The Master's program Theory and Practice of Experimental Performance has been in existence since the winter semester of 2020/2021. This two-year interdisciplinary Master's program invites individuals with Bachelor's and Diplom degrees from all fields. Experience in performative practice is required, while experience in theoretical work is desired. Master's students are individually supported in developing their own performance projects, as well as exploring the question of "we" in collaborative project work. Alongside the performative work, theoretical formats for reflecting on one's own work are developed, and basic competencies in various areas are acquired.

The four-semester Master's program Theory and Practice of Experimental Performance offers students the opportunity to further develop and deepen their artistic practice in the field of performance. Performance is understood here as an artistic and social practice that bridges disciplines and draws from various contexts and traditions. Within the framework of the HMDK Stuttgart, the program provides a transdisciplinary environment inviting students to explore performative concepts in areas such as music/sound, dance/choreography, theatre, installation and visual arts, activism, technology, social practice, and architecture. Both practical and reflective approaches are emphasized, enabling students to cultivate a discursive practice and articulate their work and context.

The program places a strong emphasis on the development of individual, collaborative, and collective work. It offers a space for methodological development and experimental collaborations. Students are encouraged to adopt a research-based approach to their work, investigating what performance can be and how it engages with current issues. Exchange among peers, mutual learning, and a productive culture of feedback are central.

The study consists of ongoing seminars with teachers of the HMDK as well as workshops and lectures by international guest artists and scholars. The small number of students allows for individualized supervision of each student.

The Master's program is part of the CAMPUS GEGENWART, a transdisciplinary center for artistic and theoretical exchange and collaboration between the three art schools and the university in Stuttgart. The CAMPUS GEGENWART enables students to participate in courses at the "Staatlichen Akademie der Bildenden Künste" and the "Merz Akademie – Hochschule für Gestaltung, Kunst und Medien". Furthermore, the CAMPUS GEGENWART collaborates with a wide range of cultural institutions in and around Stuttgart. This provides students with the opportunity to explore fields of work and design future collaborations by interacting with experts and students from various creative disciplines.