Vilnius Academy of Art

The Academy has the following faculties:

• Vilnius
• Kaunas
• Telšiai
• Klaipeda
• Faculty of Masters and Doctoral Studies

In 1793, the Department of Architecture was established at the Main School of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (in 1579-1781, the Academy and University of the Vilnius Society of Jesuits), the Department of Architecture, which began to be led by Professor Laurinas Gutsevičius . In 1797, the department of painting and drawing was established. For some time it was led by Professor Pranciskus Smugliavicius , then Professor Jan Rustem . In 1803, the Main Vilnius School was transformed into the Imperial University of Vilnius , in which the Faculty of Literature and Liberal Arts was established and the teaching of art history began. The department of sculpture was established. In 1832, the university was abolished. Art in Vilna was taught in private studios of Kanut Rusetskiy and others, later in the Ivan Trutnev Drawing School.

In 1919, the University of Stefan Batory began to operate in Vilna with a department of fine arts with painting, sculpture and graphic studios. In 1922, in Kaunas , in independent Lithuania, the Kaunas Art School was established with studios of painting (1923), graphic art, sculpture (1926), decorative painting (1929), ceramics (1931), industrial art (1938).

In 1940, upon the adoption of the law on art schools, the Kaunas Art School and the Department of Fine Arts of Vilnius University Stefan Batoria were reorganized into the Kaunas School of Applied Arts and the Vilnius Art School. In 1941, the Kaunas School of Applied Arts was renamed the Kaunas Institute of Applied and Decorative Arts, and the Vilnius Art School was renamed the Vilnius Academy of Arts. During World War II, both schools were closed. Their activities were resumed in 1944 (in Vilnius - as the Vilnius State Art Institute) ^[1] .

In 1951, both institutes were merged into the State Art Institute of the Lithuanian SSR, which switched to Soviet plans and training programs. The institute had departments in the following specialties: painting (easel painting, mural and mosaic, stained glass, theater decoration), graphics, sculpture, architectural composition and design, ceramics and art textiles (the last two were transferred from Kaunas). In 1959, an evening department was opened in Kaunas, in 1983 it was transformed into the faculty of industrial art.

In 1973, two faculties were formed - fine art and applied art. In 1977, the institute listed 16 departments. Artists were trained in the specialties: painting, graphics, sculpture, arts and crafts, interior and equipment, landscape, restoration, monument architect, industrial art, decoration and modeling of textile and light industry products, monumental and decorative art, art history.

In 1990, the educational institution was transformed into the Vilnius Academy of Art. In 1991, the Kaunas Art Institute was established.

Recent History

In 1991, the Statute of the Academy was adopted. In the same year, the Department of Costume Design was separated from the Department of Textiles. In 1992, the gallery of the Academy was founded. The Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania reaffirmed the Statute of the All-Union Military Academy. The first title of Honorary Doctor was awarded to art critic Vladas Dreme . In 1993, the publishing house VHA began its activities. Then, together with the Institute of Culture and Art, a doctoral study of art was established.

In 1994, the professor became the rector of the Academy, Arvydas Šaltjanis. Established Institute of Art History. In 1995, a transition was made to three levels of education of the first (main) - undergraduate, the second - graduate and the third - doctoral studies. The first titles of Honorary Professor were awarded. The Department of Graphics celebrated the 190th anniversary of the institution. The Academy began to be discontinued by the studio at La Cite Internationale des Arts in Paris.

In 1996, a photography and video art studio was established. The Academy is first introduced on the Internet.

In 1997, the Union of Lithuanian Art Students was registered (since 2003 - the Representation of Students of Vilnius Art Academy). The Academy joined CIRRUS, an association of higher art schools in the Baltic region. The 200th anniversary of the establishment of the departments of Painting is marked. The new senate of the BHA is elected.

In 1998, a branch was established in Telšiai . The building was transferred to the Academy at 3 Mirono Street in Vilnius.

In 1999, Arvydas Šaltianis was re-elected. The department of restoration is open

In 2000, the Department of Management of Culture and Cultural Policy of UNESCO was established. The gallery of Antanas Tamošaitis and Anastasia Tamošaitene “идydinis” is open in the Gurecki palace on the corner of Dominiconu and Gaono streets.

In 2002, the department of interior design was opened. In 2003, the Kaunas Art Institute became the faculty of the Academy. The branch in Telsiai became the faculty of the Academy. The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania adopted a new edition of the Statute of the Academy

In 2004, the Academy Council began work. Professor Adomas Butrimas , an archeologist by profession, a graduate of the Faculty of History of Vilnius University, was elected Rector. ^[2] . Klaipeda Department of Visual Design celebrated its 30th anniversary.

In 2005, the bicentennial of the Department of Graphics was celebrated. The Center for Design Innovation began its activity. The position of Vice-Rector for Strategic Development was approved.

In 2006, the thesis of bachelors and masters was first presented to the public. the academy for the first time participated in the international master's program "Contemporary Art Practices". The Institute of Art History was reorganized.

In 2007, the National Prize was awarded to Professor Alfonsas Andryushkevicius.

In 2008, a new Senate was elected, and Professor Algimantas Machiulis became its chairman. The Academy became the first higher education institution in Lithuania to receive international accreditation of all taught programs.

In 2009, the VCA participated in the program “Vilnius - the European Capital of Culture”. In 2010, a new structure of the All-Union Military Technical Academy with faculties in Telšiai and Kaunas was approved, and three faculties in Vilnius were reorganized into faculties of undergraduate and higher programs. Opened colony in Nida .

In 2011, a new interim rector, Professor Andrius Klimas, was elected. The new BHA statute is approved. Doctoral studies of fine art and design and art history are open. The new composition of the Senate was elected, headed by the chairman, associate professor Dr. Eva Kuizinene. In 2013, the 220th anniversary of the Academy was solemnly celebrated. The title of Honorary Doctor was awarded to Romualdas Budris, and the Honorary Professor to Saulius Valis.

In 2014, Professor Audrius Klimas was elected rector of the All-Union Military Technical Academy. The title of Honorary Professor was awarded to Kestutis Zapkus.

• Piatras Alexandravichius
• Gediminas Valyuskis
• Bronus Vysnyauskas
• Antanas Gudaitis
• Vladas Sandman
• Juozas Mikenas
• Vytautas Yurkunas
• Stasis Krasauskas
• Vytautas Nasvitis
• Sharunas Sauka
• Casimir (Case) Zimblite
• Vytautas Palaima
• Anatoly Stishko

See also the category Graduates of Vilnius Academy of Art

• Mechislovas Bulak ( 1944 - 1945 ) ^[3]
• Vytautas Yurkunas ( 1951 - 1953 )
• Vytautas Matskevičius ( 1953 - 1974 )
• Vincentas Gyachas ( 1974 - 1988 )
• Vytautas Bredikis ( 1988 - 1994 )
• Arvydas Šaltjanis ( 1994 - 2004 )
• Adomas Butrimas ( 2004-2012 )
• Audrius Klimas (since 2012)

Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater

• Art Institute of the Lithuanian SSR // Lithuania. Brief Encyclopedia. - Vilnius: Main edition of encyclopedias, 1989. - S. 624. - 672 p. - 50,000 copies.

• Vilniaus dailės akademija (official page) (lit.) (Eng.)