The National Academy of fine art and architecture is one of the main educational institutions that obtained preparation of artistic professionals in painting, graphics, sculpture, architecture and art criticism. It inherits the Ukrainian academy of fine art founded on 18 December 1917 on the initiative of advanced Ukrainian intellectuals with the support of the Central Rada with academician M. Grushevsky at the head.
     The main aim of the new-founded academy became the development of art school on the basis of the traditions of national culture. The realization of such an actual, cherished long ago idea was the matter of state importance. From the time of the foundation of the academy Ukrainian artists have got the possibility to obtain higher education not abroad but in the mother country. The foundations of the formation and development of new native pedagogics in the branch of fine art were laid at the same time.
     The founders of the academy M. Boychuk, M. Zhuk, V. Krychevsky, F. Krychevsky, A. Manevych, O. Murashko and G. Narbut were invited for teaching. F. Krychevsky and G. Narbut were its first rectors.
     The new educational institution with a little professorship, not numerous quota of students and limited quantity of subjects on speciality (painting and graphics) showed resemblance in many ways to foreign free academies.
     The first years of the functioning of the academy passed with great difficulties: the civil war and the foreign intervention; the lack of the permanent premises and the most necessary equipment; the loss of professors (O. Murashko was killed in 1919, in 1920 G. Narbut died, M. Burachek left Kyiv, A. Manevych went abroad).
     But in spite of the unfavourable circumstances the academy fulfilled one of the main tasks - formed the basis of higher art school in Ukraine. During a short period G. Narbut had educated the constellation of graphics that continued their teacher's traditions and made a significant contribution into the formation of the national style of book graphic design. The main principles of M. Boychuk's monumental painting school had been determined by this time. There he started to realize his dream of organizing the collective creative activity on the principles of shop unions.
     After the transformation of the academy into the institute of plastic arts in 1922 and its amalgamation with the Ukrainian institute of architecture in 1924 (the institute was founded in 1918), the new educational institution took another title - the Kyiv's Institute of fine art. The new period in the development of the educational institution started which was connected with the rectorship of the art critic I. Vrona. The institute gained the possibility of opening wide educational activity. By 1 October 1928 there studied 800 students under control of 103 educational specialists and assisting personnel.
     The structural division of the educational institution was reorganized in a new way in order to train artists for harmonious design of the surroundings, mode of life, production. Thus besides the departments of easel and monumental painting at the faculty of painting, a new one of cinema, theatre and photo was opened there. The artistic processing of wood and ceramics, the profession related with sculpture, was taught along with the easel and monumental sculpture there at the faculty of sculpture.      Taking into account the demands of printing and publishing the future artists in polygraphy studied thoroughly graphic techniques at the faculty of polygraphy. The separate place took the artistic-pedagogical faculty that trained artists-educational specialists and so called artists-specialists in political education for club work.
     The functional reorientation of the speciality of artist caused changes in educational methods. Students paid special attention to the studying of the cycle of formal technical subjects (so called "fortech", which consisted in the fulfilment of special tasks on drawing, colour, volume and space. Practical studies in the studios for special and technical purpose as frescos, mosaics, tempera etc., along with studying of the technology of materials took great importance at the faculty of painting.
     The corresponding teaching staff was formed to realize vast scale plans. It consisted of M. Boychuk, brothers V. Krychevsky and F. Krychevsky, A. Bohomazov, V. Kasian, L. Kramarenko, B. Kratko, V. Meller, S. Nalepynska-Boychuk, I. Severa, A. Taran, P. Alioshyn, O. Verbytsky, S. Kolotov and others. M. Gelman, P. Golubiatnykov, V. Palmov, I. Pleshchynsky, B. Sakulin, V. Tatlin, M. Tryaskin, A. Usachiov were invited from Russia.
     In a short time the Kyiv's institute of fine art took one of the leading positions among the art educational institutions of the former USSR. But at the end of 1920s-the beginning of 1930s it suffered hard fate. The fight between each other for the hegemony in art, personal discords and intensification of ideological pressure brought to nought all the achievements. Professorate started to leave the institute. In 1930 the faculty of polygraphy and several departments were closed, rector I. Vrona was dismissed and new reorganization took place in accordance with the ideology of proletarian culture. The education institution was named the Kyiv's institute of proletarian art culture and specializations of some faculties were changed to the ones of the artistic propaganda, artistic decoration of proletarian mode of life, sculptural decoration of socialist towns, communist art education. Many subjects necessary for the development of professional skills were withdrawn from the educational plans.
     In 1934 the fundamental reform was carried out again after which the all-Ukrainian art institute at that time, and at the end of 1930s - Kyiv's state art institute came back to the academic methods of education. In consequence of the reorganization the easel forms were shown preference which led to changes in teaching staff too. Artists and architects who leaned upon steady traditional methods and forms were invited for teaching, they were P. Volodykin, P. Alioshyn, M. Verbytsky, V. Zabolotny, V. Rykov, F. Krychevsky, K. Trokhymenko, O. Shovkunenko and former graduates of the institute. They were educated mostly on the principles of the realistic school of the end of XIX-the beginning of XX century and had experience of creation of pictures with plot subject.
     Founded in 1933 All-Russia academy of arts (Academy of arts of the USSR from 1974) rendered methodical assistance for the Kyiv's institute. Making easel works had become the basis of educational methods for a long time. It consisted in careful study of nature by means of drawing and painting with the consecutive complication of exercises with the purpose of preparation of the student for the execution of composition with plot subject in different areas of fine art. Several generations of Ukrainian artists were brought up on the basis of the traditional methods that guarantee high professionalism at an empirical level of creativity.
     But having certain stability, the academic programmes worked out and affirmed by Academy of arts of the USSR were corrected and changed to a certain degree during the educational process. They were determined by inflow of the new pedagogical staff, aesthetic trends, which contradicted to conservative bases of the vulgarized concepts of realism of that time. The expansion of a scale of specialization depending on activity of the new organized educational departments had also certain influence on reconsideration of some academic principles.
     Despite of radical changes in teaching staff, collisions and unhealthy relations between some teachers - representatives of party and Soviet bodies of authority did not cease. The reprisals of 1937 cost life to a number of outstanding artists. It concerns the school of M. Boychuk first of all, which was destroyed both morally, and physically.
     Under aegis of the All-Russia academy of arts the rigid centralization in art education, in particular unification of the educational programs was carried out. To this was added ideological pressure.
     But contrary to all destructive phenomena, which accompanied each of the next ideological campaigns, the idea of national school remained hardy. It was considerably supported by the authority of Fedir Krychevsky. In pre-war times he had brought up considerable amount of students, which played an important role in the Ukrainian art culture then.
     During the second half of 1930-th the firm bases of academic training were formed, which traditions have been underlying pedagogical system till now. The present teachers, former graduates of the institute lean upon them. Worked out by outstanding masters, these traditions were kept during hard war times, when the institute was in evacuation, and served as a strong basis for education for several generations of artists in further years. Thus, the creativity of the artists, who graduated from the institute during the first post war decades, considerably strengthened positions of the realistic school formed in 1930-th. That was a merit of the leaders of the educational creative studios of those times. They were: O. Shovkunenko (genre and portrait painting), K. Trokhymenko (historical and battle painting), A. Petrytsky (monumental-decorative painting), G. Svitlytsky, I. Shtilman (landscape painting), M. Lysenko (monumental sculpture), M. Gelman (easel sculpture), graphic arts - V. Kasian and such skilled teachers as M. Vronsky S. Grigoryev V. Zabashta K. Yeleva V. Kostetsky G. Melikhov O. Oliynyk O. Pashchenko A. Plamenytsky I. Pleshchynsky V. Puzyrkov M. Khmelko M. Sharonov T. Yablonska
     A lot of graduation works of those years has become the present property of the Ukrainian art.
     It has become kind tradition to form the teaching staff of the institute from its most capable graduates. Thus the heredity in application of pedagogical methods and its renovation with fresh forces at the same time were provided.
     During the post war years the institute had extended considerably, the quantity of structural divisions in particular had increased. Thus in 1948 the graphic faculty with the studios on book graphic design, easel graphics, political poster was restored. The faculty was created on the basis of the studio of graphic arts founded in 1945 at the faculty of painting. In 1958 the pedagogical faculty, and the next year - the faculty of the theory and history of art were organized. The faculty of painting had also extended: the studios of monumental painting and theatre-decorative painting were opened there in 1965, and the department of technology and restoration of painting - a little bit later. The quantity of students at the faculty of architecture had increased considerably.
     The obtaining of independence by Ukraine has caused active process of revival of national cultural traditions, reorganization of higher education.
In December 1992 in order to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the educational institution it was returned its initial name - the Ukrainian art academy. Since 1997, according to the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, it took another title - the Academy of fine art and architecture.
     The formation of national system of training of personnel, in particular the art one, also directly concerns the Academy of fine art and architecture (since September 2000 - The National academy of fine art and architecture). Generalizing experience of teaching of subjects on speciality and taking into account modern world achievements of organization of training, the activity of teaching staff of the educational institution is directed on the reconsideration of educational plans and educational programs, the creation of appropriate scientific - methodical bases for the organization of educational process. The essence of educational process consists in formation of students' creative thinking, high professional culture, national self-consciousness, humanism, and respectful attitude to cultural property of their people and peoples of the world.
     Basic structural subdivisions of the educational institution for today are faculties of: architecture; fine art; the theory and history of fine art (can be obtained both with day form of studying and by correspondence); departments of: painting; graphics; sculpture; theatre-decorative painting; restoration of art works; graphic design; art criticism, organization and management of the development of art culture; chairs of: drawing; painting and composition; sculpture; graphic arts; technology and restoration of art works; architectural designing; architectural constructions; the theory and history of architecture and synthesis of arts; the theory and history of art; culture and social - humanitarian subjects; foreign languages; physical education; department of post graduate and assistance-probationer training; auxiliary to the educational process subdivisions - the library, the scientific - methodical art museum, educational -methodical laboratories of plastic anatomy and drawing, painting and composition, graphic arts, sculpture, technology and restoration of art works, culture and social - humanitarian subjects, theory and history of art, theory and history of architecture and synthesis of arts, computer videographics; an educational printing house; educational studio of stencil silk printing; problem research laboratory of the history of the Ukrainian art and architecture etc.
     The chief principle of education of artists at the Academy of fine art and architecture was and still is training on speciality at individual educational-creative studios, which are included into a structure of graduation chairs. The leading of the educational-creative studios is carried out by the outstanding artists - teachers. The transition of students to the educational-creative studios occurs after the second year of studies.
     The educational-creative studios on painting are led by: people's artist of Ukraine, winner of the National premium of Ukraine named by Taras Shevchenko, academician, professor O. M. Lopukhov; people's artist of Ukraine, winner of the National premium of Ukraine named by Taras Shevchenko, academician, professor V. V. Shatalin; people's artist of Ukraine, academician, professor V. I. Gurin; people's artist of Ukraine, winner of the National premium of Ukraine named by Taras Shevchenko, academician, professor M. A. Storozhenko ; merited artist of Ukraine, winner of the National premium of Ukraine named by Taras Shevchenko, professor F. M. Gumeniuk, merited artist of Ukraine, professor O. V. Kozhekov; merited artist of Ukraine, senior lecturer O. P. Sheremet.
     Famous stage designers A. G. Kyrychenko and O. O. Burlin lead the studios of theatre-decorative painting.
     People's artist of Ukraine, professor, academician T. M. Golembiyevska; people's artist of Ukraine, professor, academician M. E. Guyda; professors, merited artists of Ukraine - V. I. Barynova, O. D. Basanets, L. I. Vitkovsky, V. G. Vyrodova and others work at the studios of the faculty of painting and composition.
     The leaders of the educational-creative studios at the faculty of graphics are: studios on free graphics - rector of NAFAA (the National academy of fine art and architecture), people's artist of Ukraine, professor A. V. Chebykin and merited artist of Ukraine, professor M. I. Kompanets; studios on book graphic design - merited artist of Ukraine, professor V. Ya. Chebanyk and merited artist of Ukraine, professor G. I. Galynska; studio of graphic design - merited artist of Ukraine, professor V. K. Shostya.
     The studios on restoration, preservation and conservation of works of art are headed by the experts of a high professional level, artists - restorers, senior lecturers M. F. Tytov and O. I. Minzhulin.
     The educational-creative studios of the faculty of sculpture are supervised by the masters in plastic art: people's artist of Ukraine, academician, professor V. A. Chepelyk and merited artist of Ukraine, professor V. V. Shvetsov. The people's artist of the USSR, academician, professor V. Z. Boroday teaches at the faculty.
     The preparation of architects at the chair of architectural designing headed by the candidate in architecture, senior lecturer A. M. Davydov, is carried out also in system of the educational-creative studios. They are led by well - known architects: the people's architect of Ukraine, professor I. P. Shpara; the candidate in architecture, professor L. P. Skoryk; merited cultural figure of Ukraine, candidate in architecture, professor L. V. Prybeha; the professor G. F. Dobrovolska, candidate in architecture, senior lecturer D. I. Antonyuk.
     Scientific and creative potential of the chair of the theory and history of architecture and synthesis of arts, chair of architectural constructions, in particular pedagogical activity of such scientists, as merited architect of Ukraine, doctor in architecture, professor Z. V. Moyseenko; merited figure in science and engineering, doctor in engineering science, professor A. S. Dekhtyar; doctor in engineering science, professor M. I. Yakovlev; doctor in architecture, professor V. M. Makukhin and others have considerable influence on the formation of outlook and level of professional skills of architects - artists;.
     An important role in training of experts in all specialities plays all-academic chair of drawing. The long-term pedagogical experience of the professors-artists, people's artists of Ukraine P. O. Basanets, S. P. Poderevyansky, merited artists of Ukraine Yu. I. Bondarenko, V. P. Bystryakov, Yu. I. Khymych, Yu. M. Yatchenko and other teachers which is generalized in the chair's scientific - methodical works is an acquisition of the Ukrainian art school.
     The chair of the theory and history of art directs its activity not only on the training of art critics, but also provides teaching of the history of native and foreign art at all faculties of the academy. Here work art critics well - known in Ukraine and abroad - merited artist of Ukraine, doctor in art criticism, academician, professor L. S. Milyayeva; merited artists of Ukraine, candidates in art criticism, professors Yu. V. Belichko and M. O. Kryvolapov, candidate in art criticism, professor G. V. Zavarova etc.
     All-academic chair of culture and social - humanitarian subjects through the gaining a system of humanitarian, socio economic, historical knowledge provide the formation of spiritual outlook of future artists. Skilled teacher, merited figure in education of Ukraine, candidate in philosophical sciences, professor M. Ya. Mykhayliuk stands at the head of the chair.
     With the purpose of training of scientific-pedagogical staff of higher qualification in the field of fine art and architecture and replenishment of teaching staff with the creatively gifted youth, post-graduate and assistance-probationer courses were founded at the academy last years.
     Success in training of art and scientific - pedagogical staff depends not only on qualification of the teachers, scientific - methodical achievements of faculties, but is also determined by the activity of other divisions of the academy - the library, the scientific - methodical museum, the problem scientific research laboratory of the history of the Ukrainian art and architecture in particular. Results of research and scientific - methodical works on art education, history of fine art, theory and history of architecture, restoration of historical and cultural monuments are published in the academic annual edition "The Ukrainian art academy: research and scientific - methodical works".
     The academy has established wide international relations with higher art schools of the different countries of the world. It is considered prestigious, ensuring highly professional skill in the international arena. The teachers of the academy quite often pass training abroad, take part in conferences and symposiums. Students represent worthy their educational institution at foreign exhibitions as well. The high international reputation of the academy is also determined by the fact that a considerable quota of foreign citizens receives education there.
     Thus, the historical achievements and modern condition of pedagogics of the metropolitan art educational institution confirm that it wholly corresponds to the status of academy and is a higher educational institution of IVth level of accreditation on all parameters of its activity. The quota of students is about 800 persons in general. More than 160 teachers work at 12 chairs of the academy. Among them there are 47 doctors in sciences and professors, 40 candidates in sciences and senior lecturers; 52 teachers have state honourable ranks, including - 14 people's artists of Ukraine, 1 people's architect of Ukraine. The staff of teachers consists of 23 academicians and corresponding members of the Academy of art of Ukraine and Ukrainian academy of architecture, 11 winners of the National premium of Ukraine named by Taras Shevchenko.
     Taking into account considerable achievements in educational and scientific activity, training of artists and scientific - pedagogical staff, great organizing role in the development of important directions on training of experts in the field of fine art and architecture, the Academy of fine arts and architecture was honoured with the status of a national educational institution by the Decree of the President of Ukraine of September 11, 2000 as the outstanding art cell in the world.



Leonid Prybeha,
Pro-rector on scientific work,
actual member of the Ukrainian academy of architecure,
professor