Study programme

Jewellery

Part of the "Diplom" degree course Plastic Arts in the Art Faculty
“Dachaugen“ - Burg Giebichenstein University of Arts and Design Halle, Poto: Prof. Hans Stofer

Jewellery at the BURG

The need to adorn ourselves is human. When it comes to jewellery, the focus is on people. The strength of jewellery lies above all in the fact that it is made by people for people and worn by them. This gives both sides, the maker and the wearer, the opportunity to express themselves, to define themselves as artists and as individuals.
The focus of the jewellery course at the BURG is on the student, the artistic work and the realisation of an artistic idea into meaningful objects. Particular attention is paid to the examination of the various materials.
The understanding of this is expanded and deepened through individual and group consultations, regular plenums, joint projects and exhibitions.
(former Professor Hans Stofer, October 2017)

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What is jewellery?

Students provide answers.

“Jewellery is ornamentation.”, Paula Repp Alvarez, 2nd year student

“For me, jewellery is in most cases a change or an irritation on (or concerning) the human body. This can be deliberate or accidental. In the latter case, the conspicuousness becomes a jewellery situation as soon as the wearer or the other person notices it. So there can also be jewellery moments or gestures that are only visible for a brief moment.”, Katharina Briksi, 5th year student

“Jewellery is something figurative that has an essential connection to the body and acts as a medium.”, Ellinor Janderski, 3rd year student

“Jewellery is what is closest to us in life.”, Minjo Kwon, 2nd year student

“Jewellery - for me at the moment the unswerving belief in the necessity of the ornamental, the escapist - the excess of meaning in the senselessly beautiful. Perhaps this means that every fantastic story contains an element of jewellery?”, Samuel Maßmann, 5th year student

“Jewellery can be an artistic medium.”, Anne Pruy, 6th year student

“For me, jewellery is anything a person wants to adorn themselves with. This can be understood in the classic sense as earrings, necklaces or rings. But jewellery can also be my clothes, a hairband or a line of eyeliner. Jewellery can have a meaning because it reminds us of a loved one, it can have a purpose, symbolise something or simply be aesthetically pleasing. For me, jewellery can be anything that we wear on our bodies.”, Diane Röckel, 4th year student

Focuses of this course of study

The course spans ten semesters and is made up of three parts: In the first two foundation years, in addition to the major subject, a range of foundation subjects, including jewellery-related techniques is part of the curriculum. The third and fourth years of the main study period are, in the main, devoted to studio work. The fifth year is dedicated entirely to studio work in preparation for the diploma presentation and research for the thesis. Parallel to the practical work, lectures and seminars in art history and philosophy are taught as part of the curriculum. Students graduate with a Diploma in Fine Art that is equivalent to an MFA. Burg Giebichenstein provides excellent conditions for study, especially with regard to the presence of tutors and personal tuition, studio space and technical facilities. Because of the mutual foundation years and the proximity of the other departments at Burg Giebichenstein, a cross-discipline exchange takes place.

Course of study

The Jewellery programme is based on individual studio work with regular individual consultations and weekly tutorials. There are up to twenty students in the jewellery class. At the commencement of the first year, an assignment is set for first-year students which each solves in his or her own way, in order to develop an individual field of research. Building on this, the students develop and follow their own projects.

Students are supervised in formal and practical questions by the head of department and the artistic assistant. Technical questions are directed to the studio manager. Exchange projects with other national and international art schools, seminars and workshops with guests and exhibitions locally and abroad provide students with opportunities to gather experience and make contacts in preparation for a career in the field of art. It is our aim to transcend the traditionally handed-down skills and methods of the craft, to investigate the current developments in contemporary jewellery, to redefine content and aims, and to perceive what is happening in other art forms. Graduates should be in the position to choose and investigate their own themes and fields of research and to realise their ideas independently using the appropriate craftsmanship. The aim is to develop an individual artistic language and standpoint.

Prerequisites

The equivalent of a German higher education entrance qualification (Abitur) and artistic suitability is required. Exceptions may be made for those applicants who have passed the Artistic Aptitude Test with exceptional ability. The passing of an internally held entrance examination which takes place once a year. Practical goldsmithing skills are desirable, but not a prerequisite. Foreign applicants must have good German-language skills (as demonstrated by the DSH or TestDaF tests). Students are required to have a good knowledge of German (certified by DSH or TestDaF).

Degree

Diplom degree in Fine Arts

Courses

All courses

The jewellery class offers ‘SCHMUCKHALLE’ (specialist studies) and specialist studies. ‘SCHMUCKHALLE’ explores the diverse artistic potential of jewellery and body-related objects as an artistic medium that is worn directly on the human body and moves in everyday contexts and in our society. The programme supports students' individual studio practice. ‘SCHMUCKHALLE’ is taught through class discussions, individual counselling, seminars, lectures, workshops, field research and exhibition design. The class meets for group discussions in which the students present their work for discussion. The students also meet regularly with the teaching staff for individual discussions. In addition to the students' individual projects, the class offers ‘SCHMUCKHALLE PROJEKTE’. ‘SCHMUCKHALLE PROJEKTE’ (Jewellery Hall Projects) deal with a topic over a period of one to two years and conclude with a public presentation.
Various jewellery techniques are taught in the specialist class.
 

Other subject-specific elective courses

Other subject-specific elective courses are possible if desired by individual students or groups – this must be based on a concrete wish or aim that can be formulated in the form of a conceptual idea, a design task or a material or technical investigation. The contact persons for this are Prof. Yuka Oyama, deputy professor Julia Walter, artistic assistant Merlin Klein and workshop manager Jakob Klug.

Gold and silversmith workshop

The workshop is set up as a traditional gold and silversmith's workshop.
There are 21 goldsmithing tables and 15 places at drawing tables. From the 2nd year onwards, each student has their own workbench and drawing table, which they can keep for the duration of their studies.
Machines for classic jewellery processing techniques, such as a roller, drawing bench, wedding ring machine, hand drill motors and polishing motor are available; each student should bring their own smaller hand tools. The workbenches are equipped with mouth soldering machines. There is also a space for larger soldering work and for melting and casting.
Copper, brass and nickel silver, sheet metal and wire can be purchased in class. All other materials required must be purchased by the students themselves.
In addition to the cultivation of traditional jewellery craftsmanship, the workshop also supports work with new and experimental materials and techniques.

enamel workshop

The enamel workshop is located opposite Burg Giebichenstein in the basement of the ‘Weißes Haus’. The processing and application of enamel has a long tradition at Burg Giebichenstein and we have the opportunity to continue working with enamel, which is currently becoming increasingly rare. Our workshop has workstations for a maximum of six students. We have two different materials available for enamelling. The first is decorative enamel, which can be processed using traditional techniques such as cell or pit enamelling, mainly on copper, and the second is industrial enamel on sheet steel, which offers a wide range of processing options. Enamelling is possible both on the surface and on plastically shaped parts. The preparatory metalworking can be carried out in good co-operation in our FG metal workshop.

News

All news

Prerequisites

General qualification for university entrance, and artistic suitability. The general qualification for university entrance can be waived in cases of exceptional talent combined with professional experience. Success in passing the university’s internal suitability test, which is held once a year and can be retaken. Practical goldsmith craft skills are desired. Foreign applicants must have good German-language skills (as demonstrated by the DSH or TestDaF tests). The course is conducted in German.

Study Information Day

The university holds a Study Information Day in January every year for applicants. General information on the university is provided, and the various disciplines showcase themselves. You will be able to talk to students and to assistants. The precise date is announced on our website by mid-December at the latest.

Annual exhibition

The traditional summer festival, which includes the annual exhibition, is held every year in July at Burg Giebichenstein. The university opens up its studios, seminar facilities and workshops to all who are curious about the fresh ideas, objects and pieces of art that have been created in the various art and design disciplines at the state of Saxony-Anhalt's art university. You are cordially invited to come along!

  • CONTACT UNIVERSITY

  • Office for students and 
    academic affairs
    T +49 (0)345-7751 532
    F +49 (0)345-7751 517
    ed.ellah-grub@ofniduts

  • degree

  • Diplom degree in Fine Arts

  • Start of study

  • Winter semester, new students 
    per year: 2-6

  • STANDARD PERIOD OF STUDY

  • Basic study programme: 4 semesters,
    Main study programme: 6 semesters (including diploma thesis)
    Diploma thesis: written and practical work, diploma colloquium

  • tuition

  • tuition-free

  • Application

  • Information for prospective students
    Application

Publications

Alle Publikationen
Wo alles anfängt
Der Katalog zur Ausstellung der Schmuck-Klasse der BURG, die vom 12. November 2015 bis zum 3. Januar 2016 in der Galerie im Volkspark zu sehen war.
Von hier und dort
Der Katalog zur Ausstellung internationaler SchmuckkünstlerInnen, die vom 12. November 2015 bis zum 3. Januar 2016 in der Galerie im Volkspark zu sehen war.
Die Schmuckklasse: Ringe
Der neue Katalog der Schmuckklasse der Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle und Ring Weimar
Die Schmuckklasse
Der neue Katalog der von Prof. Daniel Kruger geleiteten Schmuckklasse der Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle zeigt in den letzten fünf Jahren entstandene künstlerischen Arbeiten von neunzehn Studierenden.
[e'mail]
Die Emailwerkstatt der Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle
Die Schmuckklasse The Jewellery Class
Der 2007 erschienene Katalog zeigt eine Übersicht von Schmuck, der in der Klasse von 2003 bis 2007 entstanden ist. Begleitet werden die Abbildungen von Texten mit Äußerungen der Macherinnen zu ihren Arbeiten.