s annual exhibition and performance programme, where students and departments develop projects in dialogue with Studium Generale’s yearly theme. It is curated by Tarja Szaraniec and Tomas Adolfs. For more: rietvelduncut.rietveldacademie.nl.

━☆・。Practical Information ━☆・。

Who are the events for?

You. Students, staff, and the wider public. No prior knowledge is required—your curiosity is enough.
Is the programme mandatory?

Open to all Bachelor and Master students and staff. Basicyear students must participate in selected parts as part of their curriculum.

Are the events free to attend?

All activities are free for Rietveld students and staff. The conference-festival at Stedelijk Museum is open to the public for a small fee. Some workshops/seminars may require free registration due to limited space.
How can I stay up to date?

Visit our website: studiumgenerale.rietveldacademie.nl (also an archive of past editions).
Explore the dedicated project website for this year’s theme, launching in January 2027: magic.rietveldacademie.nl.

What about accessibility?

All Studium Generale events at the Rietveld Academie are wheelchair accessible. The GYM, Theory Stairs, and Library have step-free access, and accessible restrooms are available. For events at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, please check their accessibility information here. If you have specific accessibility needs or questions, contact us at studiumgenerale@rietveldacademie.nl. We strive to make our programme inclusive and are happy to accommodate requests where possible.
Get Involved

Can I suggest a topic or speaker?

Yes. Studium Generale thrives on input from the community. If you have ideas, come talk to us or email studiumgenerale@rietveldacademie.nl.

How can I get involved?

Come to our events! Students often meet across disciplines through workshops, screenings, reading groups, and other formats.
A Parting Thought

Do you have a special message or ‘spell’ for us?

Believe that things could be otherwise. Pay attention to what you cannot quite explain. Make connections between things that weren’t supposed to meet. Practise imagining the world you would like to summon into being. And, perhaps, do a little magic.

━☆・*。