The Kunsthumaniora in Bruges is the only secondary art school in West Flanders. Several famous people graduated there, including presenter Manu Van Acker and singer Camille. Sérafine Vandesteene, 6th year Visual Arts student: “If you attend this school, you are free to express yourself and no one will judge you for what you do or what you wear.”
Reform
Art education has been reformed and that has advantages and disadvantages. Jo Decoster, director of Kunsthumaniora Brugge: “That concerns the number of hours of art subjects that we had to exchange for the general compartment. So that we currently have the same offer as all other schools.”
Shortage of space
Today, the art secondary school in Bruges has 565 students. But the school has a shortage of classrooms and studios. And, at the end of this school year, they have to leave the former Minnewater Residential Care Center. It will be converted into the House of the Bruges residents. Jo Decoster, director of Kunsthumaniora Brugge: “At the moment, mainly the first grade is in the WZC. We did this because it is close to Bruges station. Because we do not attract a few students from Bruges, but students from the entire province. We want to move those students back to our A site, i.e. to the Katelijnestraat.”
The art secondary school is an urban school. Together with the city of Bruges they are looking for a new location. In the meantime, an entire wing has been renovated in the main building in Katelijnestraat.
