Mara Joustra
Head of Comic Design and Animation Design
What is so special about working in the education sector? For Mara Joustra, head of the Comic Design and Animation Design programmes at the Academy of Art & Design Zwolle, it is first and foremost the opportunity to work with young people at the start of their artistic careers. Even more satisfying for her is the fact she gets to focus on content rather than just meeting financial targets. In this story, Mara tells us more about her work at ArtEZ.
Depth
"Whereas in a commercial business you are often working to increase turnover, in art education the focus is more on content and quality. Here the key questions are things like: 'What makes something good?' or 'What makes something innovative? Although practical matters such as the ability to make a living from one's work certainly play a role, this is less about profit and more about the value and impact of the work itself. It is this depth that makes working in arts education so enjoyable and interesting for me.
Young makers
I started my career in publishing and sat on various literary and design funding committees. I first came into contact with ArtEZ as an external expert for a final exam. I was immediately fascinated by the environment, especially seeing so many young people at work. In my previous job I often worked with top Dutch comic and illustration talent, but suddenly I was surrounded by young creators who were at the beginning of their development and hadn't yet been shaped by the industry. It felt like the right time to make a change in my career. I didn't come from an educational background and had only taught workshops and masterclasses.
"I am surrounded by people who really want to be here. They put a lot of energy into their projects.
Responsibility
In my role as Head of Comic Design and Animation Design, I work at every level of education. I am part of the management team and as such I am involved in academy-wide decisions. I also have ultimate responsibility at course level for the vision and detail of the curriculum. I also manage the teaching team and regularly answer questions from students. I also feel a great responsibility towards them, in the sense that I want them to be able to successfully complete their studies and then find a place in the professional world".
"In my opinion, an affinity with this generation is essential for any role at ArtEZ. "
Shared interest in art
Working on so many different levels makes my role very diverse and challenging. What I really appreciate is that I'm surrounded by people who really want to be here and put a lot of energy into their projects. Some of my colleagues are almost like friends. You don't get that everywhere. It's partly because many of us come from the same disciplines and have a common interest in art. There is a real sense of nurturing on the courses here: no one is treated like a number and we look out for each other.
It's not a factory or a business, you're dealing with students who are working on really amazing and promising things. In my opinion, an affinity with this generation is essential for any role at ArtEZ. We also have no dress code here - you can teach in whatever clothes you feel comfortable in. However, the students on my courses have introduced a 'Dress Code Wednesday'. Each week they choose a dress code theme that students from all years enthusiastically embrace. We then take a group photo during the break. We've built up quite a collection.
“Working in a provincial town has enriched my perspective ”
Zwolle
When asked where I want ArtEZ to go from here, I want diversity and inclusion to be further embedded. I want it to become not only a core value within the education, but actually a quality requirement. Therefore, I am part of a working group on these issues. I would also like to encourage more people from the Randstad to come and work in the provinces. Personally, I was born and raised in Amsterdam, but working here has enriched my perspective enormously. In the west of the country, things like running a red light or not stopping at a zebra crossing have become normal. In Zwolle, you notice that people have more patience and are more polite to each other. This contrast to the hectic Randstad gave me an insight I had not expected before.
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.
