The arts are considered to have a wide variety of 'functions' in society. Not only can they be a means for expressing, representing and even generating individual and collective identities, but they also serve to critical reflect society. In the Master track Arts in Society you will study aspects of the public role of art in today's societies.
In the present time, the position of the arts and culture in
society is more critical than ever. We witness how culture has
become a platform for polarization and conflict, but how it can
also serve as an instrument for appeasement. From the realist novel
and Brecht's theatre to Pussy Riot and NWA, art has been used as a
stage to combat political oppression and to express and negotiate
identities. This track looks at the various ways in which artistic
practices can contribute to forms of political resistance. The
track also foregrounds approaches which illuminate the
inter-relations between various arts disciplines. Finally, the MA
track studies arts and culture in relation to current developments
such as digitization / AI, decolonization, democracy and populism,
globalization and its relation to future developments in
GenZ.
Building on a combination of critical sociology and cultural
studies, the Arts in Society track provides tools, in the first
semester, to study and interpret these developments whilst
developing strategies for strengthening the position of the arts in
society. In the second semester you will apply gained insights in
practice, in a variety of forms, ranging from taking on a
professional placement in a relevant cultural institution, to
creating a professional portfolio, and curating a concrete
intervention in society.
Studying in Groningen implies living in a culturally vibrant city of a medium size. This allows you to quickly develop an overview of the city's abundant cultural offer that we frequently use as empirical material of our courses.
In the first semester the students follow courses for 30 ECTS. Here 20 ECTS come from the Film and Audiovisual Media track. The remaining 10 ECTS can be chosen from the other tracks within the Arts and Culture MA programme (Music, Theatre and Performance Studies; Arts in Society).
In the second semester students write their MA thesis (20 EC) and do an internship/traineeship (10 EC). The internship can also be replaced by a course or a tutorial.
Optional courses from the other tracks:
Semester 1a:
Arts and the Public Sphere
Dramaturgy
Mimesis, Narrative and Identity
Music and Sound in Times of Ecological Crisis
Performance Mediality & Materiality
Popular Music Journalism
Semester 1b:
Adaptation Theory and Practice
Applied Cultural Criticism
Art and Knowledge
Music, Careers, Industries and Lives
Music, Theatre and Sound
Popular Music, Politics and Resistance
Visualizing Classical Music Experience
| Semesters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
| Arts and Wellbeing (5 EC) | ||||
| Optional Course 1 (5 EC, optional) | ||||
| Optional Course 2 (5 EC, optional) | ||||
| The Global/Local Cultural Leader (5 EC) | ||||
| Arts, Culture and Digitalization (5 EC) | ||||
| Public Cultural Policy in Global Context (5 EC) | ||||
| Ma Placement/Tutorial (10 EC) | ||||
| Master's Thesis (20 EC) | ||||
| Programme options |
|---|
| Master's Placement (specialization) This Master's track includes an optional work placement for which you are awarded ECTS credit points. It is your responsibility to find a placement yourself, but the Office for Student Affairs can offer help with this where necessary. |
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
Students with a Bachelor's degree in Arts, Culture and Media are directly admissible to this Master's track. University of Groningen students with a BA in:
with a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) in Arts & Culture, Arts in Society, are also admissible to this Master's track. Students with a Bachelor's degree in a related field, such as Arts Philosophy, Arts Sociology, Arts Policy, Film, Music, Theatre or Literature, are welcome to apply to the track. The Admissions Board will assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific track requirements, and will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies. |
| language test |
Additional requirements English: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items) or Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency. |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Culture | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) in Arts & Culture, Arts in Society track |
| Communication and Information Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) in Arts & Culture, Arts in Society track |
| Dutch Language and Culture | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) in Arts & Culture, Arts in Society track |
| European Languages and Cultures | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) in Arts & Culture, Arts in Society track |
| History (part-time) | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) in Arts & Culture, Arts in Society track |
| Frisian Language and Culture | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) in Arts & Culture, Arts in Society track |
| Media Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) in Arts & Culture, Arts in Society track |
| American Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) in Arts & Culture, Arts in Society track |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, Culture and Media | All Research universities | No additional requirements |
Please use this step-by-step guide for more information regarding your eligibility and your specific application procedure.
After you complete your application, the Admissions Board will assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific programme requirements, and will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies.
The Admissions Board will then determine whether:
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 15 August 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
Students with a Bachelor's degree in Arts, Culture and Media are directly admissible to this Master's track. University of Groningen students with a BA in:
with a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) in Arts & Culture, Arts in Society track, are also admissible to this Master's track. Students with a Bachelor's degree in a related field, such as Arts Philosophy, Arts Sociology, Arts Policy, Film, Music, Theatre or Literature, are welcome to apply to the track. The Admissions Board will assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific track requirements, and will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies. |
| language test |
Additional requirements English: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items) or Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency. |
Please use this step-by-step guide for more information regarding your eligibility and your specific application procedure.
After you complete your application, the Admissions Board will assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific programme requirements, and will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies.
The Admissions Board will then determine whether:
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 15 August 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
Research focuses on the organization of production, dissemination and contextualization of arts in the public sphere. Moreover, research opportunities include questions regarding public arts policies of local, national and international authorities. The Arts in Society track is linked to the Arts and the Public Sphere Theme Group of the Research Centre Arts in Society.
