The Arts, Health, and Society Division Newsletter – April 2026
Learn what is going on at EGS!
April 2026
(Photos from Summer Session 2025; Sources: Sandy Tsz Shan Chow; Yasaman Pishvaei)
Deadline for Application and Registration for Summer Session 2026 is April 30th!
The deadline to apply and register to this year’s summer sessions is April 30th! Information on our MA and PhD programs, along with the registration link, can be found here: https://ahs.egs.edu/
We hope to see you this summer!
Session 1
June 8th (Session 1 starts at 9am) to June 28th (Session 1 ends at 10pm):
Master Programs in Expressive Arts with Specializations in Therapy, Coaching and Consulting, & Social Change/Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding
Doctoral Program in Expressive Arts
Session 2
July 8th (Session 2 starts at 9am) to July 28th (Session 2 ends at 10pm)
Master Programs in Expressive Arts with Specializations in Therapy, Coaching and Consulting, & Social Change/Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding
Doctoral Program in Expressive Arts
(Applications are open year-round on rolling-basis)
For a closer look at this year’s academic program, please click below:
To learn more about our Masters and PhD Programs, please click below:
This year, the AHS division is focusing on the Poetics of Synergy, using the metaphor of the Murmuration to explore how collective movement and decentralized intelligence can reshape our understanding of art, health, and society.
With our work we respond to the world not as something already given or fixed, but as an unfinished system where hope acts as a restorative force against rigid structures and the loss of resonance.
In our current global context, we see hope not as a passive wish, but as an active strategy and an ethical practice of being in the world. We are interested in the tension between the visionary not-yet-become (Bloch) and the creation of walkable pathways (Snyder) to navigate our shared reality.
Professional Development Courses
This Summer!
The AHS is offering two professional development courses this summer in Saas Fee, Switzerland!
Module K – June 8th – 28th
This Module is a three-week intensive, hands-on experience at the intersection of Art and Digital Art. It invites participants to explore the expressive potential of various art forms, including visual art, movement, music, poetry, and drama, all while engaging in intermodal practice. Participants will learn how to integrate and transition between different artistic media in order to enhance emotional expression and discover new pathways for personal and professional growth.
Module AP – June 14th – 28th
This Module is a fourteen days intensive training for change agents with a prior experience/qualification in the Expressive Arts field. It enables professionals to widen their perspectives and their understanding of Expressive Arts. It introduces participants to resource- oriented praxis, an approach that focuses on identifying and cultivating personal and collective resources through art-based practices. Resource orientation encourages individuals to harness strengths, capacities, and creative potentials, even in the face of adversity or trauma.
Expressive Arts and Global Health Program in Malta (Fall Course)
October 22nd – 31st, 2026
REGISTRATION OPEN
The Expressive Arts and Global Health program provides didactic learning and practical skills training for artists, peacebuilders, humanitarian workers, health care providers, teachers, and change agents from all fields who work with individuals, groups, and communities experiencing traumatic stress and crisis.
For those working in the intersection of conflict and the arts, it is imperative that we acquire knowledge about how the arts can enhance identity, safety and resilience in communities. This course will explore the different schools within the fields of conflict, as well as highlight various arts-based peacebuilding methods and community engagement techniques.
If you wish to learn more, please click below. If you are interested in joining our email list, please email administration@egs.edu.
Tune in to the EGS Arts, Health & Society Podcast!
Did you know we are gradually releasing our new podcast series?
The AHS Podcast is your ongoing connection to the EGS community. Right now, we are celebrating our 30th Anniversary with a special series of conversations featuring our pioneer faculty. As we continue to roll out new episodes, you will hear fresh dialogues diving deep into the latest developments, theories, and practices in the Expressive Arts.
Don’t miss out on these inspiring dialogues. Subscribe today on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to get notified whenever a new episode drops!
** Announcements **
- Our next EGS Alumni Workshop Gatherings are scheduled as follows:
EGS Alumni Meetings 2026
EGS Alumni Gathering EAST and WEST – Spring
May 17, 2026
Hosted by Karla Beesemyer and Rilana Vorderwülbecke
12 pm CET Meet & Greet and a Workshop led by Mita Menezes
6 pm CET Meet & Greet and a Workshop led by Hannah BehrensEGS Alumni Workshop
June 14, 2026
2 pm CET Workshop by Rilana Vorderwülbecke, Collective Trauma: A Personal Inquiry
EGS Alumni Gathering EAST and WEST – Summer
August 2, 2026
Hosted by Karla Beesemyer and Rilana Vorderwülbecke
2 pm CET Meet & Greet and a Workshop led by (tba)
6 pm CET Meet & Greet and a Workshop led by (tba)
- For PhD students – Please contact PhD Program director, José Miguel Calderon, if you would like to be included in monthly PhD meetings with your peers.
Our alumni are the torchbearers of our institution’s legacy, and it is our mission to create a platform that not only keeps you connected with peers but also offers opportunities for professional development, networking, and personal growth.
You can get involved by joining as a general member of our alumni community, or for a more active role, you can be a part of the EGS Alumni Committee! You could also help defer the cost of tuition for a current student by donating any amount in honor of a student you know or to the general tuition fund.
We can’t wait to welcome you and build a thriving EGS Alumni Community together. Reach out today and take the first step towards reconnecting with your alma mater and fellow graduates!
(Photo Source: Gopika Dahanukar)
(Photo Source: Chelsea Wilkinson)