Video message from the rector of the KHM

“On April 1 this year I had the good fortune of taking up the office of rector of the Academy of Media Arts Cologne. From day one my main focus was safeguarding the summer semester. Although the start of the semester was delayed a little, we were able to begin, with teaching done on a digital basis. In the first weeks we worked on preparing this as well as we possibly could. Everyone, from the technicians to the administration staff and of course the teaching staff were involved in this and, in a great collective effort, we succeeded. As far as I know, the students are very happy with what we have been able to offer them within the current restrictions. Which brings me to the next topic.

Due to the restrictions and the exacerbated situation in light of the coronavirus pandemic, many of our students have lost the jobs that usually finance their study. This clearly makes it difficult for them to give their studies the full attention their deserve. In response we have created, in collaboration with Verein der Freunde der KHM, a relief fund, with the aim of helping our students in this difficult time. Some have already donated to this fund, and I would like to thank you most sincerely for your support. We would also like to ask anyone, who hears this message and feels they may be able to help, to make a contribution, so that our students can make ends meet this summer semester and have the chance to concentrate completely on their studies. Although it feels as if normality is returning, it is still the case that many student jobs are not yet available, so your support would be very helpful. The details of the corresponding account can be found on our website here. Thank you very much!

I’d now like to turn to a completely different and very important topic, that of the Rundgang. The Rundgang, which concludes the summer semester in July, will be different this year, but it will take place. We will concentrate predominantly on the graduation pieces and exhibit these in the academy’s familiar locations. But we also want the Rundgang to stretch out into the city a bit more this year, to give as many people as possible the opportunity to discover and enjoy the work. So far I have only got to know many of the students by video or email. There are even some colleagues and members of the teaching staff that I haven’t yet been able to meet personally and I hope that this will change at the latest at the Rundgang. I hope I will have the opportunity to meet all of the people who are interested in the work that the Academy of Media Arts Cologne does then too. With that in mind, I look forward to July and wish you the best of health.”

Prof. Dr. Kerstin Stutterheim

You will find information on the Freunde der KHM emergency fund for students here

The KHM Rundgang will be taking place in an altered form in 2020. We’ll keep you up to date!
 Please make a note of the dates:
 July 15 to 19, 2020


This video greeting was recorded on May 8 in the garden of the KHM library in Overstolzenhaus.
Thank you very much to Julia Baumann (camera), Fabiana Cardalda (editing) and Falko Sixel (sound).