The European Exchange Academy (EEA) was founded in 2003 as an answer to the growing incapability of regular European art academies. The EEA wants to create the best conditions for artists of the future. The insufficient educational structures at art schools, the short time teachers can talk with a student, the very short time students can study in general, all these evolutions need counterweight.

The EEA is created to an art-academy that provides all the best for motivated international art students. Here they will be able to work and live in a short period of time (four and a half weeks) in an isolated setting. The exciting place to do so was found in a vast, deserted clinic in Beelitz Heilstätten, 40 km. south of Berlin, Germany.

Every year since 2003 there has been a group of about 40 participants, coming to Beelitz-HeilstŠtten from academies in Leeds, Helsinki, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, New York, Xiamen, Utrecht or Zwolle. Since 2003, a number of 24 nationalities were counted by EEA participants and advisors. A core team of about 5 advisors completed with a number of 6 to 8 guests-advisors doing short workshops or lectures. This unique enterprise is lead by Harry Heyink, being the artistic director of the EEA together with Gerd OhligschlŠger, Beelitz-specialist and business-director of the EEA since 2003. This unique duo navigates the EEA-organisation every year in order to provide an ideal setting.