Hansjoerg Wyss Scholarship

The Ecole Cantonale d’Art du Valais (ECAV) welcomes applications for the Hansjoerg Wyss Scholarship.The Scholarship is open to international artists who wish to complete a Bachelor in Fine Arts or a Master of Arts in Public Spheres at ECAV starting in the autumn 2018.

Since its foundation in 1949, ECAV has established a significant practice of international research, art production and pedagogy. Situated in the alpine, post-industrial city of Sierre, over the years, the communities, landscape and cultural situation where the art school is situated has become one of its central research angles based on a transdisciplinary approach, interventions in the public sphere, and a clear attention to the students’ research.

The Hansjoerg Wyss Foundation was created in 2001 to provide financial support to visual arts students from the continents of Africa, Asia and Latin America wishing to pursue Bachelor or Master studies at ECAV.

Candidates are selected by professors and heads of ECAV partner institutions on the aforementioned continents (Wits University of Johannesburg, Funda College in Soweto; the Rockston Artists Collective Artists Studio part of the Triangle Arts Trust in Lusaka, Zambia, Pro Helvetia Office, etc.), as well as by a panel comprising ECAV professors and members of the Hansjoerg Wyss Foundation.

Grants are awarded on the basis of candidates’ artistic merit and cover Bachelor (Fine Arts) and Master (Master of Arts in Public Spheres) programs.

The Hansjoerg Wyss Scholarship covers school fees, accommodation, and a contributory stipend.
Eligibility

For the BFA program: welcome are applications from artists up to 30 years of age. Proficiency in French (required level: B2).

For the MAPS program: welcome are applications from artists up to 30 years of age. Proficiency in English, written and oral. French level A2 is a plus.
Selections are based on the quality of the work, the potential of the research, as well as on financial need.
Application check-list

Bachelor in Fine arts candidates for the Hansjoerg Wyss Scholarship:
–Bachelor application form duly completed (to be downloaded here)
–Wyss scholarship application form duly completed (to be downloaded here)
–A motivation letter
–A letter of recommendation from a teacher of home institution
–A curriculum vitae
–A portfolio of artistic works
–Copies of the diplomas (high school degrees)
–A copy of the passport
–A certificate proving knowledge of the French language (level required: B2)
–1 photo

Master of Arts in Public Spheres candidates for the Hansjoerg Wyss Scholarship:
–Master application form duly completed (to be downloaded here)
–Wyss scholarship application form duly completed (to be downloaded here)
–A motivation letter
–A statement of educational goals, including a project focusing to the art in public spheres, including relevant references for the project
–2 recommendation letters from artists, theoreticians or former teachers
–A curriculum vitae
–A portfolio documenting the works and research
–Copies of the diplomas (Bachelor degree and other relevant certificates)
–A copy of the passport
–1 photo

All application documents have to be sent by email to the following address: wyss@ecav.ch.

The admission selection committees of the BA and the MA, in agreement with representatives of the Hansjoerg Wyss  Scholarship foundation, will examine the applications. Applicants will be shortlisted for interviews and eventually notified the results via e-mail.

Application schedule
Bachelor in Fine Arts
Deadline for applications: March 29, 2018. Interviews: April 17-18, 2018
Master of Arts in Public Spheres
Deadline for applications: April 10, 2018. Interviews: May 7-8, 2018
For more information on the grant:
 Patricia Comby, wyss@ecav.ch, T +41 27 456 55 11

www.ecav.ch