Cultural heritage – contemporary art
Engaging with cultural heritage and contemporary art at the same time increases the quality of artistic creation. KUG has always regarded the promotion of composition, improvisation and interpretation in contemporary music and theatre as one of its key areas of activity. Preserving the region’s cultural heritage is another significant priority.
KUG’s strength lies in the interdisciplinary approaches that it has developed over the years in its focus on contemporary arts. Events, artistic research projects and various Development and Exploration of the Arts (EEK)* activities serve as an anchoring point for interdisciplinary exchange between the various departments at KUG and with artistic genres that have not hitherto been represented at an institutional level at the university.
Regional roots – international development
The tertiary artistic education offered at KUG stems from the universitiy’s roots in the surrounding region. Amateur music-making, regional music schools and early contact with music in the general school system form the broad foundation for the training of excellent music students at a university of the arts. Equally important is promoting theatre and visual arts in schools or cultural educational institutions in order to reach aspiring actors, stage designers and teachers of art and design, and to inspire them to pursue a profession in the arts.
KUG advocates for a permeable relationship between school-based and extracurricular areas in the arts and support for cultural education in Austria through regional and cultural policy.
KUG’s international roots are reflected in its people: students come from Austria and abroad, and the artistic and academic faculty is made up of leading national and international figures. KUG is also integrated into a broad international network. Maintaining memberships in international associations and organisations and promoting the mobility of its students and staff are essential for KUG, as international exchange is essential for setting artistic and academic standards and promoting excellence.
Art and culture in society, artistic citizenship and openness of genres
KUG sees art, culture and science as a prime resource for positive social change. At KUG, teachers use this potential to promote an attitude of artistic citizenship among students, empowering them to open up new spaces for art in society and use them professionally, thus shaping their own working lives. All of the artistic disciplines represented at KUG are seen as social practices that can contribute to making cultural differences bear fruit. In the case of music, this includes music-making and music-related activities by people from many different cultures and parts of the world, along with a wide variety of musical genres and traditions. Artistic and academic debate at KUG includes historical and contemporary forms of Western art music and popular styles, jazz and world music from myriad cultures. There is also particular interest in new – sometimes hybrid – developments such as computer music, sound art, and multimedia, performative and cross-genre formats. This broad concept of music enables music-making with and for an open society. Research findings engender a better understand of music, thus shaping long-term developments.
Interweaving artistic practice, Development and Exploration of the Arts and academic scholarship
The interplay of practice and reflection forms the basis for artistic and academic processes and pedagogical work at KUG. The quality of findings from academic study and art research is greatly enhanced and brought up to date through the integration of living artistic practice into university study and vice versa. KUG also sees itself as a research university with a long tradition of focus on research. Current developments in digitalisation, especially artificial intelligence (AI), are researched and leveraged here. KUG’s curricula combine professionalism of the highest order with the development of an open, inquisitive spirit to develop critical thinking and creativity in solving complex problems.
Partnership, appreciation and transparency
KUG places particular emphasis on fostering excellent skills in collaborative interaction, as these form the foundation for excellence in music and drama. The ability to listen, perceive another person with empathy, and express oneself in an authentic way are not only prerequisites for artistic creation, but also for critical dialogue with others. This understanding serves as the basis for especially important areas and focal points of ensemble art at KUG: instrumental and vocal chamber music, orchestra, jazz and drama.
Transparency and constructive feedback are indicative of a university culture based on appreciation and are typical of the way in which KUG members treat one another. We take care not to overstep any boundaries, whether physical, psychological or verbal.
Members of an open society
All members and graduates of KUG are aware of their social responsibility and seek to fulfil their personal role in society. Their research activities are guided by internationally recognised ethical standards and principles of good scientific practice (responsible science).
Society needs graduates who, besides demonstrating artistic excellence, can deal constructively with change and forge new links, show flexibility and initiate cultural participation and co-creation. To do this, they need plenty of scope during their studies to delve into topics of their own accord, whether through a wide range of options during their studies or by having sufficient time to deal with the course content that they have chosen for themselves. This tests student self-management skills and allows them to acquire and fine-tune their project planning skills, knowledge of general cultural management and ability to handle digital media. To this end, KUG creates a teaching/learning culture that encourages teachers to support, challenge and advise their students on their individual development, while encouraging students to carry out their own projects and gain practical experience for their future careers by overcoming difficulties.
Diversity and sustainability as an opportunity
Members of the KUG community are opposed to discrimination of any kind and advocate for diversity, inclusion and the promotion of equal opportunities at all levels and in all areas. All members of KUG value openness to other perspectives, opinions, artistic viewpoints and academic approaches. They also attach great importance to building intercultural skills.
A broad understanding of sustainability in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) promotes engagement with the changes that we need to make in our time. This includes the mental and physical health of KUG members and the need to slow down and engage more deeply with art, education and scholarship.
