Bard College Berlin News
Visiting students take advantage of Bard College Berlin’s unique Arts and Society study abroad program
Artwork by Anahit Arghushya displayed at Bard College Berlin's Art Critique Night at Monopol
The program is based in artistic practice, including studio arts, performance, media, and the interplay among them. History and theory courses take an interdisciplinary approach to draw upon the wealth of Berlin’s museums, monuments, galleries, performances, and nontraditional venues.
One visiting student in the Arts and Society program this semester is Anahit Arghushyan, a fourth year at Bennington College in Vermont. “Berlin is a city alive with creativity, exhibitions, and artists experimenting in so many ways,” she says. “BCB stood out because it offers unique studio opportunities I’d never imagined, like glassblowing or zine-making, and because its liberal arts approach allows me to continue combining my interests in math and art.”
Bard College Berlin’s newly-acquired Monopol-Berlin arts campus provides invaluable studio, seminar, and performance space for students of practicing arts. Monopol is also where a variety of student art exhibitions and events are held, such as the twice-annual Open Studios and Art Critique Night.
Anahit was one of the students presenting artwork at this semester’s Art Critique Night, which brought together students and faculty across BCB’s arts program. “Making art can often feel isolating, but working alongside others builds a sense of community that I really value,” Anahit says. “The Arts and Society program really drew me in because it connects [me] with a community of students who are just as passionate about art as I am. The professors provide mentorship and support that go beyond the campus, they introduce you to exhibitions, events, and networks across Berlin. That balance of independence and guidance has made my time here feel both challenging and deeply enriching.”
Another visiting student in the Arts and Society program is Karthik Tambar, a third year studying art history at Williams College in Massachusetts. “I was drawn to the professors, excursions, and resources of BCB’s Arts and Society program that have allowed me to engage as much as possible with the arts in Berlin—both in and out of class time—during my limited time here,” Karthik explains. “Just this past week I was able to tour the Boros Collection with Prof. Dr. Aya Soika, and visited several galleries with Prof. John Kleckner earlier in the semester.”
He continues, “I most enjoy the experiential aspect of the arts courses. For me, that looks like going to the Humboldt Forum weekly for class and researching its history and contemporary art installations, and for my practicing arts course, learning about the works of artists based or exhibited in Berlin.”
The Arts and Society program at Bard College Berlin allows students to create art under the supervision of Berlin-based artists; explore connections between the arts, academic humanities, and social engagement; take an optional internship in a local arts organization; and experience the city’s arts culture as an active participant. Learn more about the program here.
By: Sophia Paudel, Bard College Berlin Communications
Post Date: 12-03-2025