Utrecht SPRING Festival

Key Information

Information

Application Deadline: 17/02/25 at 9:00 am

Opportunity type: Academic-led trips

Faculty: Art, Design and Humanities

Ref: 10009213

Dates

Departure Date: 22/05/25

Return Date: 26/05/25

Costs

£450: the estimated cost for travel and accommodation. Students will also be required to pay for: festival pass (£105), bus fares (£15), cultural activities (£20), food and drink, visa (if applicable)

Funding

DMU Global Bursary: £200

Booking

Accommodation: Accommodation will be booked by DMU

Travel: Travel will be booked by DMU

Contact

General Enquiries: Global Mobility Office - dmuglobal@dmu.ac.uk

Trip Lead: Mark Crossley - mcrossley@dmu.ac.uk

How to pay

Payment details: Students will be required to pay £250 as a contribution towards the cost of travel and accommodation after being offered a place on the trip. The DMU Global bursary will be deducted directly from the overall cost of the booking.

Carbon Levy

Student contribution: To offset the carbon emissions from the flight for this trip there is a £3 Carbon Levy for this trip which has been added to the total cost. Information about how this Levy will be used can be found here.

Trip Profile

Independence

Independence

Group travel

Independent travel

Trip price

Trip price

Lower

Higher

Trip duration

Trip duration

Shorter

Longer

Eligibility

DMU students enrolled on BA Acting, Drama and Theatre Arts, Dance, MA Performance Practices, MA Choreography and all students on joint honours are eligible to participate in this opportunity. There are a maximum of 30 places available, with a minimum of 15 participants required for this opportunity to take place. Students are recommended to check the eligibility criteria before applying.

About

Trip description

Utrecht Spring festival is one of the most prestigious European performance events, focusing on contemporary theatre and dance. Artists from across Europe and the globe perform in multiple venues across the city in a vibrant two week event.

The purpose of the trip is to immerse students in the Spring Festival (£105) through watching multiple performances, taking part in workshops and attending artist talks. Utrecht is a major cultural city in the Netherlands and students will be immersed in the festival and the social life of the city for four days.

DMU students and staff have participate in this Festival for a number of years, and through the relationships established, the group will have the chance to engage with peers and academics from the Utrecht University. In addition, students will have the opportunity to watch between 4 and 6 unique performances, engage in two workshops and participate in multiple artist talks.


Learning objectives

Participating in a DMU Global opportunity can help you develop a range of skills and competencies that enhance your studies. Through participation in this trip to Utrecht we expect students to:

  • Develop an understanding of interdisciplinary performance techniques within a European context
  • Develop collaborative devising skills through peer-to-peer practical learning
  • Enhance their understanding of European arts networks and the potential for employment post-graduation
  • Develop a heightened awareness of the potential for decolonisation through performance

To maximise the student learning outcomes of this opportunity, pre-trip there will be facilitated discussions with participants to develop strategies to ensure that the aims of attending the festival link directly broader learning on their course. Furthermore, post-trip, students are encouraged to implement learning outcomes from the festival in next years modules and assessments.


Cultural activities

Alongside the activities that will be offered as part of the festival, students are encouraged to take time to explore the beautiful Dutch city of Utrecht. it is recommended to visit St Martin’s Cathedral in the heart of the city, and even to climb the Cathedral tower. Utrecht also has a canal network, and students could take the time explore the Old Canal (Oudegracht), by foot, bike or by boat.

Visa Information

Due to various external factors and an unprecedented demand for international travel, there are significant delays in visa processing, as well as very limited availability of application appointment slots for some countries and embassies.

We recommend that you take all appropriate steps to secure a visa as soon as practically possible, and to notify DMU Global if you face any issues. It is your responsibility to meet the entry requirements of the country you are travelling to. Failing to do so may mean that you’re liable for the costs incurred to the university (including repayment of the DMU Global bursary).