Come and make a change!

– Art in public space is art that meets everyone, says Merete Røstad, Associate Professor of Art and Public Space and leader of the Master’s programme.

- It has no threshold, which means that it is something very special. It can be a small gesture, but it can also be something enormous.

 Røstad emphasizes the possibilities of art in public spaces, noting that it can be much more than the sculptures that often come to mind.

– It can, for instance, be participatory, like a performance. Actually, there are so many different ways to explore art in public spaces. The programme Art and Public Space has the potential to develop art – together with the public, with communities, in the very places where we live, work and visit. There are many layers in which art in public space can have an impact. It creates a change that is part of everything we do in our lives as we move through different institutions and public spaces. In that sense, art in public spaces follows us through life.

MAPS is a unique program situated at the Art and Craft department at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts. It attracts students from all over the world with interdisciplinary backgrounds.

– We don’t limit projects to public space but also to projects about the public sphere. Over the two years, you learn how to make, produce, and disseminate projects in public space. We do fieldwork, fieldtrips and study trips locally and abroad. You can also learn how to facilitate and develop a project in and about public space. The final layer is that we also expand to the public sphere, which means that we are open to projects that work digitally and online.

Exclusive program

– We are looking for students that are open, curious, willing to take on challenges and really want to take time to explore art making individually as well as together with other students and the faculty. It is crucial to take part in the student environment and of course in the meetings with all the different external partners that we collaborate with.

The program has twelve to fourteen students every year, mixing a group of local and international students. MAPS also welcomes exchange students from all over the world. This makes MAPS an intimate and exclusive programme.

 – We do a lot of collaborations over the two years. You get the opportunity to go to seminars, do fieldwork and exhibit with some of Norway’s biggest art institutions. You will meet important stakeholders within the field. These collaborations provide the students with practical knowledge of working and practicing as an artist within the field of art and public space.

Why KHiO?

– At KHiO you become part of an international student environment with diverse interests. It is a place where you can explore and learn a lot about yourself and your practice, and how you will engage with public space.

The programme has a dedicated space where students share a studio throughout the two-year Master’s. This shared space also serves as the venue for many of their lectures.

– We have sort of a hub where most of our practice happens. But, ofcourse, the students go out from the institution and into other spaces, doing their projects. But this is the place we come back to; this is where we meet, this is where we gather, and this is where we share.

Merete Røstad has a long history with this Master's programme. Her journey began over ten years ago when she participated in the pilot testing phase of the programme.

– From there on I became the first PhD Fellow as part of the programme and in Norway. I got hired as a teacher for the program before I finished my PhD. That was six years ago, and I am excited to continue leading the program for the next six years, which is such a wonderful possibility to expand the programme’s network and student community. Three things that I would say are good reasons to come to KHiO and study art, is, first off, the institution itself. The building has extraordinary facilities when it comes to workshops and places to work in. The next thing I will mention is that KHiO is quite unique regarding the different interdisciplinary faculties that exist here. Nordic art academies are known for setting practice first, and KHiO is no exception. We have a dedicated research community which offers opportunities to engage in artistic research projects through courses and practical exploration, allowing you to take part in shaping the extended art field. Thirdly, for those who are excited about doing a third cycle of education, we offer a PhD programme in Artistic Research.

– I am very excited to lead this Master’s programme because it holds the potential to have such an impact on people’s lives in the communities where we live and work. It can also impact and change our practice, how art is made, and what it can be in the future. This is central of what the programme is about - it's not just about the practice—it’s about reimagining the theoretical and pedagogical dimensions of art in public space for the future. I invite you to join our program and be part of this change!

Application deadline for Master's programme in Art and public space  is February 3, 2025 

For further information or questions, please reach out to Merete Røstad at mererost@khio.no