Joel Baumann becomes new rector of the Kunsthochschule Kassel

Prof. Tanja Wetzel, professor of art education, and Prof. Florian Slotawa, professor of fine arts, have been appointed as Baumann's deputies. Baumann begins his four-year term on Nov. 1; Müller is stepping down as rector on Oct. 31 for personal reasons.

"I look forward to the challenges of this new and responsible role and thank you for the trust you have placed in me," Baumann said after the election. Among other things, he cited a more effective and transparent use of available resources and the expansion of international networking as goals, thereby promoting study and working conditions and increasing the attractiveness of the art academy at home and abroad.

Joel Baumann has been Professor of New Media at the Kunsthochschule in Kassel since October 2003; he is also Director of the creative collective tomato, London. Baumann was born in Bogota, Colombia in 1969 and has lived and worked in Paris, New York and Osaka/Kobe, among other places. He studied Contemporary Media Practise (BA) and Hypermedia (MA) at the University of Westminster in London, UK.

University President Prof. Dr. Rolf-Dieter Postlep congratulated Prof. Baumann on his election and said, "I am pleased that the School of Art has quickly agreed on a successor and that the transition will be seamless. In Joel Baumann, the university's School of Art has found an outstanding new rector." Postlep thanked Müller for his work, saying, "During his tenure, he has significantly increased the visibility of the School of Art in the city and region and especially advanced the collaboration with documenta."

Two-time documenta participant Christian Philipp Müller had taken office as rector two years ago. He will continue as Professor of Performative Sculpture at the Kunsthochschule after his resignation.

Image of Prof. Joel Baumann at

www.uni-kassel.de/uni/fileadmin/datas/uni/presse/anhaenge/2013/JoelBaumann.png

Caption: Prof. Joel Baumann. Photo: Kunsthochschule Kassel

Contact:

Sebastian Mense

University of Kassel

Communication, Press and Public Relations

Phone: +49 561 804-1961

E-mail: presse@uni-kassel.de

Thomas Fröhlich

Kassel University of the Arts

Phone: +49 561 804-5386

E-mail: thomas.froehlich@uni-kassel.de