MY TEACHING MOBILITY IN LYON: Svetlana Volic

Svetlana Volic
University of Arts in Belgrade, Faculty of Fine Arts

Erasmus+ Mobility for Teaching at:

Academy of Fine Arts Lyon (ENSBA – École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Lyon)

From Monday, 12 May to Friday, 16 May 2025, I had a wonderful opportunity to teach at ENSBA Lyon. My teaching activities included lecture and workshop with students that provided an overview of interdisciplinary artistic practices, approaches and methodologies in fine arts. Special emphasis during teaching activities was placed on Site Specific Arts and Participatory projects that explore the relationship between art and its environment, encouraging students to research and create artworks in relation with the public space, or to create interventions in the public space. The main goal was to encourage students to use public space as a partner in artistic process – to analyze the social, historical, cultural, and physical context of the chosen location and to develop socially engaged site-responsive artworks. I have presented examples of interdisciplinary workshops that I mentored before, especially within the Summer schools of the University of Arts in Belgrade, which highlighted interdisciplinary collaborations and the artistic landscape of the University of Arts in Belgrade.  

At the invitation of Professors Bernhard Rüdiger and Thomas Boutoux, I participated in a public talk and presentation of their student’s works. I was given the opportunity to participate in group discussions and consultations with students. I found this practice of one day -pop up exhibitions and public discussion very useful, and I will start applying it in my teaching processes at home faculty. 

During my visit to ENSBA Lyon, I had a collaborative meeting with Jasmina Milovanović, Head of the International Cooperation Office of the University of Arts in Belgrade, Anabelle Pijot from the Department of Student Affairs/International exchanges & Internships at ENSBA Lyon, Nathalie Pierron, Deputy Director for Studies and Research, Bernhard Rüdiger, Professor at ENSBA Lyon and Thomas Boutoux, Professor at ENSBA Lyon. Collaborative meeting with faculty members of the Academy of Fine Arts in Lyon were dedicated to design the structure, objectives, and content of a future Blended Intensive Programme (BIP). The next day we had a lunch meeting with Morgan Labar, Director of ENSBA Lyon, dedicated to the further conceptualization of the BIP project. Blended Intensive Programme in Lyon will integrates the unique artistic practices and methodologies of both institutions, promoting innovation and interdisciplinary approaches. Agreed BIP project will combine the strengths of both institutions and offer students innovative and internationally-oriented educational experiences.  

The primary objective of my mobility, to foster newly established academic collaboration between the Faculty of Fine Arts (University of Arts in Belgrade) and the Academy of Fine Arts in Lyon, was successfully achieved. I am very grateful for the kindness, professional efforts and excellent cooperation of the colleagues from ENSBA Lyon, especially my host there – Professors Bernhard Rüdiger and Thomas Boutoux. I am looking forward to work with them and students on the agreed BIP project for the next academic year. The project will connect students and professors from our faculties, and in addition to the virtual component of the program, it will also provide an intensive joint workshop for students in Lyon.  

Beside teaching activities and working meetings, I had some free time to explore the city of Lyon – its geography, architecture, cultural heritage, history, contemporary issues and topics, etc. This will certainly contribute to the content of the future BIP project and my approaches to teaching process in it, since the future BIP project will deal with public space. During stay in Lyon, my colleague Jasmina and I had the opportunity to visit exhibition openings in the Institut d’Art Contemporain – IAC and La Salle de Bains Art center. A special visit was made to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Lyon, where Jasmina and I were received by Matthieu Lelièvre, Collection Manager and Head of the collection department. As curator, Matthieu gave us an expert guide through the exhibition Programmed Universes, which examines the evolution of artistic practices in the light of developments in information technology, networks and artificial intelligence.