Bettina Catler-Pelz

The seminar prepares students for the transition from university to professional practice. The seminar focuses on creating an independent strategy for self-presentation, communication, and positioning within the creative industries as a complex, critical, and relationship-oriented field of practice. The seminar modules include content and methods of self-presentation, communication, and strategic networking. The aim is to develop an independent strategy for building a professional reputation and visibility that reflects both the student's professional orientation and their personality. The seminar is aimed at students from all disciplines. It combines keynote speeches, practical exercises in self-presentation and strategy development, as well as peer feedback and discussions. Students are encouraged to identify their professional and personal strengths and use them specifically to position themselves in a professional environment. TOPICS — Position: From elevator pitch to statement, from Pecha Kucha to lecture, from text to position paper — Scene: Networks, festivals, conferences, trade fairs, press, and media — Communication: Website, social media, lecture, documentation

Professional orientation is about introducing students to the diversity of professions, current developments, and trends in the various disciplines. The focus is on developing individual strategies for transitioning from university to successful positioning in the chosen contexts. This includes methods for self-reflection and potential analysis to identify strengths, interests, and values, as well as the development of strategies for communication and networking.

The seminar offers an introduction to the diversity of professions and current developments and trends across various disciplines. This includes methods of self-reflection and potential analysis to identify strengths, interests, and values, as well as the development of communication and networking strategies. The focus is on developing individual strategies for transitioning from university to a successful position, tailored to the student's chosen career path.

Many professional activities in art, design, and media are recognized as freelance professions. They combine professional expertise and creative talent with services or works that are developed personally, independently, and professionally. The seminar covers the basics of freelance work. Key aspects include business forms, artists' social insurance, collecting societies, taxes, and pricing. The aim of the seminar is to develop independent ideas for economic positioning in the contexts of your choice.

The status of “freelance artist” encompasses more than the artistic practice: It describes a special way of life characterized by personal responsibility, creativity, and flexibility. Freelance artists decide for themselves on the content, themes, and forms of expression of their work. They not only experience artistic freedom but also face the challenges of defining their position, securing long-term financing, and remaining visible in the social and cultural fabric. The seminar offers comprehensive knowledge for freelance artists, covering topics such as self-image and self-marketing, as well as legal matters (invoicing, contracts, taxes), and networking strategies. It imparts practical knowledge about freelance artistic work, provides insight into current art scenes, and discusses key issues in the art market. TOPICS — CV / statement / portfolio — Legal form, taxes, KSK — Negotiations, contracts, invoices — Communication, networking — Press, media — Open calls, festivals — Art associations — Galleries, art trade — Residencies EXAMINATION — Statement — Application — Contract — Invoice EXAMINATION — Completeness of documents — Coherence of study focus, portfolio development, and economic viability — Coherence of creative presentation and choice of media — Independence, originality

This seminar focuses on methods, techniques, and concepts of exhibiting, including processual and performative forms of exhibiting, context-specific exhibition formats, and self-reflective exhibition designs. The seminar aims to reflect on individual exhibition practice and develop independent ideas for successfully exhibiting in different contexts. It features artist-driven formats of curating and art mediation. This semester's focus is on curatorial approaches that position art in context, outside of art institutions and white cubes. This includes a cooperation with the curatorial program CURATORIAL MOMENTUM in Tunis.   THEMES — Research Development — Concepting Curating — Producing — Publishing — Contextualizing   EXAMINATION TASKS — Contribution to curating, communication, mediation, and documentation — Sharing knowledge and competencies   EXAMINATION CRITERIA — Completeness of the contributions — Independence, complexity of proposal, coherence of concept — Contributions to framework development, team building, and problem-solving — Acting responsibly as part of a team, reliability in project management, and qualities in communicating with others