Städelschule

The Hochschule für Bildende Künste–Städelschule is an art school in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Founded in 1817, it is one of the most renowned Fine Arts education institutions in the world. Städelschule offers an international, experimental, and independent artistic education. Its faculty includes internationally recognized artists, art historians, and cultural theorists, such as Monika Baer, Daniel Birnbaum, Dora Budor, Simnikiwe Buhlungu, Gerard Byrne, Barbara Clausen, Isabelle Graw, Hassan Khan, Philippe Pirotte, Tobias Rehberger, Willem de Rooij, and Haegue Yang.

Städelschule is committed to providing space for independent studio work as well as critical discourse through a variety of teaching formats and a public program of exhibitions, lectures, and symposia. Students can pursue a Fine Arts program, organized in classes that are each mentored by an individual professor, and that emphasizes the students’ autonomous development as well as regular exchange with faculty, guest professors, and visiting artists. Städelschule has chosen not to adopt the Bachelor/Master system of the Bologna model. Instead, an artistic degree equivalent to a Master is awarded at the end of the program, with an optional "Meisterschüler" distinction. 

Since 2010, the school has also offered the "Curatorial Studies – Theory – History – Criticism" Master’s program in cooperation with Goethe University Frankfurt. This joint program combines theory classes, the expertise of institutional partners in Frankfurt, and opportunities for students to lead curatorial projects.

Städelschule distinguishes itself as an art school with an adjunct exhibition institution, Portikus, which draws over 40,000 visitors per year. Founded in 1987 by former rector Kasper König, Portikus offers an internationally renowned exhibition program of emerging and established contemporary artists, and is closely connected with Städelschule’s teaching program, offering a place for learning and mediation.