The Bavarian Art Academies Association (KHB), comprising the six Bavarian art academies, and the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) are launching a partnership on 1 August 2026 to establish a university-wide health management programme. “Artists perform at the highest level and – depending on their art form – face a wide range of physical and mental stresses. An effective health management system must address these specific requirements. With the support of TK, we are laying the foundations for developing tailored and sustainable measures to promote health at Bavaria’s art colleges. “We are very grateful that TK is accompanying us on this journey!” emphasises Prof. Rainer Kotzian, Chair of the KHB.

“TK has been supporting educational institutions for many years now that wish to develop sustainably into healthy higher education institutions. In doing so, we not only provide studies, measures and practical examples, but also closely supervise the process from the outset, offer financial support and provide advice throughout the development phase,” says Dirk Helfrich, Head of the Bavarian Higher Education Team. “At Bavaria’s art colleges, too, students and staff are exposed to particular physical and mental stresses in their day-to-day university life. Tailored health management strengthens health resources, has a preventative effect and benefits from the close cooperation between the six art colleges. In this way, we can work together to create sustainable structures for better health.”

This collaboration across the various types of art colleges was initiated by Susanne Mayer and Prof. Dr Regina Götz of the KHB Co-ordination Office for Art & Health. The two coordinators will play a key role in steering the process, which is scheduled to run for 4.5 years, and will act as a link between TK and KHB, ensuring that the structures for university health management at the respective institutions are established in line with needs and firmly embedded for the long term.

Source: Press release from the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts