University of Arts (Albania)
Albanian University of Arts[2] (formerly known as the Academy of Arts) is the main institution that offers higher education in the arts in Albania.
Universiteti i Arteve | |
Former names | Academy of Arts Higher Institute of Arts |
---|---|
Type | Public |
Established | 3 January 1966 |
Endowment | Financed by the Government of Albania |
Rector | Prof. Dr. Kastriot Çaushi [1] |
Academic staff | 386, of which 119 full-time tenure track |
Administrative staff | 64 |
Students | About 1,200 |
Location | , |
Campus | urban |
Colors | , |
Affiliations | ELIA, AEC, Albanian National Opera, Albanian National Theater, Albanian Fine Arts Gallery |
Website | www |
History
Founded in 1966 as the Higher Institute of Arts, it merged three artistic institutions: the Tirana State Conservatory, the Higher School of Fine Arts, and the High School for Actors “Aleksander Moisiu”. The Academy of Arts was able to take advantage of the Russian tradition in classical music and ballet due to the fact that Albania and Russia had close relationships during communism. The school still maintains ties with the Russian School of Ballet and Classical Music. In 1991, the Higher Institute of Arts was promoted to university level and renamed Academy of Arts. On October 12, 2009, the President of the Republic of Albania, Bamir Topi awarded the Academy of Arts the "Grand Master Order".[3]
Academics
The Academy of Arts has three faculties:
- Faculty of Music. It offers majors in musicology, conducting, composition, piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, flute, oboe, clarinet, trombone, trumpet, accordion, bassoon, horn, tuba, canto, and pedagogy, and has two academic departments
- Musicology/Composition/Conducting Department
- Performing Department
- Faculty of Visual Arts. It offers majors in painting, graphics, textile and fashion design, multimedia, applied design, sculpture, and ceramics, and has two academic departments:
- Faculty of Dramatic Arts. It offers majors in movie and TV directing, acting, stage design and costumography, and choreography, and has two academic departments:
- Acting Department
- Directing/Stage/Design/Choreography/Art Theory Department
The artists trained in the institution have become well known in dance, music, theater, film, and television in Albania and abroad. The teaching staff and associates of the Art Academy are musicologists, instrument players, painters, sculptors, theatre, film, and television directors, actors, stage designers, and choreographers.
Directors/Rectors
From its creation until 1991 the Higher Institute of Arts was led by a Director. From 1997 to the present, it is directed by a Rector.
The Directors/Rectors of the University of Arts | |
1966–1969 | Vilson Kilica (1932– ), painter, (Director of the Higher Institute of Arts) |
1969–1973 | Tefik Çaushi, writer, (Director of the Higher Institute of Arts) |
1973–1978 | Lili Zhamo, (Director of the Higher Institute of Arts) |
1978–1981 | Ibrahim Madhi, Professor of violin, (Director of the Higher Institute of Arts) |
1981–1988 | Kristo Jorgji, film director, (Director of the Higher Institute of Arts) |
1988–1991 | Jakup Mato (1934–2005), (Director of the Higher Institute of Arts) |
1991–1992 | Fatmir Hysi, musicist, (Director of the Academy of Arts) |
1992–1995 | Bujar Kapexhiu (1944– ), film director and actor (Director of the Academy of Arts) |
1995–1997 | Gjergj Zheji (1926–2010), writer, (Director of the Academy of Arts) |
1997–2008 | Kastriot Çaushi (1954– ), actor, Professor of Drama (Rector of the Academy of Arts) |
2008–2016 | Petrit Malaj (1961– ), actor, Professor of Drama (Rector of the Academy of Arts, Rector of the University of Arts) |
2016– | Kastriot Çaushi (1954– ), actor, Professor of Drama (Rector of the University of Arts) |
Notable alumni
- Inva Mula (opera)
- Ermonela Jaho (opera)
- Edi Rama (visual arts)
- Anri Sala (visual arts)
- Helidon Gjergji (visual arts)
- Altin Kaftira (ballet)
- Kledi Kadiu (ballet)
- Yllka Mujo (acting)
- Ndriçim Xhepa (acting)
- Luli Bitri (acting)
- Rajmonda Bulku (acting)
- Laert Vasili (acting)
- Arta Muçaj (acting)
- Nik Xhelilaj (acting)
- Julian Deda (acting)
- Genti Bejko (directing)
- Vénera Kastrati (visual arts)
Postage stamp
On December 15, 2011, to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Academy of Arts, the Albanian Post issued a new postal stamp [4] dedicated to this event. The stamp was introduced during a ceremony at the Main Hall of the University of Arts by the Head of the Philately Department of the Albanian Posts and the Rector Prof. Petrit Malaj.
See also
- List of universities in Albania
- Quality Assurance Agency of Higher Education
- List of colleges and universities
- List of colleges and universities by country
- National Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Albania
- Palace of Culture of Tirana
- National Gallery of Figurative Arts of Albania
- National Theater of Albania