Field trips and workshops Excursions and Hands-on Courses
A special feature of the East Asian Art History program in Heidelberg is the focus on excursions and hands-on workshops (Lehraufträge).
Excursions
Excursions allow our students to visit specialized museums, libraries, private collections and workshops in Europe and abroad to handle original artworks and objects, and to rethink practices of display. Excursions consolidate the theoretical knowledge students acquire during courses, allow them to discover new and unexpected objects. In addition, our excursions introduce students to potential career paths.
The institute regularly offers one-day field trips and longer excursions that are partially funded by the university. To earn credit points for excursions, students are required to attend the preparatory meetings, and to give a short presentation or write a short essay. In general, students can receive one credit point per excursion day, and several excursions can be combined to fulfil the program credit requirements.
Participation in excursions is generally intended for students of East Asian Art History; exceptions may be made for external participants with the approval of the field trip organizer, but in these cases, they must cover all costs themselves. For practical reasons, a maximum number of participants must be defined, and students must register in advance to secure a spot on a first-come-first-served basis.
Students taking part in an excursion can be excused from other courses they might miss. We ask them to inform the excursion organizer and to submit a filled-out form for excused absence.
Hands-on Courses
Lehraufträge are taught by professionals from the field invited to teach special courses or workshops with a focus on hands-on knowledge. The institute regularly invites artists, such as painters, calligraphers or potters, or curators, collectors and other specialists who can help students buttress the historical content of regular courses with tacit knowledge.
Hands-on Courses often take place during weekends, in a block format, to allow students to immerse themselves in a practice. Participation in Lehraufträge is usually restricted to students of East Asian Art History. For practical reasons, the maximum number of participants is limited, and students must register in advance to secure a spot on a first-come-first-served basis.