Summary of the Erasmus Blended Intensive Programme

Summary of the Erasmus Blended Intensive Programme realized by the Doctoral School of the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow

Introduction

The Blended Intensive Program (BIP) hosted by the Jan Matejko Fine Art Academy in Kraków offered a unique opportunity for academic and cultural exchange. It is worth noting that this is the second BIP around the same general ideas and with the same partners. Our program, titled Perception and Action, brought together doctoral students and faculty from three leading European institutions—the Jan Matejko Fine Art Academy (Poland), the HDK-Valand Academy of Art and Design at the University of Gothenburg (Sweden), and the Doctoral School of the University of Fine Arts in Budapest (Hungary). The focus of this collaborative endeavor was to explore artistic research methodologies, socio-political contexts, and the role of artists in contemporary society.

The theme of this Blended Intensive Programme was Experiencing Kraków’s Dualities.

Interdisciplinary Research and Learning Outcomes The BIP program promoted interdisciplinary research, combining artistic practice, history, and socio-political inquiry. The theme for the 2024 edition, „Experience Kraków’s Dualities” invited participants to examine the complex cultural, historical, and urban layers of Kraków. By exploring how Kraków’s history had been shaped by its diverse pasts—including the juxtaposition of Jewish and Gentile cities and the creation of the communist-era Nowa Huta—the program encouraged participants to investigate artistic responses to these dualities.
The program was structured into multiple stages, including both virtual and physical components. Virtual meetings were dedicated to preparing participants, fostering collaborative environments, and setting up the framework for the World Café discussions. These meetings allowed for the seamless integration of digital tools, as well as the creation of a shared platform for research dissemination.

The physical component, held in Kraków from May 27 to May 31, 2024, focused on experiential learning through guided thematic walks, group discussions, and performative lectures. These elements were designed to deepen the understanding of urban dynamics and socio-political influences on art, providing students with practical knowledge and methodologies to apply in their research. The opportunity to present research findings through performative lectures further honed the participants’ ability to articulate their work in diverse formats.

One of the core aims of the BIP was to bridge the gap between individual artistic research and broader socio-political contexts. The program encouraged participants to explore how artistic research methodologies could intersect with current issues such as the Anthropocene, ecological challenges, and authoritarianism. By fostering collaboration between students and faculty from diBerent cultural and academic backgrounds, the BIP provided a rich environment for crossdisciplinary inquiry.

BIP summary – the film and photos

We invite you to view the film and photo documentation summarizing the BIP program in Krakow.

Participants

The program was attended by doctoral and master degree students from the three participating institutions.

The program was coordinated by dr hab Bogdan Achimescu from the Jan Matejko Fine Art Academy in Kraków, with key contributions from dr Mick Wilson of the HDK-Valand Academy of Art and Design at the University of Gothenburg and prof Szabolcs Kispal from the Doctoral School of the University of Fine Arts in Budapest, who facilitated academic discussions, organized virtual meetings, and led the mobility of students from their respective institutions.

During the mobility, faculty and doctoral students from the Fine Art Academy in Kraków and MKE Budapest served as World Café moderators (Karolina Hałatek, Elżbieta Wysakowska-Walters, Antonina Lorek, Szabolcs Kisspal). During the program a lecture was presented by prof. Adla Isanović from the Academy of Fine Arts in Sarajewo.

Our City Walk was curated and led by Małgorzata Tomal who also designed and distributed a brochure with key information about Krakow’s dualities. A team of students from the Faculty of Intermedia led by our lecturer, Agnieszka Piksa created a comic book – style record of the event.

The program was facilitated by the Doctoral Student’s Union Natalia MecnarowskaLegutko as well as by Anna Knych and Zuzanna Witkowska from the ASP OBice of International Collaboration.

Film and photography: Grzegorz Mart.