Art, Music, Design, and Science Interactions
Discover the synergy of art and science at the Colombia 2025 Field School. Engage in research projects, attend lectures, and explore the cultural richness of Manizales.
About the program
Art, Music, Design, and Science Interactions @ Colombia 2025 Field School [3 credits] will offer undergraduate and graduate students from a variety of fine arts backgrounds, as well as communication, science, and engineering, an opportunity (a) to work on self-proposed research-creation projects, (b) to attend lectures, workshops and cultural activities and to participate of the International Image Festival and the Media Arts History conference, (c) to visit university labs, studios and research-creation centres, (d) to make their work known internationally, and (e) and to experience the city of Manizales and its surroundings, in Colombia.
MANIZALES
Manizales, a city in Colombia's Coffee Axis, is renowned for its stunning landscapes, rich coffee culture, and academic institutions. Nestled in the Andes at over 2,100 meters, Manizales enjoys a cool mountain climate and sits within the UNESCO-listed Coffee Cultural Landscape. The surrounding region also boasts breathtaking views of lush hillsides, making it ideal for nature and photography enthusiasts. Colombia ranks first in bird diversity worldwide, with about 1,921 recorded species, and Manizales is a privileged area for that, receiving international visitors all year.
One of the most striking natural landmarks nearby is the Nevado del Ruiz volcano, part of Los Nevados National Park. This area's snow-capped peaks and unique biodiversity offer unforgettable hiking and exploration opportunities, allowing visitors to experience Colombia’s high-altitude ecosystems.
Manizales is also a vibrant cultural center. It is celebrated for its annual International Theatre Festival, one of the fantastic cultural events in Latin America, and the Festival de la Imagen, which explores visual arts, digital media, music, design, and sound art. These festivals attract artists, scholars, and audiences worldwide, transforming the city into a lively hub of performance, creativity, and international exchange.
Academically, Manizales is home to notable institutions like the Universidad de Caldas and Universidad Nacional de Colombia’s Manizales campus, recognized for excellence in science, engineering, digital arts, design, and environmental research. The city’s universities play a leading role in technological innovation and sustainable development initiatives. With its combination of breathtaking natural scenery, dynamic cultural scene, and academic strengths, Manizales offers a multi-faceted experience for visitors, blending exploration, learning, and cultural immersion in Colombia’s Coffee Axis.
23rd INTERNATIONAL IMAGE FESTIVAL
Manizales is a dynamic hub for media arts, blending tradition and innovation through its prominent festivals and cultural venues. The Festival de la Imagen is a major event dedicated to digital media, music and sound art, design, and visual arts, drawing international artists, scholars, and students for workshops, exhibitions, concerts and conferences that explore creative uses of technology and new media. A leading event since 1997, this Festival has showcased the work of more than 2,400 artists throughout its 23 editions, reaching an audience of over 100,000 people.
Previous Field Schools with Concordia University students over the years have led to collaboration between students, artists and professors from various countries, thanks to their participation in the Festival and their performances in Manizales: https://festivaldelaimagen.com/en/
The Centro Cultural Universitario Rogelio Salmona (CCU Salmona), located at the Universidad de Caldas, is a key venue for media arts events. Designed by the acclaimed architect Rogelio Salmona, it hosts exhibitions, performances, and interdisciplinary projects, providing an inspiring space for innovation in media arts and fostering creative dialogue across disciplines in Colombia and the world.
MEDIA ARTS + SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
The Media Art Histories (MAH) conference is a prestigious international event that brings together leading scholars, artists, and researchers to explore the evolving intersections of media, technology, and art. Scheduled for its first Latin American edition in Manizales, Colombia, MAH2025 will showcase Manizales as a vital center for media arts within the region.
This is an extraordinary opportunity. As students from Concordia University, you will be privileged to participate as invited guests. The Centro Cultural Universitario Rogelio Salmona (CCU Salmona) at Universidad de Caldas, known for its inspiring architecture and interdisciplinary focus, will serve as a central venue. MAH2025 in Manizales offers an unparalleled chance for our students to engage with international experts and innovators, enriching their understanding of media art and emerging research-creation trends.
The MAH2025 conference will host a diverse array of invited speakers, including pioneers and innovators from all around the world. As invited participants, Concordia students will have a rare opportunity to engage directly with these international experts, enriching their exposure to global perspectives and emerging trends in media art. MAH2025 in Manizales is poised to be a landmark event in the art and technology field, advancing dialogue on the past, present, and future of media art within the unique cultural context of Latin America.
IMPORTANT: A selection of the students' works will have the opportunity to be presented in a special section of the renowned Image Festival 2025 or a special concert/event at the fabulous Rogelio Salmon University Cultural Centre. Our students will have access to privileged information and opportunities to participate in the ImageFest and MAH2025 conference activities.
Program dates
Dates: May 5, 2025 (arrival date) to May 14, 2025 (departure date).
Program courses
This program is offered to undergraduate, Masters and PhD level students.
Undergraduate registration:
- FAFS 398 or EAST 398 or EAST 461 or EAST 462 or MUSI 398
Graduate registration:
- FAFS 660 (Master’s) or FAFS 860 (Ph.D.)
Note: This special intensive program is open to undergraduate and graduate students from any Faculty of Concordia.
Estimated cost
Program fee = $1,075 CAD
The program fee includes includes;
- Shared housing ( w/breakfast) in the Hotel Carretero Hotel Varuna in Manizales.
- Workshops.
- Entrance into the Festival of Images.
- Transportation in Manizales to and from field trip venues.
Concordia tuition = 3 credits Concordia tuition
- For an estimate of the tuition fee please use the tuition fee calculator.
- Master and Ph.D level students will pay the same tuition charged per semester in program.
Additional costs
- Selecting and paying their transportation to/from Manizales, Colombia.
- Mandatory health and travel insurance.
- Lunches and dinners.
- Spending money.
- Any required travel documents and other miscellaneous expenses associated with travel.
- Students also pay for and supply their own materials.
Available Funding
Peter N. Thomson Family Field School Award
The Faculty of Fine Arts invites applications for the Peter N. Thomson Family Field School Awards. The Award offers an amount of $1,300 for thirty (30) eligible Fine Arts undergraduate or graduate students accepted to a Field School hosted by the Faculty of Fine Arts. Please consult the Peter N. Thomson Field School Award webpage for application instructions.
Quebec Mobility Bursary
To help with the costs of going abroad, Concordia offers a $750 CAD Quebec Mobility Bursary to students.
To qualify, you must be a Concordia student enrolled in a Concordia Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral degree program and approved to participate in the field school.
Important to note:
Field school applicants do not need to submit a bursary application as it is part of the on-line field school application, and you will automatically be considered for the Quebec Mobility bursary.
The bursary will be applied to student accounts. Details on the payment of the bursary will be sent to successful field school applicants.
Contact Concordia International if you have any questions on your eligibility for funding.
Application process
To be eligible to participate in the field school, you must meet one of the following criteria.
- Be enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree program, with a minimum 2.7 cumulative culmative GPA (CGPA) and have completed at least 24 credits toward your current degree program by the time you leave for the program.
- Be enrolled in a Master’s degree program, with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (CGPA) and have completed at least 9 credits toward your current degree program by the departure date.
- Be enrolled in PhD degree program, have a 3.7 cumulative GPA (CGPA) and have completed at least 9 credits toward your current degree program by the departure date.
All students interested in applying to this program must attend an information session given by Concordia International.
Date: January 31, 2025
Time: 12:00 pm
Submit the Concordia Field School Abroad Application by the application deadline of February 14th, 2025. The application can be accessed through the Concordia International CSEP Mobility Portal.
Your application must also include:
- A copy of your most recent unofficial Concordia transcript.
- A letter of intent of 500-750 words describing why you wish to participate in the Colombia Field School and the kind of work you hope to accomplish while there. You should also make mention of what strengths or contributions you think you will bring to the group.
- Concordia admissions decisions will be communicated by email after the application deadline.
- Final admissions decisions will be made by the program director Dr. Ricardo dal Farra.
- Students admitted to the program will have to make a non-refundable $500 deposit to Student Accounts by March 19, 2025. Please be aware, however, that any deposit you make will first be applied to any outstanding balances you owe to Concordia. If a student withdraws from the program, the $500 deposit will be credited to their student account and applied against their future tuition.
- Students admitted to the program will have to attend a mandatory pre-departure meeting TBC.