ABOUT SANDBERG INSTITUUT
As the postgraduate programme of Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Sandberg Instituut offers master's degrees in Fine Arts & Design and Interior Architecture through five main (permanent) departments. In addition, each year a new Temporary Department is launched reflecting on a specific urgency or theme in society and the arts.
Through all its departments, Sandberg Instituut aims to expand and deepen the practices of artists and designers while also welcoming students with backgrounds in other fields and disciplines. It offers a uniquely small-scale, open and interdisciplinary environment which nurtures critical inquiry and reflection intertwined with diverse and experimental approaches to practice.
Main Departments
Sandberg Instituut’s main (permanent) departments are Critical Studies, Design, The Dirty Art Department, Fine Arts, and Studio for Immediate Spaces. Each department is small and therefore flexible and open to initiatives from students and third parties. The department heads, who are artists, designers, theorists, and curators with international practices, invite tutors and guests who are able to challenge the students to critically reflect on their profession, their work and their progress.
Temporary Departments
Each year Sandberg Instituut launches a new Temporary Department to align art and design education with the dynamics of contemporary society. These are full-time, two-year programmes leading to a MA degree in Fine Art and Design. Temporary Department run in parallel to the five 'Main Departments' of Sandberg Instituut but have a single cohort and are topical; researching particular societal issues in order to generate new perspectives and make way for new positions for artists and designers, theorists, organisers, etc.
Jurgen Bey (director of Sandberg Instituut 2010–2023) introduced these one-off, two-year programmes developed in relation to urgent global issues to challenge and influence the main departments in different ways. The current director Ruby Hoette is dedicated to continuing the Temporary Departments as a way to develop different approaches to education, learning, and researching as well as building collaborations and connections with practices and partners outside the institution.
The current Temporary Departments are Lumbung Practice (2024–2026) and Monstrous Futurities (2025–2027). The forthcoming Temporary Department is Phantom Scores (2026–2028).
History
Named after Willem Sandberg (1897–1984), former director of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and a key advocate for experimental, socially engaged art and design, Sandberg Instituut was conceived as a postgraduate institute, founded to provide space for advanced artistic research, critical inquiry and self-directed practice beyond the bachelor’s level.
Since its inception, Sandberg Instituut been characterised by small-scale, thematic programmes offering an environment in which artistic practice, theory, research and experimentation are closely intertwined, and where students are encouraged to position their work within broader cultural and societal contexts. Today, Sandberg Instituut has a strong identity as an internationally oriented master’s institute, embedded within the broader architectural and pedagogical context of the Gerrit Rietveld Academie.
Sandberg Instituut was established in 1990 by former Gerrit Rietveld Academie director Simon den Hartog, and developed into a fully recognised educational institution with several Master’s programmes by its first director, Jos Houweling. Jurgen Bey, the director between 2010 and 2023, introduced temporary, two-year programmes developed around issues of contemporary society such as vacancy, art and healthcare, and political spatial design. Ruby Hoette has been director since 2023.
Open Day 2026 – Director Ruby Hoette
Visitor Address
Fedlev building & Benthem Crouwel building
Fred. Roeskestraat 98
1076 ED Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Google Maps
Visit by appointment only
Postal Address
Fred. Roeskestraat 98
1076 ED Amsterdam
The Netherlands
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Contact
General enquiries
info@sandberg.nl
T: +31 (0)20 5882400
IG: @sandberginstituut
Director
Ruby Hoette
ruby.hoette@sandberg.nl
Management Assistant
Rens Peters
rens.peters@sandberg.nl
Administration and Finances
Nancy van Vooren
nancy.vanvooren@sandberg.nl
General Coordinator
Anke Zedelius
anke.zedelius@sandberg.nl
Policy Advisor and Projects
Marjo van Baar
marjo.vanbaar@sandberg.nl
Policy Advisor Education and Research
Jaap Vinken
jaap.vinken@sandberg.nl
Public Sandberg
Sasa Ganem-Chaney & George Sinclair
ps@sandberg.nl
Medialab
Jan Kees van Kampen
jankees.vankampen@sandberg.nl
Ivo van Stiphout
ivo.vanstiphout@sandberg.nl
Brian McKenna
brian.mckenna@sandberg.nl
Ineke Bakker
ineke.bakker@sandberg.nl
Main Departments
Critical Studies
Head of Department: Tom Vandeputte
tom.vandeputte@sandberg.nl
Coordinator: Erica Moukarzel
criticalstudies@sandberg.nl
Design
Head of Department: Anja Groten
Coordinator: Agata Bar
design@sandberg.nl
Dirty Art Department
Heads of Department: Jerszy Seymour and Florence Parot
Coordinator: Henrica van den Berg
dirtyartdepartment@sandberg.nl
www.dirtyartdepartment.com
Fine Arts
Head of Department: Judith Leysner
Coordinator: Yaima Carrazana
finearts@sandberg.nl
www.festivalofchoices.nl
Studio for Immediate Spaces
Heads of Department: Ludwig Engel and Julian Schubert
Coordinator: Arie de Fijter
sis@sandberg.nl
www.immediatespaces.nl
Temporary Departments
Lumbung Practice
Heads of Programme: Lara Khaldi and Gertrude Flentge
Coordinator: Francisca Kamis
lumbungpractice@sandberg.nl
Monstrous Futurities
Heads of Programme: Grace Turtle & Romany Dear
Coordinator: Angelo Christiaan
monstrous.futurities@sandberg.nl
Phantom Scores
Head of Programme: Eva Posas
phantom.scores@sandberg.nl