Celebrating 30 Years of the
Arts, Health and Society Division
European Graduate School
(A Statement from the AHS Program Directors)

This year we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Arts, Health and Society Division at the European Graduate School—an occasion to honor the journey of the past and, at the same time, to look ahead. We are deeply grateful to those who laid the foundations of this unique academic home. From the very beginning, the AHS Division emerged from a desire to create a rigorous yet alternative educational space, grounded in intellectual depth, imaginative freedom, and embodied humanness. The founding vision of the school as an academic institution, articulated in the founding manifest, remains strikingly relevant: to foster both analytical and intuitive understanding, to promote innovative pedagogical approaches, and to address and engage with real-world challenges through a practice-oriented and creative lens.

Looking to the future, we renew our commitment to this legacy: shaping a networked future—through education, research, and the arts in dialogue. We carry on facilitating interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and teaching, in which knowledge is gained through both rational and scientific, as well as intuitive and artistic, means. Our vision continues to embrace the spirit of artistic inquiry—bold, surprising, and pushing the limits of research boundaries—while seeking to broaden the dialogue with other disciplines, theoretical frameworks, and evidence-based approaches.

Thus, as an academic institution, we strive to play an important and innovative role in the European and international higher education sphere. We plan to establish international collaborations with universities, research institutes, and other educational institutions to share and expand knowledge across borders.

In addition, we see our task in educating professionals who can embody this spirit in a constantly evolving global context: individuals who think critically, respond with creative sensitivity, are equipped with knowledge, and remain open to the unknown of the unfolding life ahead.

Our vision remains a world in which interdisciplinary and creative educational approaches sustainably solve real social, cultural, and ecological challenges. In this sense, we understand the AHS Division as a space for thought and creativity, where science, art, and practice converge in an open, free, and responsible discourse—for the benefit of a growing global community.

This anniversary is not only a tribute to the past; it is also a call toward what is yet to come. As program directors, we strive to cultivate this living academic environment while continuing to develop new, future-oriented educational formats.

In the face of new technological, social, and ecological challenges, we are asked to reimagine our practices, critically examine our theory and terminology, and renew our commitment to an experiential, multicultural, interdisciplinary, and artistic education—in resonance with nature and the environment.

We understand art as a partner in this process and believe in the transformative power of the arts to generate new forms of knowledge, community, and care. We deeply believe in poiesis and in the phenomenological foundation we are rooted in as the guiding principles that sustain our practice, our research, and our teaching.

It is from this ground that we are honored to continue shaping the path ahead—together with you.

Warmly,
Barbara Hielscher and José Miguel Calderón
Program Directors – Arts, Health and Society Division
European Graduate School

Expressive Arts and Global Health Program in Malta dates are set!

October 22nd – 31st, 2026

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.​

Registration Opening: TBD

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!