Art in Business Studies

What makes business studies at Alanus University uniquely distinctive is the integration of art.

Through practical artistic exercises, our students develop their personalities and expand their social skills. They learn to develop their perception and to apply creativity and commitment in business to solving social problems.

The artistic modules are divided into performing arts (eurythmy & acting) and visual arts (painting & drawing).
While eurythmy focuses on the perception and expression of one’s own body, acting fosters spontaneity, courage, and the ability to explore different roles. Both disciplines train the ability to perceive others and approach people openly.
The visual arts, on the other hand, primarily require engaging with a more concrete objective (for example, depicting a specific object) and shaping the process. The result often differs from the original goal, or goals are redefined during the process. A process that promotes flexible thinking, requires failure, and overcomes rigid patterns of action.

The art modules encourage students to become more aware of themselves and to identify their own strengths and weaknesses. By expanding their comfort zone and being willing to open themselves to their own diversity, spaces of experience emerge that shape perception, presence, and at the same time creative and critical thinking. This is an important prerequisite for being able to rethink business.

Anyone who would like to explore the topics of business and art in greater depth during their studies can choose the specialization ‘Art in Organizational Development’. In the modules ‘Interdisciplinary Art Practice’, ‘Creativity and Art Transfer in Management’, and ‘Culture, Work and Aesthetics in Corporate Management’, students develop further skills in this field.
 

Student perspectives

“The art modules gave me a holistic view of business. As a result, I realized that art can be transferred to business activities in many ways and that this understanding is needed in order to do business sustainably in the future.”
(Lucia, Bachelor’s degree program Sustainable Management, 6th semester)

“In the otherwise rather intellectually driven routine of studying, I experienced the art modules as an island of calm and self-reflection. The transfer to business was always evident to me, and I take many important insights for practice from them.”
 (Alica, Bachelor’s degree program Business Administration – Rethinking Business, 6th semester)

“For me, eurythmy and the way the artistic process was placed so strongly in the foreground were something completely new. I am really glad that I remained open to this kind of art until the very end and was able to gain so much from it. I would say that since then my perception of my environment and my self-confidence have changed enormously.”
(Christin, Bachelor’s degree program Business Administration – Rethinking Business with Practice Partner, graduate)

Experience art in business studies
Anyone who would like to get an impression of art in business studies is warmly invited to attend the performance of the major final art project as part of the Open Days, which take place every spring. Current dates can be found online in the event calendar.