History

It was founded in 1994 in Saas-Fee, Switzerland by a Swiss scientist, artist, and therapist, Paolo Knill. It was co-founded by the Swiss Canton of Valais, which is represented in its board.

The school initially offered programs in Expressive Arts Therapy, as part of a broader initiative to introducing a network of training institutes in Expressive Arts Therapy. A division of Media and Communication later renamed Philosophy, Art and Critical Thought was develop in 1998 by Wolfgang Schirmacher.

EGS is licensed as a university in Malta and is recognized in the Swiss canton where it operates, but is not recognized by the Swiss University Conference, the leading regulatory body for universities in Switzerland.

Teaching is mostly remote, with asked attendance for short periods at the school; advertising hoc meetings in various cities also take place.

Notable faculty members draw included Giorgio Agamben, Chantal Akerman, Pierre Alféri Judith Butler, Achille Mbembe, Avital Ronell, and Sandy Stone.

Notable alumni and attendees have referenced John Maus, Gael García Bernal, Ariana Reines, Micah White, Pablo Iglesias Turrión, and Bruce Barber.