Program Overview

Introduction to the 2022 Blended Intensive Programme: Caring for Art and Nature

The 2022 Blended Intensive Programme: Caring for Art and Nature is a unique educational opportunity offered through the Erasmus+ programme. This programme is designed to explore the role of wood as an artistic material, its conservation, and the intersection of art and nature.

Programme Overview

The programme is a collaborative effort between the University of Groningen, the University of Gothenburg, and the University of Konstanz. It consists of both virtual learning elements and a short study mobility phase, where participants will meet physically in Konstanz, Germany.

Programme Details

• Duration: The programme will take place from 3rd to 9th July 2022.
• Location: The on-site teaching and learning phase will be held in Konstanz, Germany.
• Target Group: The programme is open to B.A., M.A., PhD, M.Sc., and B.Sc. candidates in the fields of art history, cultural history, cultural heritage studies, material culture studies, conservation, and conservation science.
• Language of Instruction: English.

Course Outline

The course will explore various aspects of wood as an artistic material, including its biological and ecological diversity, physical properties, geographical origins, historical trading routes, and technologies serving wood conservation. The programme aims to consider the human-made, nature-made, or animal-plant collaborations apparent in wooden objects and artworks.

Academic Information

• Course Credits: Participants will receive between 3 and 6 ECTS points for their active participation, depending on the credit requirements of their degree programmes at their home institution.
• Assessment: Awarded credit amounts will be based on the type and volume of assessment completed.

Tentative Schedule

The programme includes virtual elements, such as digital lectures, and an on-site teaching period in Konstanz. The tentative schedule includes:

• Virtual Lectures:
  • 5th May 2022: Christina Neilson - "Early Modern Wooden Objects in Europe and Colonial Latin America"
  • 10th May 2022: Marta Domínguez Delmás - "Dendrochronology of historical art objects: principles, current advances and challenges"
• On-site Teaching Period: The programme will include in-class and excursion activities in Konstanz, with a detailed schedule to be updated regularly.

Travel and Accommodation

• Travel to Konstanz: Participants can reach Konstanz by train, with the closest airport being Zurich Airport in Switzerland.
• Accommodation: Rooms have been reserved for mobile participants in various hotels and hostels in Konstanz, with prices ranging from €43.70 to €119 per night.

Insurance and Funding

• Insurance: Participants are responsible for ensuring they have adequate health, accident, and liability insurance during their stay.
• Erasmus+ Funding: Mobile participants will receive a mobility grant/lump sum for travel from their sending institution, with amounts based on the Erasmus+ programme guide for 2021.

Conclusion

The 2022 Blended Intensive Programme: Caring for Art and Nature offers a unique opportunity for students to explore the intersection of art and nature, with a focus on wood as an artistic material. The programme provides a comprehensive overview of the subject, including its conservation and the human-made, nature-made, or animal-plant collaborations apparent in wooden objects and artworks.