In the last two years before his retirement Chris Fictoor (1948) will focus on the further development and expansion of the international, national and regional network of the Prince Claus Conservatoire in his role as ambassador. He will also play an important role in acquiring funds for the conservatoire, and by association with the various organizations and business relationships around the conservatoire.

As of 1 September 2011 the Prince Claus Conservatoire will launch its new master programme Master of Music. In collaboration with businesses and institutions Hanze University Groningen has established a fund to make this master programme financially possible and to bridge the time needed to convince the government that quality should be the decisive factor.

The coming months will be devoted to a careful and efficient procedure to appoint the next dean, which will be undertaken in close collaboration with all parties involved. We will in due course return to Chris Fictoor's departure from his current role.

The School of Performing Arts consists of the Prince Claus Conservatoire, Dance Academy Lucia Marthas (Amsterdam) and Dance Academy North Netherlands. In addition the school comprises the master programme Education in Arts (a collaboration with Academy Minerva and the NH University of Applied Sciences) and the Lifelong Learning in Music & the Arts Professorship and the Centre of Applied Research and Innovation Art & Society of Hanze University Groningen.