Koninklijk Conservatorium Antwerpen (AP Hogeschool) is taking another important step in supporting mental resilience among arts students. From Monday, March 9, 2026, the innovative lesson package Resilient Artist will be freely available to all arts education institutions in Belgium. This prevention program, developed based on four years of practice-oriented scientific research at AP Hogeschool, offers teachers and students concrete tools to strengthen their mental health in an increasingly competitive and intensive arts sector.
A response to growing pressure in arts education
Students in arts education face unique challenges: high academic demands, economic uncertainty, and societal pressure. Research shows that early integration of resilience-strengthening practices in the curriculum not only promotes mental health, but also reduces stigma surrounding psychological well-being.
The lesson package 'Resilient Artists', a collaboration between Koninklijk Conservatorium Antwerpen and the Health & Science department of AP Hogeschool, contains a first-line, psycho-educational program of twelve hours.
Since 2022, the program has been successfully offered to all first-year students of Music, Dance and Drama at the Conservatory. "This is not a luxury, but a necessity," emphasizes Magda Thielemans, coordinator of the Resilient Artists project: "Making art is something very personal. Because of that, every challenge, every uncertainty, feels very immediate. If we don't teach our future artists to cope with inner and external pressure, we lose talent and innovation."
The lesson package
- Practice-oriented modules: developed by researchers Bart Michiels and Tessa Weyns, with focus on self-awareness, stress management and social skills.
- Scientifically grounded: based on four years of research into mental health in arts education.
- Accessible to everyone: available as a downloadable PDF for all arts education institutions, their students and teachers who want to integrate resilience into their curriculum.
Download the lesson package
The lesson package is available via https://ap-arts.be/lessenpakket-weerbare-kunstenaar