ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY AFTER KHACHATUR ABOVYAN

The Chair of Fine Arts was formed in 2012 as a result of merger of two chairs - Chair of Painting and Chair of Drawing.

The aforesaid chairs were set up on the basis of the Chair of Painting, which was opened in 1961. By 1966, the Chair had been headed by Honored Art Worker, Associate Professor Karo Minasyan.

In different years, the Chair was headed by M. Panosyan (1966-1967), E. Isabekyan, People's Artist of Armenia, Professor Hovhannes Zardaryan (1967-1968).

In 1968, the Chairs of Painting and Drawing were separated.

In 1968-1988, the Chair of Painting was headed by People's Artist of Armenia, Professor Hovhannes Zardaryan, and later by People's Artist of Armenia, Professor Suren Safaryan.

In 1988- 2012, the Chair was headed by Professor of the RF Academy of Management, Doctor Lems Nersisyan.

In 1968, the Chair of Drawing was headed by corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Fine Arts, People’s Artist of Armenia, Professor Ghukas Chubaryan.

Later, the position was assumed by Honored Artist Zakhar Khachatryan, Associate Professor Hovhannes Muardyan, Professor Stepan Grigoryan and candidate of Mathematical Science, Associate Professor Artashes Keshishyan.

In 2012, the Chair of Computer Graphics of the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics united with the Chair of Drawing. In the same year, the Chairs of Painting and Drawing were merged into the Chair of Fine Arts. Lems Nersisyan was appointed Acting Head of the Chair.

Sargis Terzyan was appointed Acting head of the Chair from 2013 to 2014.

People’s Artist of Armenia, Professor Paraon Mirozyan has been heading the Chair since 2014.

The Chair of Fine Arts is one of the most important chairs of the Faculty. Here students acquire profound knowledge, painting tips and techniques in painting, drawing, sculpture, design and illustration of books, computer graphics, as well as pedagogical and methodological skills in the field of Fine Arts.

The Chair aims to give its students appropriate education, prepare high-level teaching artists (artist educators).

Experienced professors and lecturers, including folk artists and distinguished art experts work at the Chair.

As a result of structural changes taking place in the Faculty for many years, the Chair of Theory of Music and its Teaching Methods, Chair of Musical Instruments, Chair of Conducting and Voice Training were separated and then merged, receiving new names in the process.

In 2015, the Chair of Music Education was formed as a result of merger of these three chairs.

In different years, the three chairs were headed by different musicologists and performers, including Tsitsilia Brutyan, Emma Tsaturyan, Eduard Elbakyan, Khoren Meykhanejian, Manuk Manukyan, Henrik Simonyan, Elena Vardanyan, Seda Mangasaryan, Karlen Topchyan, Loreta Aghasaryan, Arkadi Shekunts, Yuri Yuzbashyan, Sargis Elbakyan, Vyacheslav Yedigaryan, Artashes Baburyan, Anna Harutyunyan, Margarita Baghdasaryan and many others.

Throughout its history, the Chair had different choirs which were led by Associate Professor V. Chakmishyan, Honored Art Worker of the Republic of Armenia, Professor E. Tsaturyan, Honored Art Worker of the RA, Professor E. Elbakyan, Professors Kh. Meykhanejian, M. Mesropyan and Associate Professor A. Baburyan.

The mixed choir of the Chair led by Honored Artist of the RA, Professor E. Elbakyan won a gold medal at the Republic-wide competition of the choirs, and the female chamber choir “Ave Maria” led by Associate Professor A. Baburyan became laureate of “Amadeus-98” Republic-wide competition. “Ave Maria” is actively engaged in the musical life of the republic and has performed concerts in Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor, Goris, Artashat, Ashtarak, Ararat and other cities of the country.

The Chair also has an ensemble of violinists led by Associate Professor Yuri Avetisyan, which is actively involved in the musical life of the University.

The Chair carries out scientific-methodical, scientific-research, scientific-educational activities, organizes postgraduate education and publishes monographs, methodical manuals and scientific articles. Lecturers and students participate in different conferences and present scientific reports.

Lecturers and students of the Chair also participate in the cultural life of the University.

Nine Professors,eleven Associate Professors, one Doctor and seven Candidates work at the Chair.

The Chair was formed in 1968. In different times, the Chair was called “Chair of Methods of Teaching Drawing and Graphics” /1968-1988/, “Chair of Teaching Painting and Decorative and Applied Arts” /1988-2007/ and Chair of History and Theory of Art and Culturology /from 2007 to date/.

The Chair was headed by renowned specialists in the country, including Honoured Art Worker, Professor Vahram Khachikyan /1968-1984/, Associate Professor Harutyun Hovhannisyan /1984-1988/, Honoured Worker of Science, Professor Hravard Hakobyan /1988-2000, 2007-2008/ and Professor Sargis Terzyan /2000-2007/.

The Chair offers courses in the following specializations: History and Theory of Arts, Arts Management and Culturology. It also offers full-time and distance-learning programmes at Bachelor’s and Master’s levels. The Department of History and Theory of Arts, Arts Management prepares art critics and specialists in Arts Management (alternatively Arts Administration).

During the study period, students get acquainted with the history of fine arts, architecture, music in Armenia and in the world, programmes in Arts Management and Humanities.

Graduates can work at galleries, museums, educational institutions and cultural centers as art critics and specialists in Arts Management.

The Department of Culturology prepares culture experts or culturologists. During the study period, students get acquainted with the history of culture, architecture, music, theatre and cinema in Armenia and in the world, as well as programmes in Humanities. Students participate in museum practices, organize cultural events.Graduates can work in cultural institutions.