Over the past decades, ArtScience has become an essential part of The Hague’s artistic landscape. The interfaculty programme, jointly organised by the Koninklijke Academie van Beeldende Kunsten (Royal Academy of Art) and the Koninklijk Conservatorium (Royal Conservatoire), created a space in which sound, performance, visual art, technology, and experimental practice could meet across disciplines and institutions.

Following the recent decision to dissolve the ArtScience Interfaculty after 35 years, with the Bachelor programme becoming a track within Fine Arts at KABK and the Master’s programme moving to the KC, an important educational structure connecting both institutions will come to an end. This raises questions about the future of interdisciplinary artistic education in The Hague.

Rewire supports ArtScience because of the vital role it has played within the city’s music and arts ecosystem. Since the festival’s first edition in 2011, ArtScience students, alumni, and affiliated artists have continuously contributed to Rewire as performers, collaborators, researchers, and critical voices. Their work has helped shape the interdisciplinary environment in which adventurous music and artistic experimentation can continue to develop in The Hague and beyond.

From 1–9 June, students are organising the ArtScience Festival across KABK and KC. Combining protest, exhibitions, concerts, workshops, public interventions, and collective gatherings, the festival responds to the decision while affirming the visibility and importance of the ArtScience community. More info via ArtScience Interfaculty.

Rewire recognises the lasting significance of ArtScience for the city’s cultural ecology, and the many artists, communities, and practices that have emerged from it over the years.

Incandescence Rain by ArtScience alum Pelle Schilling during Rewire 2021 - Offline Edition, photo by Parcifal Werkman