Frequently Asked Questions

We assume that the entrants to the glass art department are creative, inquisitive, as well as open to new ideas, hard-working, and daring. And that they have the courage to explore and make mistakes, and that they are ready to overcome hardships; that they are responsible and motivated. The profession of glass artist is interesting and filled with new challenges. There are few well-trodden paths. However, the people working in glass art are also exceptionally collegial and helpful with a will to cooperate. This is confirmed by the workshops made available to our students and the hospitality that greets them everywhere in the world; by the desire to unconditionally share experiences and provide support.

Glass is a temperamental material – it has many physical and chemical properties that must be considered. Therefore, glass artists need to be patient and their thinking should be flexible.

WHAT WE EXPECT

• We do not expect the candidate to have any specialised preparation, but we do want to hear briefly why the speciality was chosen.
• Language skills are very beneficial, because much of the specialised literature is in a foreign language and close communications are maintained with colleagues abroad.
• We expect the master’s programme candidates to have a portfolio, introducing the body of work that has been completed to date; a motivational letter, which explains what the candidate expects from the studies; and an introduction of the master’s thesis topic, along with a time schedule, if possible.
• When coming for the interview, we expect candidates for the bachelor’s programme to bring examples of previous work, in any genre, which reveals the candidate’s personality and potential

Try again next year. However, in the meanwhile don’t lose contact with the department, but try to attend preparatory courses or seek consultations related to the speciality. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Try to understand where you fell short in the exam and try to improve yourself in this area.

The number of times you can apply is not limited. And if you try two or three times, this proves the validity of your choice to the examiners and indicates a definite wish to learn this profession. Each subsequent try makes you better prepared for the exams.

No. Actually, in Estonia there aren’t many opportunities for prior studies. But there are some – the Glass Club in Tallinn, the Olustvere Glass Workshop in Viljandi County and several studios and hobby groups, where you can try your hand and become convinced that you are making the right choice.

There will probably be no ready-made jobs waiting for you. Many students are interested in becoming their own employers and establishing their own workshops, studios, etc., because this provides creative freedom. Work can also be found in existing studios and workshops; jobs are also available as hobby group instructors. However, most important is the wish to participate in the art scene, appear at exhibitions, and to propose daring design solutions to various companies, clients and competitions. The broad-based glass-related information and skills that are acquired provide an opportunity to participate in the shaping of society, since glass, as an exceptional material, is in great demand and popular in the exterior and interior design of buildings. All the faculty members and personnel in our department are also graduates of our department who actively work as glass artists.

The examination assignments definitely do not presume any specialised preparations on the part of the candidate, while they do provide the examiners with an idea of the candidate’s abilities and preferences. We have alternated between assignments related to the creation of interior design elements and ones that test the links to the environment, solutions of form and colour perceptions. The assignments include explanatory texts and the list of tools is provided on the Academy website. In addition, there is a drawing exam and an essay on an assigned topic must be written.