In 1968, artist Huib Noorlander was commissioned to create a sculpture for the seating area on Academiestraat under the percentage scheme for expanding the school building. At that time, the Academy of Visual Arts and Technical Sciences was located here. Noorlander made a bronze statue of a cross-seated figure on a masonry base. The figure has an abstract shape above its head. Since the image is the title Prometheus has, this shape will probably represent a bird, because in Greek mythology, humans fared poorly when the Greek gods bestowed gifts and skills. Other living beings fared much better, so Promotheus, out of pride and delusions of grandeur, stole fire from the Olympian gods and gave it to humans. In this way, man learned to work metal and develop a technical civilization. Promotheus was punished by Zeus; he was confined to the Caucasus mountain range, where the eagle Ethon came to eat his liver every day. Promoteus is therefore associated with technology and that is why he has been the official 'mascot' of many technical schools, such as here at the former Academy of Visual Arts and Technical Sciences.
