Academy Structure » Faculties of the Academy

The Art Faculty prepares students for a career in

– painting (area: easel painting),

– graphic arts,

– monumental and decorative art (areas: restoration, mural painting, theatrical scenic painting (scenography), film set painting (production design),

– sculpture,

– art history (area: fine arts)

in full-time education.

Period of study: all specialities (other than art history): 6 years (full-time);

art history: 4 years (full-time).

The Art Faculty started its activity in 1953. It is one of the oldest faculties of the Academy and provides a unique experience in a vibrant and friendly environment.

The Faculty maintains the principles of a traditional art education and successfully intertwines them with the diversity of approaches that propel art-making today and for the future. All our lecturers – permanent staff or visiting lecturers – are practicing artists in their own areas.

The Faculty’s alumni are enterprising, employable, they are able to make a powerful contribution to society, culture and arts and have achieved significant success and gained recognition in their artistic fields in our country and abroad.

Currently, students are taught at four departments:

• Department of Drawing,
• Department of Painting and Graphic Arts,
• Department of Monumental and Decorative Art,
• Department of Sculpture.

Department of Drawing

The Department has been training students since 1957. The programme focuses on developing constructing skills as well as on all other components of drawing: composition, form, line, plastics, three-dimensional thinking, perspective, tonal solution, the manner of fulfilment, etc. It is especially important to establish constructive thinking, and apply different materials (graphic pencil, charcoal, sanguine, sauce, sepia, etc.)

Department of Painting and Graphic Arts

The Department has been preparing painters and graphic artists according to selected priority branches since 1953. The course of painting emphasises the study of basic postulates for working on a still life or nude models. As for the study of the principles of a painting composition, the work proceeds in a complex way and takes into account personal and individual interests of students.

Students gain knowledge in easel compositions as well as become proficient in all the methods and techniques (etching, lithography, linocut, xylography, mixed technique, etc.) necessary for modern easel graphics. Students create compositions also in digital programmes. Also, the students learn the principles of book creation and illustration, become familiar with relevant technological processes. They study architectonics (layout) of a book; get acquainted with the technology of selecting fonts, paper quality, a book cover.

Department of Monumental and Decorative Art

The Department has been training students since 1961, and it serves the needs and ambitions of main student groups: restoration, mural painting, theatrical scenic painting (scenography) and film set painting (production design).

Restoration. It aims to teach conservation and restoration of the cultural heritage artefacts according to the contemporary world standards. While teaching restoration and conservation, special emphasis is placed on historical, technological, and diagnostic research on the cultural heritage artefacts as well as on studies of the original and conservation materials, preventative measures, fundamentals of conservation theory, philosophy and legislation, professional ethics.

Mural painting. It equips students with the knowledge in mural making techniques, including wall preparation, design enlargement, paint application, the cloth method, and sealing the completed project, the choice of materials required for best results – from primers and paints to brushes and sealers, etc.

Theatrical scenic painting (scenography). The teaching programme is based on traditional and new methods, and involve creation of stage scenery with its visual and technical aspects as well as stylistic and technical solutions of theatrical costumes.

Film set painting (production design). The conceptual structure of the programme is based mainly on developing creative and spatial thinking of students, developing skills of orientation in modern media environment; mastering highly artistic and creative methods of representing the visual characteristics of feature films, short films, documentary films, TV films, advertising clips, TV and staged shows.

Department of Sculpture The Department was set up in 1953. The course in sculpture aims at developing students’ knowledge and skills in foundational methods of making – modelling, carving, and assembly – as a springboard to learning how to communicate ideas through sculptural works. Although the Sculpture classes are rooted in the history of object-making, new forms of sculptural practice – installation, sound and kinetic works, etc. – are all part of our course.

The Faculty of Design and Decorative and Applied Arts prepares students for a career in

– design (areas: means of production and vehicle design, consumer products design, furniture design, exposition design, interior design, graphic design (photographics), communication design, multimedia design,

– decorative and applied arts (areas: ceramics, textiles, costume design, glassware, metalwork

in full-time (4 years) education.

The Faculty of Design and Decorative and Applied Arts started its activity in 1976, and since then it has been providing a unique experience in a vibrant and friendly environment.

The Faculty maintains the principles of a traditional design and decorative and applied arts education and successfully intertwines them with the diversity of approaches that propel decorative and applied arts and design today and for the future. All our lecturers – permanent staff or visiting lecturers – are practicing designers and artists in their own areas.

The Faculty’s alumni are enterprising, employable, they are able to make a powerful contribution to society, culture and arts and have achieved significant success and gained recognition in their artistic fields in our country and abroad.

Currently, students are taught at three departments:

• Department of Decorative and Applied Arts and Costume Design,
• Department of Industrial and Interior Design,
• Department of Theory and Practice of Communication Design.

Department of Decorative and Applied Arts and Costume Design

The Department serves the needs and ambitions of three main student groups: ceramics, glassware, and metalwork. It also aims to enable students to gain knowledge and practical, hands-on experience in the fields of tapestry and creative textile, costumes, etc. based on creative thinking, technologies and the knowledge of influence of colour, texture, cut on aesthetic and practical functions of the product. Education at the Department is based on a synthesis of traditions and contemporaneity in artistic thinking as well as in technologies; studying and mastering both constant and permanently renewing process of the expressive forms of aesthetic and functional categories; preparation of highly skilled professional designers and ceramic artists, glassware and metalwork makers.

Department of Industrial and Interior Design

The objective of the programme in industrial design is to enable students to gain knowledge and practical, hands-on experience in technical design, including: the design of means of production and vehicle design, consumer products design, exposition design, etc. Here you will learn how to create a modern interior meeting functional, spatial, engineering and aesthetic requirements. The objective is to teach students compositional techniques of designing interior space, whose methodology and main provisions are based on scientific, technical and economic foundations. The Department also prepares specialists of designing furniture for the interior of different buildings, providing them with the knowledge of constructional and technological processes needed for this purpose.

Department of Theory and Practice of Communication Design

The Department prepares specialists for the design of visual means that includes planning the communication means, advertising, packaging and graphic design. These are the means by which the companies represent their philosophy to the society, demonstrate the services and goods produced by them.

It also trains specialists in computer 2D and 3D modelling and design, computer multimedia, web-design and computer animation, which include creation of spatial animation models for domestic, transport, technological, scientific, museum, archaeological, medical and other fields; artistic representation of virtual reality in real time, artistic design of computer games, artistic presentation, organisation, design of virtual reality of the processes in various scientific fields; etc.

The Faculty of Film, Theatre and Television prepares students for a career as

– an actor (areas: drama theatre and film, puppet theatre, musical theatre).

– a director (areas: drama theatre, musical theatre, puppet theatre, variety theatre, the circus),

– an art historian (areas: history and theory of theatre, organisation and management of theatrical activity)

for the theatre and film industry

as well as

– a director (areas: film directing (feature film, documentary, animation) and TV directing),

– a cinematographer (areas: film cinematography and TV cinematography),

– a sound designer,

– a film and TV expert,

– a producer;

– a screenwriter,

– a film editor

for the film and TV industry both in full-time (4 years) and part-time (5 years) education.

Foreign nationals can apply for study at all specialities except for specialities of film directing and film cinematography in which education is only at the expense of the budget.

The formation and development of theatre education in Belarus takes its roots in 1945 with the opening of the Belarusian State Theatre Institute, whose head was Ye.Dunayev-Mirovich, a follower of Stanislavski’s system of acting. Education at the Faculty is based on the traditions of classical and national drama schools as well as on current knowledge and requirements of the development of theatre art in the international context. The foundation of professional theatre education in Belarus was laid by Soviet and Belarusian people’s artists and well-known figures of theatre, film and TV.

The training of specialists for film and TV industry started alongside with the establishment of the Department of Film and TV Arts in 1994. Education successfully intertwines studies and creative hands-on practice to help students become equipped to begin a career as a film and TV professional.

The Faculty’s alumni are enterprising, employable, they are able to make a powerful contribution to society, culture and arts and have achieved significant success and gained recognition in the field of theatre and film art in our country and abroad.

Currently, students are taught at four departments:

• Department of Acting Technique and Directing,
• Department of Stage Voice and Speech Technique, Vocal Training and Stage Movement,
• Department of Film and Television,
• Department of Cinematography and Sound Design.

Department of Acting Technique and Directing

The Department has been training students since 1945. Its founder was Professor Ye.Dunayev-Mirovich, people’s artist of the BSSR, one of the founders of the Yanka Kupala Belarusian National Drama Theatre. Diploma performances of the Department’s students have repeatedly become prize-winners of international and domestic theatre festivals Our graduates are in demand and are highly sought after by regional, national and international employers. You can meet them in theatre companies of more than 20 countries. Every year our teachers hold master classes for students and young actors from France, Holland, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Canada, and Sweden.

The training of directors has been ongoing since 1956. It was headed by Associate Professor A.Yefremov, a Russian director and teacher, meritorious artist of the USSR. Today famous Belarusian directors are engaged in the teaching process at the Department. Education at the Department is based on the best traditions of domestic and foreign experience of preparing directors as well as on an individual approach to every student with the view of promoting maximum development of their creativity. Students and teachers of the Department participate in creative projects and dramatic productions, musical performances, performances of the puppet theatre, variety programmes not only on the stage of the Student Theatre Studio, but also on the stage of professional theatres. The Department’s graduates are in demand both in our country and abroad.

Department of Stage Voice and Speech Technique, Vocal Training and Stage Movement

The Department has been training students since 1999. Significant contribution to the establishment and development of the Department was made by its inspirer and first head Professor A.Shahidevich. Voice and speech training has long been a part of the fabric of actor training, and classes focus on awakening and building students’ vocal instrument so that they can make the strongest vocal choices as an actor, regardless of your setting.

Stage movement is a crucial aspect of theatre that encompasses the physical actions of actors, enhancing performances and conveying emotions effectively.

Department of Film and Television

The Department has been training students since 1974. Here you will study the history, theory and criticism of film and TV, you will learn the skills of a successful director not only by studying the fundamentals of filmmaking or TV, but also by becoming familiar with all aspects of a film production. You will get knowledge of technical and creative side of directing as well as text analysis, camera, sound and editing and how they contribute to the film and TV-making process.

Department of Cinematography and Sound Design

Specialists in the field of cinematography and sound design have been trained since 1994.

Here you will gain and develop essential skills and knowledge that help the director realise their vision onto the screen through camera choice and movement, lighting, focus, filtration and exposure.

The Department also prepares specialists for a variety of audio careers including post-production, live sound and audio broadcast. Students receive skills in recording, mixing, and editing, gain knowledge of the fundamentals of the physics of sound and electricity as well as music fundamentals.

Currently, the Faculty of Scientific, Pre-University Training and Continuing Education provides training in the following areas:

• Department of Continuing Professional Education,
• Postgraduate Study (PhD and Doctoral (DSc) Programmes)
• Preparatory Department.

Department of Continuing Professional Education

The main objective of the Department of Continuing Professional Education is to provide further training and retraining for managers and specialists with higher education, advanced training, and internships for specialists in the fields of theatre, fine arts, design, film, and television. It also offers training courses, specialised courses, seminars, master classes, and more.

Training at the Faculty corresponds to the requirements of the higher school and considers current trends in the art and design activity.

Professional further training and retraining can be organised on self-supporting conditions, on the basis of the contracts signed with offices, enterprises as well as citizens.

The educational process is carried out mainly by the Academy staff, and also visiting qualified specialists of leading higher education establishments of the Republic of Belarus, of the Belarusian TV and Radio Company, by honoured workers of art, etc.

Postgraduate Study

See the relevant tab on the website.

Preparatory Department

See the relevant tab on the website.

Currently, students are taught general education subjects in the following departments:

• Department of General Education Disciplines,
• Department of History and Theory of Arts.

Department of General Education Disciplines

The Department of General Education Disciplines was set up in 1945 alongside with the establishment of the Academy. It is an interfaculty department and it is responsible for teaching the general educational courses. These courses include history, philosophy, social science, languages, literature, economics, physical education, etc.

Department of History and Theory of Arts

The Department of History and Theory of Arts is one of the oldest departments of the Academy, set up as the Department of Acting and Theatre Studies in 1945. Its first head was the famous Belarusian playwright, director, People’s Artist of the BSSR, Professor Ye.Mirovich.

The Department provides teaching of art history subjects at all faculties of the Academy.

The Department also trains student for a career in art history areas:

• fine arts,
• theatre studies,
• theatrical activity organisation

as well as offers master’s degree and postgraduate programmes in art history.