Dates: 18 – 22 May 2026
Location: Paris, France
Format: on-site
From 18 – 22 May 2026, Paris 8 University will host a five-day intensive course titled “Art in Public Spaces,” offering ERUA students a rigorous and immersive exploration of the relationship between art and the urban environment.
By situating artistic inquiry directly within the urban fabric of Paris, this course reflects ERUA’s commitment to experiential, research-informed, and socially engaged education – encouraging students to critically examine how art shapes and is shaped by public space.
Art Beyond the Museum
Throughout this intensive week, students will examine how artworks operate outside institutional spaces – within streets, squares, parks, and contested urban territories.
Drawing on historical and contemporary case studies, the course investigates:
- Monumental sculpture and commemorative practices
- Street art and urban interventions
- Site-specific artistic strategies
- The political and cultural frameworks shaping public art
Teaching combines lectures, short readings, and extensive field walks in Paris, where the city itself becomes a living classroom.
As a significant portion of the sessions will take place directly in the city, students are encouraged to plan their local transportation in advance and to wear comfortable clothing and footwear suitable for extended urban fieldwork.
Field-Based and Analytical Learning
A significant portion of the programme takes place directly in public spaces. Through guided observation and collective discussion, participants will:
- Strengthen their visual and spatial analysis skills
- Examine how art interacts with architectural, social, and political contexts
- Develop methodological tools for analysing site-specific practices
This immersive format enables students to critically assess how public art engages audiences, negotiates power structures, and contributes to urban identity.
Assessment
Students are evaluated through a written exam based on:
- Knowledge gained from lectures
- Insights developed during field walks
- Engagement with assigned readings
The assessment measures students’ ability to apply theoretical and methodological frameworks to real-world artistic contexts.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will:
- Strengthen their observational skills.
- Understand how art engages with social and political contexts.
- Develop critical and methodological tools for analyzing site-specific and public-space practices.
Language: English
ECTS: 6
Application:
The course is open for ERUA students in arts or humanities at 3rd or 4th year (L3/M1). A B2 level in English is required, but we do not ask for a certificate (approximate B2 level is self-assessed as requested to our P8 students).
Application Deadline: 15 March 2026
If you are interested, you can apply no later than the 15th of March by registering at the following address: https://paris8.moveonfr.com/form/68a4507c274795ea1404aff1/eng
Places Available: 12 ERUA students
Selected students will be notified by 23 March 2026. ERUA participants will receive travel and accommodation funding from their home universities.
For further information please contact: erua.eui@univ-paris8.fr using the course title as the subject line.
Funding:
ERUA students can receive travelling and accommodation funding from their home universities! For more information related to traveling and funding opportunities contact your local ERUA coordinator.
