This study investigated the often subtle “distinctions” (Pierre Bourdieu), that is, the inclusions and exclusions produced and reproduced in the institutional field of art universities.
Who studies at Swiss art universities? Does the diversity of the student body reflect that of the Swiss population or are some groups missing? Does the university create inequalities or does ‘talent alone create equality’? Even without solid statistical evidence, the probability that the findings of an analysis done by the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna, can be adapted to the situation in Switzerland is likely: “Studying art is an elitist event”. (1)
The Bildungsbericht Schweiz 2010 (2) (the 2010 report of education in Switzerland) thus finds that the parents of slightly more than 50% of students studying art, theatre and music have a university or higher education degree. (At universities of applied science that number is only 30% and at universities 46%)
From our perspective it would be worthwhile to explore this further: analyse the complex configuration of inequality and create strategies to challenge the status quo of the higher art education system. Extensive research and surveys have not been done yet, either in Switzerland, or, as far as we can tell within Europe, apart from the long-term research on the effects of the so-called “widening participation” activities within higher art education in England.
Making Differences: Swiss Universities of the Arts, initiated by the Institute for Art Education at the Zurich University of the Arts wishes to investigate the often subtle “distinctions” (Pierre Bourdieu), that is, the inclusions and exclusions produced and reproduced in the institutional field of art universities.
The parameters of the field of interest have been fixed in an explorative study and the appropriate networks created for further research co-operations on a national and transnational level. Over and above that an empirical basis for prospective studies will be created through both quantitative and qualitative surveys.
Explorative study available (German only).
"Artistic talent is hard to spot in young people but you can be damn sure that, two parents, a white skin, nice middle class manners and four A-levels are not very reliable indicators." (Grayson Perry, Artist and patron of the British National Arts Learning Network)
(1) Jakob Krameritsch: Zusammenfassung: Bewerber_innen-Befragung am Institut für Bildende Kunst 2009 von Barbara Rothmüller. Wien 2010, 2.
(2) Studieren unter Bologna. Hauptbericht der Erhebung zur sozialen und wirtschaftlichen Lage der Studierenden an den Schweizer Hochschulen 2009. Hg. BFS (Bundesamt für Statistik). Neuchâtel 2010, 25. – Der kürzlich erschienene «Bildungsbericht 2010» hält im Gegensatz dazu fest, dass 36% der Studierenden an universitären Hochschulen einen Vater mit Hochschulabschluss haben.
Vgl. Bildungsbericht 2010. Hg. Schweizerische Koordinationsstelle für Bildungsforschung. Aarau 2010, 204.