Art School of Savonlinna

The art gymnasium began its work in 1967. In the first years after the foundation, only the direction of fine art was available, but in 1979 the musical, opera and theater directions opened. In October 2017, the National Council for Educational Assessment and the Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland recognized the Savonlinna Art Gymnasium as the country's best mid-level art educational institution ^[1] .

The gymnasium is a general educational institution; upon its completion, the student receives a secondary school certificate, which allows continuing education in higher educational institutions. Grammar school students, in addition to subjects of the general educational program, study different types of arts. They take about a third of the study time. According to the secondary school curriculum, a gymnasium student must complete at least 75 courses in order to complete education in 2-4 years. As a rule, the curriculum of the gymnasium fits into three years. High school students are selected on the basis of entrance exams and are credited to the department of fine art or the department of music.

The Savonlinna Art Gymnasium, with the support of its partners, can provide students with scholarships. To receive a scholarship, it is necessary to demonstrate success in the artistic or musical fields, as well as good overall performance.

Music Department

At the music department ( Finnish. Musiikkilinja ), high school students study classical music, jazz, rock and folk music. The department has a training program in opera and musical theater art, which annually attracts a group of students. All gymnasium students in the music department learn to play an instrument or sing. Also in the Lyceum there is the opportunity to play in various musical ensembles. The school has a musical collective of folk singing, rock and jazz ensembles and a choir. Many of the graduates of the department become professionals.

Department of Fine Arts

After enrolling, the student of the department of fine art ( Finnish. Kuvataidelinja ) has the opportunity to choose a specialization. The school has four such areas: general visual arts, applied visual arts, graphic design and spatial planning, media. Art History is a must for every student. Gymnasium students of this department have the opportunity to participate in various master classes and circles, for example, in textiles, sewing, photography, ceramics, metallography and cinema. Common to all high school students in this department are the basics of aesthetic expression and the history of art. Each gymnasium student must choose one advanced course in a particular art form and take several master classes. To enter the gymnasium, the student must take an entrance exam. The test should show sufficient evidence of artistic motivation and the presence of the basic artistic skills of the applicant. The most striking event in the Lyceum is the spring exhibition of graduation works with the attached portfolio.

Studio Theater

In the gymnasium there is a theater school-studio, in which you can learn acting. Theater courses can be chosen by students in the musical field, as well as gymnasium students specializing in the visual arts. The school theater annually puts on plays. Other subjects of the theater cycle are taught by full-time or invited teachers, specialists in this field. The theater program is open to all students of the educational institution, the program also includes study tours.

• Yani Rusikka - artist ^[2]
• Ville Lörrönen - artist ^[3]
• Tarja Turunen - rock singer, pianist, composer
• Karolina Kallio - Finnish singer
• YUP - rock band