Àsìkò Short Courses
Critical practice, experimental learning, and contemporary art discourse in focused, immersive formats.
About Our Short Courses
Àsìkò Short Courses are derived from over a decade of experimental art pedagogy across Africa. They offer a condensed yet powerful entry into critical thinking, artistic research, and interdisciplinary practice. Àsìkò Short Courses are designed as intensive, practice-led learning experiences that introduce participants to the critical methodologies, conceptual frameworks, and experimental approaches that define contemporary art today.
Rooted in the ethos of Àsìkò Art School—part workshop, part residency, part academy—these short courses offer a focused entry point into the school’s unique pedagogy of critical thinking, research, and cross-disciplinary exploration.
Each course creates a space for:
- Questioning dominant narratives
- Exploring new forms of artistic production
- Developing ideas from concept to execution
- Engaging with local and global contexts
Participants are encouraged to think critically, work collaboratively, and expand their practice beyond conventional boundaries.
What You Will Explore
Àsìkò Short Courses are structured around key thematic and methodological areas drawn from past editions such as The Poetics of Place and Holding Memory.
Critical Thinking & Artistic Research
Explore new approaches and frameworks in contemporary artistic practice.
Experimental Media
Explore new approaches and frameworks in contemporary artistic practice.
Concept Development & Methodology
Explore new approaches and frameworks in contemporary artistic practice.
Memory, Archives & Storytelling
Explore new approaches and frameworks in contemporary artistic practice.
Curatorial Practice & Writing
Explore new approaches and frameworks in contemporary artistic practice.
Place, Identity & Global Dialogue
Explore new approaches and frameworks in contemporary artistic practice.
These themes evolve with each course, reflecting the shifting cultural and political contexts that shape contemporary art.
Learning Experience
Àsìkò Short Courses are immersive and collaborative. Expect:
- Facilitated sessions with artists, curators, and researchers.
- Group critiques and feedback sessions.
- Lectures and discussions on contemporary art discourse
Hands-on workshops across multiple media.
- Collaborative exercises and project development
This approach reflects Àsìkò’s commitment to learning through exchange, dialogue, and experimentation.
Who It’s For
These courses are ideal for:
- Emerging and mid-career artists
- Curators and cultural practitioners
- Writers and researchers in art and culture
- Creatives seeking to expand into contemporary or experimental practice
No formal art education is required—only a commitment to inquiry, openness, and growth.
What You Gain
Participants in Àsìkò Short Courses benefit from:
- Personalised feedback and portfolio development
- Exposure to diverse artistic and curatorial approaches
- Expanded critical and conceptual frameworks
- Access to a Pan-African and international network
- New tools for developing and presenting work
The focus is not just on making art—but on understanding why and how it matters.
Format
Short Courses may be delivered as:
- Intensive in-person workshops
- Hybrid programmes (online + physical sessions)
- Thematic modules over a few days or weeks
All formats maintain Àsìkò’s emphasis on rigorous engagement and collective learning.