After a day behind books and computer screens, the TU Cultural Center offers students a great creative escape and adds cultural value to TU life.
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The ‘building as instrument’ sounds like something a pretentious architecture student would come up with. But, copyright that pompous thought perhaps, because, sitting in the Cultural Center’s atrium, that’s just what this building seems like, as rehearsal room doors open and close like fingers on keys, allowing bursts of sound to escape and create a delightful cacophony: snippets of Mozart, hammering, violins squeaking through scales, laughter, cameras whirring and clicking, an electric guitar riff.
The TU Cultural Center, a.k.a. Mepelweg 10, is an impressive place. Generously funded and staffed by first-rate instructors, taking courses there is an opportunity students shouldn’t miss. Portrait painting, instrument making, guitar lessons, ceramics, lithography, philosophy, creative writing, video and audio production, symphony orchestras, pop bands… there’s something for everyone. And, better still, the courses come cheap.
”Our goal is to keep costs low so that the courses remain affordable for all students,” says Jacqueline Papendracht, the TU Cultural Center’s manager. Indeed, 21 drawing lessons (materials included) cost just fl. 300, and fl. 45 rents a rehearsal room for a night.
So, a place of culture, creativity and free expression, but also great for socializing. (Note to foreign students languishing in the TU’s male-dominated social morass, women outnumber men at Mepelweg 10). For Christin Deller, an architecture student from Germany who plays the viola in the TU orchestra Krashna Musica, joining the orchestra was a great way to make new friends: ”We not only play music together but also socialize. Recently the orchestra went on a sailing weekend together.”
Square
One curiosity remains though, why such a cultural gem at a science and technology university? Why, for precisely that reason. Industry without art is brutality, a wise guy once said. ”Cultural activities help students to express themselves outside of their academic disciplines,” Papendracht says. ”It’s important that technical students become well-rounded people and our courses help that happen.”
Silvia Pereira, a PhD Chemistry student from Portugal, exercises both her body and creative mind at Mekelweg 10, taking a beginning drawing course and a modern dance class. From behind a large canvass, on which she’s drawing either a stool or a pair of prosthetic legs, she enthuses: ”These courses are a great way to relax after working all day at the faculty, and I even get a chance to practice my Dutch.”
Foreign students who’ve yet to master the national tongue needn’t worry however, because courses are given in both English and Dutch. For quality and cultural variety, Mekelweg 10 is as good as any university cultural center anywhere. Reason enough then to be there or be square. Or, this being a TU, if you’re already square, now’s the time to become well-rounded.
After a day behind books and computer screens, the TU Cultural Center offers students a great creative escape and adds cultural value to TU life.
The ‘building as instrument’ sounds like something a pretentious architecture student would come up with. But, copyright that pompous thought perhaps, because, sitting in the Cultural Center’s atrium, that’s just what this building seems like, as rehearsal room doors open and close like fingers on keys, allowing bursts of sound to escape and create a delightful cacophony: snippets of Mozart, hammering, violins squeaking through scales, laughter, cameras whirring and clicking, an electric guitar riff.
The TU Cultural Center, a.k.a. Mepelweg 10, is an impressive place. Generously funded and staffed by first-rate instructors, taking courses there is an opportunity students shouldn’t miss. Portrait painting, instrument making, guitar lessons, ceramics, lithography, philosophy, creative writing, video and audio production, symphony orchestras, pop bands… there’s something for everyone. And, better still, the courses come cheap.
”Our goal is to keep costs low so that the courses remain affordable for all students,” says Jacqueline Papendracht, the TU Cultural Center’s manager. Indeed, 21 drawing lessons (materials included) cost just fl. 300, and fl. 45 rents a rehearsal room for a night.
So, a place of culture, creativity and free expression, but also great for socializing. (Note to foreign students languishing in the TU’s male-dominated social morass, women outnumber men at Mepelweg 10). For Christin Deller, an architecture student from Germany who plays the viola in the TU orchestra Krashna Musica, joining the orchestra was a great way to make new friends: ”We not only play music together but also socialize. Recently the orchestra went on a sailing weekend together.”
Square
One curiosity remains though, why such a cultural gem at a science and technology university? Why, for precisely that reason. Industry without art is brutality, a wise guy once said. ”Cultural activities help students to express themselves outside of their academic disciplines,” Papendracht says. ”It’s important that technical students become well-rounded people and our courses help that happen.”
Silvia Pereira, a PhD Chemistry student from Portugal, exercises both her body and creative mind at Mekelweg 10, taking a beginning drawing course and a modern dance class. From behind a large canvass, on which she’s drawing either a stool or a pair of prosthetic legs, she enthuses: ”These courses are a great way to relax after working all day at the faculty, and I even get a chance to practice my Dutch.”
Foreign students who’ve yet to master the national tongue needn’t worry however, because courses are given in both English and Dutch. For quality and cultural variety, Mekelweg 10 is as good as any university cultural center anywhere. Reason enough then to be there or be square. Or, this being a TU, if you’re already square, now’s the time to become well-rounded.
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