Director’s word

The EDHEA: A school of art focussing on the future

The EDHEA enjoys a unique position in the academic and artistic landscape of Valais. One of seven art schools in Switzerland and five universities of applied sciences (UAS) in Valais, it is famous for its study programmes that combine visual arts, sound arts, and graphic design, with a strong experimental and interdisciplinary focus. Its mission is to train creative minds capable of inventing the visual and sound languages of tomorrow that reflect the cultural, technological and societal developments.
This ambition is set to reach a key milestone at the start of the 2027 school year with the opening of the new campus on the site of the former Usego market halls. Designed with the needs of an art and design school in mind, the state-of-the-art building will offer spaces perfect for artistic practice, research and interdisciplinary exchange. More than merely a place of learning, it will become a true laboratory of contemporary creation, open to the town and enjoying close links with both the Swiss and international art scenes.

The bachelor's and master's courses form the core of the academic offering. The Bachelor of Fine Arts and the Master of Arts in Public Spheres + Sound (MAPS+S) promote a demanding and critical approach, supported by high-level supervision and an international focus. The Bachelor in Sound Arts, the only degree of its kind in French-speaking Switzerland, exemplifies this distinctive approach by combining sound creation, theoretical reflection and dialogue with music, performing arts and engineering. Its follow-on course, the MAPS+S, opens up new perspectives in artistic research and public space. The Art & Design foundation year prepares students for the admission exams to Swiss and international higher education institutions and is a key step for building a strong portfolio and developing their personal artistic style.
In addition to academic courses, the EDHEA also offers vocational training, including the nationally recognised Graphic Design course, which is a benchmark in visual communication. Starting in 2026, a new course, Interactive Media Designer, will be offered. Designed to reflect the evolution of design towards digital media, interactivity and immersive environments and developed in cooperation with key players in Valais, it too will enable young graduates to enter the job market quickly or pursue further studies.

The Institute of Visual Arts is further testament to the school’s commitment to research and creative thinking. It develops projects in the fields of sound, heritage, architecture, design and ecology, strengthening the links between art, research and society.

With the opening of its new campus in 2027, the EDHEA will be taking a historic step forward. Deeply rooted in Valais and open to the whole of Switzerland and the world at the same time, it is consolidating its role as a leading institution in higher art education.

Jean-Paul Felley