The Academy of Fine Arts, the only member in the field of arts at the University of Mostar, gathers students from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Germany, Ukraine, and many other parts of Europe in its classes. Its mission began in 1996, thanks to the Franciscans as initiators of the Academy's establishment, along with distinguished professors and visual artists. Today, the Academy represents a blend of artistic and cultural educational space in higher education. The role of the Academy in society, the study programs it offers, the organization of teaching, and plans regarding infrastructure development are just some of the questions addressed by the Dean of the Academy of Fine Arts of the University of Mostar, Prof. Dr. Art. Svetislav Cvetković, in an interview for the University portal SUM Sova.
The Academy is often referred to as the "soul" of the University. What is its role in society, and what makes it unique?
First and foremost, the Academy of Fine Arts is one of the 11 constituent members of the University of Mostar, and its special significance in society stems from its role in promoting and developing visual arts and creativity. This uniqueness makes it a distinct and special institution within any university, including the University of Mostar. Its uniqueness lies in providing a space for creation, research, and innovation in the field of visual arts. Additionally, its role in society can be multifaceted.
Primarily, it is about educating and shaping artists by providing them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and techniques to develop their artistic expression. Furthermore, it promotes culture, aesthetics, and critical thinking through collaborative work among students and professors, contributing to enriching the cultural identity of the community. We must also not overlook the research and innovation that the Academy seeks to foster through artistic research in the field of visual arts, encouraging students to explore new techniques, materials, and concepts, which can result in innovative artistic practices and visual works. One of the goals is to create cultural heritage, and the Academy, through its work, can contribute to the preservation and interpretation of cultural heritage by preserving traditional techniques and approaches to visual arts while also exploring new ways of interpreting and reinterpreting it.
Based on the above, we can conclude that the Academy of Fine Arts plays an important role in society as a center of creativity, education, and research in the field of visual arts, which certainly makes it an indispensable institution with a special place in the cultural and educational sphere of the University of Mostar.
What study programs does the Academy offer? How is the teaching organized?
At the Academy, classes are held in one undergraduate study program in Fine Arts with specializations in painting, sculpture, and graphics, as well as three graduate programs. The graduate programs include Fine Arts with specializations in painting, sculpture, and graphics, Graphic Design, and Scenario, Directing, and Editing with specializations in scenario, directing, and editing. We also have a postgraduate doctoral program "Ars Sacra" with specializations in painting, sculpture, and graphics. The teaching in undergraduate and graduate programs is organized in two shifts. The most prevalent practical classes are held in the morning, while theoretical and a smaller portion of practical classes are organized in the afternoon. Students also have access to studio classes where they can conduct practical exercises beyond the mandatory class schedule until the end of the official working hours, which end at 6 PM in the afternoon.
What is the interest in further education after completing the graduate program? What does the postgraduate doctoral program Ars Sacra offer to students?
The postgraduate doctoral university study program Ars Sacra is specific and unique in the environment because sacred art is the foundation and guiding thread of the entire program. The initial idea, and subsequently the launch of the study, were aimed at educating and training experts in the artistic-scientific field who would present sacred issues through contemporary visual language. They should contribute with their knowledge and competencies to the development and improvement of awareness about existing and inherited qualities of sacred spaces, as well as awareness of their performance and iconographic modernization. Graduates of the master's programs in painting/sculpture/graphics and master's programs in art culture from the Academy of Fine Arts of the University of Mostar, as well as other students from universities worldwide who meet the admission requirements, have the opportunity to enroll in the third cycle of higher education and obtain the title of Doctor of Arts (Dr. Art.). The study plan and program are aligned with reference postgraduate studies at academies in Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Austria, and France, and the quality of the Ars Sacra study is ensured by a contemporary approach, forms of teaching, artistic-scientific and research orientation, as well as the indicated alignment with similar doctoral studies in Bosnia and Herzegovina and European Union countries.
As for the interest, since the establishment of the postgraduate doctoral program until now, we have recorded interest and enrolled candidates every year. We already have 11 students who have obtained their doctorate and over twenty enrolled in the first, second, and third years, which is also the final year, where they begin work on their doctoral dissertations.
The University of Mostar emphasizes the importance of practical training, which is presumed to be highly represented at the Academy?
Practical training is indeed highly represented at the Academy of Fine Arts because it allows students to gain direct experience in working with materials, techniques, and tools, which is of paramount importance for the development of their artistic skills and expression. Additionally, it provides them with an opportunity to experiment, explore, and develop their personal artistic style. It also enables direct interaction with the artistic process under the mentorship of professors who are experienced artists themselves. Through practical training, students acquire concrete skills and knowledge necessary for successful completion of future artistic projects and for their professional careers thereafter. However, practical training at the Academy of Fine Arts is often closely linked with theoretical teaching. On the other hand, theoretical teaching provides students with contextual understanding of visual arts through history, art theory, aesthetics, and critical thinking. Therefore, the combination of practical and theoretical teaching enables students to integrate their practical experience with various contemporary trends, conceptual, and analytical understanding of art, resulting in deeper and more comprehensive education in the field of visual arts.
Are students satisfied with the teaching delivery? What are the feedbacks?
Students of the Academy of Fine Arts often express a high level of satisfaction with the teaching, although we are aware that there is still room for improvement in all aspects, including teaching. This is primarily confirmed by positively rated surveys on the quality of delivered teaching. Student satisfaction is also reflected in the expressed support for the teaching staff and the acknowledged benefit of interactive lectures, which require greater engagement and feedback from students, thus contributing to the overall teaching quality. Such results only confirm the Academy's commitment to providing quality education and creating a stimulating environment for the artistic development of its students.
In addition to teaching activities, the Academy plays an important role in the artistic segment of society. Where and how does the Academy showcase the artistic works of its teaching staff?
The artistic work of the Academy's teaching staff is represented through various exhibition activities regardless of whether they are organized by the Academy itself or initiated and carried out by other cultural institutions. Alongside the individual engagements of the teaching staff, the Academy also serves as an initiator, organizer, and co-organizer of numerous exhibition activities at the international level. Notably, the recent exhibitions include the presentation of the Academy's faculty and students' works at the headquarters of the UN in Vienna, upon the invitation of the International Organization for Cultural Diversity (ICDO). Another significant event is the international exhibition INTERACADEMIA, organized by our Academy and the citizens' association KRUG from Mostar, where alongside ours, artistic academies from various cities participated. This year, the artworks of our faculty and students will be showcased at the Europa House gallery in Sarajevo upon the invitation of the Head of the European Union Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Johann Sattler.
Equally, the Academy has developed in its professional work. What workshops operate within the Academy?
In the academic year 2019/2020, workshops for metal and glass processing were launched, along with facilities for casting and stained glass workshops. These workshops provide additional spaces for students of the Academy to create new artworks and serve as practical training grounds.
By establishing workshops for metal and glass processing, as well as casting and stained glass workshops, have you established cooperation with the business sector?
These workshops were primarily conceived and launched to provide students with practical applications of the knowledge and skills acquired through theoretical education, thus enhancing their practical experience, which is crucial for the type of education provided at the Academy. Moreover, the establishment of these workshops opens up opportunities for collaboration with the business sector, expanding the Academy's activities beyond academic boundaries. Already, within a short period since their inception, several projects for the creation of stained glass windows for religious buildings in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia have been realized.
You also publish the Academy magazine. What kind of information can we find in it?
The Academy magazine is a publication focusing on art, culture, and science, affiliated with the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of Mostar. It is published twice a year and features reference articles based on artistic, scientific, and professional works. These articles serve as a basis for employees and collaborators of the Academy, as well as for all interested artists and scientists who wish to publish their works and advance in accordance with the regulations for advancement at their respective universities. Therefore, the magazine is open to all topics within the fields of art, culture, and science, and works can be published in both Croatian and English. Additionally, the magazine allows doctoral students in the ARS SACRA doctoral program and other doctoral programs to collect ECTS credits, thus meeting the requirements for enrollment in subsequent years of doctoral studies and publicly presenting their research as part of their dissertation.
How do you assess cooperation with other organizational units of the University of Mostar?
Regarding cooperation with other organizational units, it is most evident in the teaching process, where faculty members from other university units are engaged, mostly in theoretical teaching and on pedagogical subject groups. Given that the artistic field is unique within the university, there are few points of contact where more pronounced collaboration is possible, except with the Department of Art History at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Mostar. However, where collaboration exists, it is adequate and professional, depending on specific areas and needs within which collaboration is carried out.
What are the plans regarding infrastructural development?
Regarding infrastructural development, the main emphasis and activities are on the complete external renovation of the main building of the Academy and the completion of the auxiliary building housing the workshops for metal and glass processing. This involves the renovation of the deteriorated facade and openings, part of the roof and terrace, and completing the facade on the dome of the auxiliary building. Project documentation has been prepared for these activities, and the process of applying for tenders and raising funds is underway, which I hope will be realized within the next two years. Additionally, there are plans to expand the main gallery space into adjacent rooms due to the growing need for additional exhibition space, especially since we have launched new study programs, primarily the Master's program in graphic design.
Are you working on adapting the Academy's premises for students and people with disabilities?
Already in the first phase of adaptation and preparation of the premises used by the Academy, consideration was given to people with disabilities. One of the entrances to the main building, where the painting and graphic departments are located, has access adapted for people with disabilities, and the corridor is connected to an elevator that serves all floors and extends to the administrative part of the building. The sculpture department and workshops for metal and glass processing also have access enabled for people with disabilities, so our Academy has adequately adapted infrastructure, taking into account the needs of students and people with disabilities.
You have presented to us the remarkable growth of the Academy and its contribution to society. What are the plans for the future and further development?
Since its establishment to date, the Academy has continually improved and raised the quality of its study programs and the overall quality of education. Much has been achieved in the relatively short 28 years of its existence, but there is certainly still room and opportunities for development, improvement, and expansion of our capacities. The primary objectives in the coming period are to maintain the achieved level of quality where it is satisfactory and to enhance it in areas where there is still room and need for improvement. In a relatively short time, we have launched new study programs and mentioned workshops, and strengthening their quality and visibility requires further work in the upcoming period. In the long term, we intend to expand artistic and professional activities by opening new study programs related to the artistic field and the fields of visual arts, depending on the interests and needs of society and the market.
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