Common Ground invites you to explore across disciplines while remain focused on your own study programme. This way, it supports a richer understanding of artistic methodologies and the exchange of ideas across fields. The programme aims to develop your ability to reflect, collaborate, and articulate your role as an artist or designer within a broader context.

Type of sessions

The programme has two types of sessions, CONVERT and DIGEST. Below you can read more about the sessions.

CONVERT sessions are practice-based, participatory workshops held in small groups and guided by Common Ground tutors. These sessions focus on engaging with key themes through making, relating, and experiencing. You will explore a variety of research and artistic methods, with each group remaining consistent throughout the year to build strong connections beyond departmental boundaries. The teaching approach in CONVERT is rooted in the concept of ‘relating’, which highlights multiple ways of connecting to material, theory, peers and tutors through thinking, making, feeling, imagining, and being. This diversity allows you to discover your unique learning style and strengthens the interdisciplinary nature of the programme.

DIGEST sessions are large-group lectures for all first-year students, held in the auditorium. These sessions focus on theoretical and contextual backgrounds of art and design, hosted by guest lecturers from various bachelor departments. DIGEST themes are tailored to each block of the programme, ensuring a rich variety of insights and approaches. The aim is to broaden your perspective and introduce you to different methodologies and artistic research. You are encouraged to reflect on these sessions in your workbook and complete small assignments, expanding your ability to engage with the world. DIGEST themes are tailored to each block and led by teachers from the bachelor departments, ensuring a rich variety of insights and approaches.

Prorgramme structure

Common ground is divided in four blocks. Below you find a description per block.

In block 1, you will find your own ground and have the opportunity to invite others to visit places that are dear to your heart.

In block 2, you will get to know each other better and discover your shared ground, where ideas and collaborations can unfold.

In block 3, you will open up to the larger context and become familiar with the realities of the present moment, which we inhabit together.

In block 4, you will test your autonomous qualities by self-initiating a collaborative project to address the challenges you find important, practising your power as an interdisciplinary change-maker.

Workbook

You will receive the Common Ground workbook, which is your personal tool for documenting experiences, tracking your development, and reflecting on your learning journey throughout the year. It is designed to support your process, offering background information, suggestions, formats, and guidelines for exercises, assignments, and assessments.

You are encouraged to use the workbook freely and creatively: add pages, draw, paint, write, glue, include materials and references-whatever helps you best capture your ideas and progress. The workbook provides structure while allowing you to shape it in a way that fits your working methods and creative process.

As you move through the programme, the workbook will help you gain insight into how you work, reflect on your choices, and understand the directions you wish to take. It also serves as an assessment tool: at certain moments, you will share its contents with teachers and peers to support (self-)reflection and (self-)assessment, and it will be part of your overall evaluation in the Common Ground programme.

Specifications

  • You will gain awareness of and be able to share your personal values, beliefs and backgrounds.
  • You will be able to establish connections with other members of our KABK community, each of them with their own values, beliefs and backgrounds.
  • You will become acquainted with the variety of perspectives provided by the BA departments at KABK, what they have in common, where they differ and how they complement each other.
  • You will broaden your knowledge about (contemporary) discourses within aesthetics, art, design, philosophy and sociology.
  • You will become acquainted with and practice a range of research approaches, methods and tools relevant to artistic practice.
  • You will exercise your collaborative and communicative skills to work with students from various departments in a process of (artistic) research, making and presentation.
  • You will be able to articulate and reflect upon your own role and position within the academy, your own artistic practice and in the world, both individually and together with other students.
  • You will be able to apply all of the above to guide you in your growth and development and make considered choices in your study.

Common Ground supports all bachelor programme competencies, but special attention is given to:

  • Collaborative ability
  • Critical reflection
  • External awareness

At the end of each block, you will participate in a formative assessment. This marks the closure of the block’s theme and gives you the chance to reflect on your experiences, identify your strengths, and set goals for further development. These moments are designed to help you understand your learning style and support your growth as both an individual and a collaborator.

At the end of each semester, your tutor will write a summary of your progress, drawing on your assessments, workbook, and overall participation. This feedback will be shared with your department and considered in your collective assessment

  • Credits: 6 EC (3 per semester)
  • Contact hours: 54 per semester
  • Self-study hours: 30 per semester
  • Pass
  • Fail

80% attendance is required to successfully complete the programme.