Arts, Media and Society (BA)

Visual art today is strongly interlinked with today’s society, a connection which is reinforced and deepened by social and other media. In Arts, Media and Society you will explore this relationship and analyse how it reflects and impacts the issues of our time, while also learning practical and academic skills that are invaluable in the current job market.

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About Arts, Media and Society

In Arts, Media and Society you will be able to study a wide range of contemporary art, including painting, video art, photography, installation art, bio-art, games, performance art and digital media art. Art does not exist in isolation, and therefore this programme encourages you to study and interpret art’s relationship to our society as well as the role of media in that relationship. This means that when studying visual art within Arts, Media and Society you will also touch upon issues of visual art relating to, for instance, science and politics.

Meg Peterson

First year student

"I am really interested in art, and after high school in the US I wanted to move abroad and study art history. Before actually moving here, I visited Leiden to get a sense of what Arts, Media and Society was like, and found I loved the programme and the city. Going for this bachelor's has been a really good choice. I'm learning much more than I thought I would learn, the programme has a really broad scope. We explore a wide variety of forms of contemporary art, including cinema, photography and modern media, while also delving deeply into subjects such as sociology and cultural representation."

Perihaan Khan

First year student

"To choose my study programme, I started out by looking up information online to narrow down my options. It really helped me to find out when the Open Days were so I could visit in person and talk to students already studying as well as explore the city. The Open Day was a great way to get to know the university, attend some lectures and ask my questions to students and professors. I would advise to get in touch with students, even if you’re living abroad, to ask your questions directly!"

Sybille Lammes

Professor New Media and Digital Culture

"The Arts, Media and Society programme is an English-taught track of the Art History programme with an obvious leaning towards the roles of contemporary art and media in society. It is a highly contemporary study that combines perspectives from many different humanities fields, but it’s firmly anchored in a historical context. We want to make students aware of the history of art and cultural expression so they understand them in all their contemporary complexities."

Society

Art is inspired by the society it is created in. Today we face multiple challenges, such as climate change, conflict and inequality, and many artists reflect on these issues in their work. Some artists take an outright activist role, making their voice heard in current debates. Others comment on societal developments and changes, while taking the role of an outsider.

Media

Today’s media, and certainly social media, are an essential factor in the ongoing exchange between society and the arts. They do not only bring not only artists and audience together, but also highlight new aspects of the major issues society is facing, which artists may use in the creation of a work of art.

An example is the art resulting from a Black Lives Matter protest in Bristol. In 2020 activists toppled a statue of a 17th century slave trader, throwing it in the harbour. When British artist Marc Quinn on Instagram saw a picture of activist Jen Reid standing on top of the empty plinth, he was inspired to create an installation depicting this activist. When the installation, Surge of Power, was illegally placed on the vacant plinth near the harbour, pictures of it were widely shared on Instagram. The artist, activists and social media not only all contributed to the creation of this work of art, but also jointly acted to give it new layers of meaning. During our programme, you will thoroughly explore such examples of the relationship between art, media and society.

What you will learn

As a student of Arts, Media and Society, you will not only learn how to look at modern and contemporary art, how to interpret it, to think about it and to write and present your findings. You will also develop academic and practical skills that will prove essential for your further career.

Seven reasons to study Arts, Media and Society at Leiden University

A programme with a broad scope in which you will study contemporary visual arts, the role of media and the way they interact with today’s society.
Lecturers who belong to the top of their field and who base their teaching on their current research.
Hands-on experience in research projects and field trips.
Guest lectures by national and international artists, scholars and scientists, outside of the regular programme.
Excellent facilities in the historic and culturally diverse city of Leiden, with easy access to important museums, art galleries and media institutions in Leiden and nearby cities such as The Hague, Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
Lively community of international students and lecturers.
Perfect preparation for a career in academia, the public or private sector.

Is Arts, Media and Society the programme for you?

Are you fascinated with contemporary art and do you want to understand how it is interconnected with the media we all use?
Are you interested in how contemporary artists engage with societal issues and challenges such as global warming, inequality and conflict?
Do you want to explore the role of art and media in current public debates?
Do you thrive in an international environment?
Do you want to have the opportunity to learn about artists’ and other art professionals’ views on the role of art in society?
Are you looking for a challenging, innovative programme with a personal approach?

If the answer to these questions is `yes’, then check out the Arts, Media and Society programme.

Democratising restoration work

PhD candidate Liselore Tissen uses 3D prints and eye-tracking software to make museum visitors decide whether the background of a painting should remain blue or be restored to its original gold colour. Continue >

Artists who find innovative ways to engage with the issues of our society are regularly invited to the Arts, Media and Society programme. Here, designers Bernhard Lenger and Hannah van Luttervelt share their ideas with our students.

Experience the programme online

Do you want to know if Arts, Media and Society is right for you? Check out our Online Experience, which consists of online mini-courses, including some assignments. This allows you to get a real taste of the first year of our programme.

Chat with a student

Do you have a question about student life in Leiden, studying at Leiden University, or do you want more information about the Arts, Media and Society bachelor's programme?

Chat with a current student for answers to your questions!