Lucas Verweij
Head of Fine Art and Design in Education in Zwolle
Lucas Verweij is the Head of the Fine Art and Design in Education programme at ArtEZ Academy of Art & Design Zwolle. He has held many roles in art education, from programme developer and design teacher to visiting professor, and now Head of Programme. Lucas is eager to share what makes working at ArtEZ so special.
"I firmly believe in higher vocational education."
When I first set foot in an art school at the age of 21, I was immediately captivated by the atmosphere and culture. Art and art education have been the constant thread throughout my career. After a decade of freelancing, I have now been in a permanent position for several years, which suits me perfectly.
Ready for a long-term commitment
My initial encounter with an art academy was during my own studies in Public Space at the Design Academy Eindhoven. It was the first of many academies I experienced from the inside. Over the past 30 years, I’ve taught at academies from Poland to The Hague, always at the intersection of art, design, and creative processes. Thirteen years ago, I moved to Berlin and worked independently for many years, taking on roles such as visiting professor at two Berlin art colleges and jury member at various art and design events. As a freelancer, my projects were often short-term, lasting anywhere from a month to a year. Just as I was seeking a more enduring role, the opportunity at ArtEZ came along.
"Many of our teachers also work part-time as freelance artists or in museum education, while some teach art in secondary schools. They bring all these experiences back to ArtEZ."
Three key pillars
Being the head of a programme is not entirely new to me. Fifteen years ago, I led a master's programme for architects at the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. While the role is similar, after so many years of freelancing, I almost feel like a newcomer! I oversee a team of 20 part-time lecturers, most of whom are active professionals in the art world. They might be at the academy one or two days a week but spend the rest of their time as freelance artists or working in museum education, and some teach art in secondary schools. They bring these real-world insights back to ArtEZ, which helps keep our curriculum grounded in practice. My role also involves coordinating the educational processes to ensure daily teaching runs smoothly. A third key aspect of my position is strategic: shaping the direction of our programme and planning the curriculum for the future.
"It energises me to inspire young people, challenge their thinking, and help them create something even better, in the true artistic sense."
A culture of open doors
A good day at work for me is when I am present and can solve unexpected problems together with colleagues, rather than handling everything through email. The new term has just started, and I've spent almost half of today on unplanned tasks: A student wanted to discuss her theoretical foundation before entering the field, while a lecturer felt uncertain about her current role. We have a very open and accessible culture here; anyone can walk in with a question. In many ways, I am teaching again. It's great to stay connected with the process of developing strong design strategies. I find it energising to inspire young people and challenge them to think critically, helping them refine their artistic skills.
"An art academy is, above all, a place where experimentation and change are encouraged. Contributing to that dynamic environment every day is incredibly fulfilling."
Practical approach
I am a strong advocate for higher vocational education. Everything we do is aimed at enhancing practical skills. Our lecturers come from the field, and our students aspire to work there. There is a strong sense of connection with the professional world in everything we do. This field is not static; it’s constantly evolving, and our programmes adapt to reflect these changes. An art academy is primarily a place for experimentation and innovation, and I take great pride in contributing to that every day.
Will you join us?
Can you identify yourself with the art education as valued by ArtEZ? If so, come and join our teams of support staff, academic staff or researchers.
Please find our current vacancies on this page.
