Brief Introduction
Founded in 1928 as the first art academy with complete academic programs in China, China Academy of Art, undergoing changes in name and location, continues to yield outstanding achievements known both at home and abroad. China Academy of Art has experienced early hardship, ample maturity and leaping expansion as a vanguard in art. With a mission to revitalize Chinese art, it is in active dialogue with the world and has great influence in the development of modern and contemporary art in China.
Nowadays the academy has expanded its departments and academic teams and has garnered tremendous achievements in the school history. The infrastructure of China Academy of Art has improved in unprecedented ways. With Nanshan Campus being finished in 2003, and Xiangshan Campus fully functional in 2007, covering an area of 1000 hectares and total space of 300,000 square meters, the academy now has three beautiful and well equipped campuses in the cities of Hangzhou and Shanghai.
The serene views of the West Lake and the inviting vistas of the Xiangshan campus nurture the unique spirit of the academy, inspire a poetic dialogue between nature and mind, which also shaped the legacy of the academy. This peaceful natural environment beacons the individual to reflect and explore, to observe and to create. Thus, the spirit of China Academy of Art is not only composed of the picturesque landscape of the lakes and hills, but also of the minds and horizon of artists it fosters. The China Academy of Art has moved its campuses from Gushan Hill to Nanshan Hill and Xiangshan Hill. From hill to hill, conveying a strong sense of mission, a cultural responsibility and spirit, a poetic tradition linked with the hills and waters.
1.History
Hangzhou is a city with rich cultural heritage. Located in the heart of Hangzhou, the academy has inherited its thousand-year-old culture and instilled the spirit of picturesque landscape. The Academy was founded by the renowned educator Cai Yuanpei early in 1928, who had been promoting art education in China to redeem the then war-torn China.
At beginning, there were only four departments in the academy including Traditional Chinese Painting, Western Painting, Sculpture and Pattern Design. While in the past eight decades, the academy has been renamed, and was moved westward during the war to Jiangxi, Hunan, Yunnan, Sichuan, and Chongqing, and finally returned to Hangzhou.
Throughout the history of China Academy of Art, there are two important academic concepts: one is “eclectic”, championed by the first president Lin Fengmian; and the other is “innovation derives from tradition” advocated by Pan Tianshou. These two interrelated concepts form the major traditions of CAA, and create a free environment for artistic creation and experimentation and also diversified humanities studies.
2.Discipline and programs
Combining Integrity and Knowledge, Practice and Theory, Past and Present, Local and Global, China Academy of Art has developed its unique multiple academic structure. Its fine arts major has been honoured the key discipline of the nation, while fine arts, art of design and art theory have been listed as three key provincial research bases of humanities. Also its majors such as art of design, film, architecture, television and broadcasting are listed as provincial key disciplines during the “11th Five Year Plan”; while architecture, drama and film, and public art are listed as provincial key disciplines during the “12th Five Year Plan”.
China Academy of Art now has 4 first standard doctoral programs, which are art theory, fine arts, design, drama and film. And has over 1200 graduate students.
3.Academic facilities and Scientific research
China Academy of Art currently employs more than 110 professors and 196 associate professors. There are three professional studios of Chinese painting, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese culture and language providing foreign students opportunities to learn Chinese calligraphy and painting. At the same time, helps students better appreciate the Chinese culture through travel activities. China Academy of Art has a largest library at the area of over 14,050 m2, has a collection of 680,000 volumes of paper book, 650,000 volumes of electronic book, approximately 1,400 kinds of foreign periodicals, 1,670 Chinese journals and newspapers. Furthermore, the library also possesses some special collections, such as 5,000 volumes of books donated by Prof. Ernst Gombrich, 2,000 volumes of books donated by Prof. James Cahill, more than 20,000 volumes of Chinese ancient rare books and a large number of high-quality reproductions of foreign and Chinese paintings. China Academy of Art has 14 research institutes and research centers.
4.Great achievements
On the 11th nationwide art exhibition held by the Ministry of culture, China Federation of literary and art circles and Artist Association of China in 2009, teachers and students of our college won 15 awards, 2 gold medals, 3 silver medals, 4 bronze metals and 6 awards of excellence. At the same time, teachers of our institute Zhao Yannian, Wang Bomin obtained the “Lifetime Achievement Award for China Fine Arts”, a paper <
China Academy of Art has attracted and fostered many renowned artists who have become major artistic forces in the country, making it one of the most prestigious art institutions. These important artists with national and international fame are Lin Fengmian, Pan Tianshou, Huang Binhong, Liu Kaiqu, Wu Dayu, Yan Wenliang, Ni Yide, Li Kuchan, Li Keran, Aiqing, Chen Zhifo, Pang Xunqin, Lei Guiyuan, Xiao Chuanjiu, Guan Liang, Huang Junbi, Chang Shuhong, Dong Xiwen, Wang Shikuo, Wang Chaowen, Li Lincan, Deng Bai, Wu Guanzhong, Zhao Wuji, Zhu Dequn, Luo Gongliu……
5.Communication and international cooperation
In more than 80 years, fruitful results make our college to become the National Art University foreign affairs work model. Our college maintains close relations of cooperation with nearly 70 colleges and universities in 17 countries and regions of 4 continents, trained a number of outstanding artistic talent with both international vision and native feelings.
The final information is subject to the University If there is any discrepancy!