What are higher artistic education programs and what doors do they open?
This type of study is equivalent to a university degree and allows you to become a professional in fields such as music, performance, design, dance or heritage conservation.
In a classroom at the Catalonia College of Music (ESMUC), a student tunes her violin before class begins. Meanwhile, at the Catalonia College of Dramatic Art (ESAD), a group of students rehearses a scene. A few meters away, young dancers from the Catalonia College of Dance (CSD) practice a choreography in front of a mirror. At the Catalonia College of Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage (ESCRBCC), there's also activity: students examine an old painting with a magnifying glass before working on it. At the Catalonia College of Design and Fine Arts (ESDAPC), creativity flows everywhere.
These are typical scenes at centers that offer higher artistic education, a training pathway equivalent to a university degree that prepares professionals in music, performing arts, dance, and cultural heritage conservation. The programs consist of four years of study, and the qualification obtained is at level 2 of the Spanish Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (MECES), the same as university degrees. However, their structure and methodology have their own unique characteristics.
The particularities of the model
Higher artistic education combines theoretical knowledge with a strong practical and creative dimension, often linked to artistic projects, performances, stage productions, or direct work with real works and materials. In fact, in many cases, students work in professional contexts from the very beginning, whether on stage, in the acting studio, or in the restoration workshop.
“Many students arrive with a very clear vocation and years of prior training,” explains Núria Sempere, director of the Catalonia College of Music (ESMUC). “These are demanding studies because they require many hours of practice and intense dedication, but they also offer a very stimulating environment for artistic growth,” she explains. In Catalonia, these studies can be pursued in diverse fields such as music, performing arts, dance, and heritage conservation and restoration, each with its own specialized centers and training programs.
The disciplines, in detail
Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage
One of these areas is the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage. At ESCRBCC, students are trained to work directly on works of art and heritage objects of great historical value. The curriculum combines artistic, scientific, and technological knowledge to analyze materials, diagnose their state of conservation, and apply appropriate treatments. "Conserving and restoring heritage involves a great responsibility because we are working with irreplaceable objects," explains Matilde Cortés, director of ESCRBCC. "Therefore, the training is necessarily multidisciplinary: it is essential to know the history of the work, the materials it comprises, and the appropriate techniques to intervene judiciously," she continues.
As their studies progress, students specialize in areas such as graphic documentation, archaeology, sculpture or painting, and work with very diverse materials, from paper or parchment to wood, metals, ceramics or photographic supports.
Music
In the case of music studies, the training combines a solid theoretical foundation with intensive instrumental or vocal practice. At ESMUC, students can specialize in areas such as performance, composition, pedagogy, and musicology, and develop their skills both in the classroom and on stage, participating in concerts, collaborative projects, and activities linked to the professional world. "The goal is to train well-rounded musicians, with strong technical skills, but also with critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative work abilities," explains Sempere. "Music is a discipline that demands many hours of practice and a very direct relationship with the stage and with other musicians."
The program combines individual instrumental practice with group work, as well as courses in musical culture, history, musical thought, technology, and musical languages. Depending on their specialization, students delve into specific areas: performers participate in productions and concerts in venues such as the Auditori or the Palau de la Música, composers premiere their works, and musicology students work with sources and methods of musical research. ESMUC offers a wide range of specializations: from early, classical, and contemporary music to jazz, flamenco, and traditional Catalan music. It also fosters interaction among diverse profiles, an ecosystem that reflects the diversity of professions within the music industry.
Performing Arts
In the performing arts, higher artistic education allows students to train professionally in disciplines such as acting, stage direction, and playwriting. At ESAD, students combine theoretical training with constant practical work on stage, including acting exercises, collaborative creation, and theatrical productions. "Learning is primarily based on direct experience on stage," explains the school. "Students work on their voice, body, text, and stage presence, but they also develop skills such as creativity, teamwork, and analytical abilities."
During their studies, students participate in workshops, performance labs, and productions that allow them to put their acquired knowledge into practice and begin to develop their own artistic language. Throughout the degree, they work in different disciplines, from acting and directing to dramaturgy and stage movement, and they interact with industry professionals. This practical training is designed so that, upon graduation, they can enter the world of theater with a solid foundation and experience in collaborative creation processes.
Design
There are also higher artistic education programs linked to the world of design. The Bachelor's Degree in Higher Artistic Education in Design trains professionals capable of conceiving and developing products, services, and creative projects in different design fields, integrating artistic, technological, scientific, and humanistic knowledge. The goal is to prepare designers who can respond to social, cultural, and technological changes with innovative proposals and with artistic and environmental awareness.
In Catalonia, the leading public institution for these studies is ESDAPC. The degree program lasts four years and is structured with a first year of common, cross-disciplinary training, followed by three years of specialization. During this period, students can focus their studies on different specializations and supplement them with interdisciplinary elective courses related to the visual arts and design.
Dance
The final branch is dance. At the Higher Conservatory of Dance (CSD), advanced artistic studies allow students to train professionally in disciplines such as performance, choreography, and dance pedagogy. The training combines intensive physical and technical preparation with theoretical knowledge of dance history, anatomy, music, and choreographic creation.
During their studies, students participate in practical classes, workshops, and stage projects that allow them to develop their own physical and creative language. "We train professionals capable of creating and developing artistic and educational projects in which dance becomes a means of knowledge, research, and creation," explains the Higher Conservatory of Dance. This training is geared towards preparing dancers and professionals capable of joining companies, artistic projects, or educational fields linked to the world of dance. In total, higher artistic education is offered in five public centers and eight authorized private centers.
