Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography


Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography,, is a state university and higher education institution based in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.
The University was founded in 1944 as Yerevan State Institute of Theatrical Arts, in 1953 it was united with State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia and functioned as a part of Yerevan State Institute of Art and Theater till 1994. In 1994 Yerevan State of Art and Theater was divided into State Academy of Fine Arts and Yerevan State Institute of Theater, Institute became independent institution and till nowadays works as Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography.

History

Theater in Armenia has a centuries-old history and dates back to pagan rituals, for example, worship of death and resurrection of God Gisane – Ara the Beautiful and celebration of coming of spring in honor of fertility and healing goddess Anahit. Armenian tragedy dzajnarku-gusan and vohbergak, comedy genre katakergak and kataka-gusan, known from 1 century b.c., served as a base for further development of professional theater.
The institute was established in 1944, as the Yerevan State Institute of Theatrical Arts.
The institute had three departments:
From 1950 number of enrollee had been declining. Due to that the government decided to merge two institutes - Yerevan State Institute of Theatrical Arts and State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia. As a result, in 1953 new institute was formed and named Yerevan State Institute of Art and Theater that worked till 1994.
In 1994 after Armenian independence and due to political changes, the government decided to split the Institute into two separate institutions – State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia and Yerevan State Institute of Theater.
In 1999, the institute has been restructured and became to be known as the Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography, with a major expansion in its specialties.

Specialties

The university has 12 main specialties:
The university is currently home to 3 faculties:
Department was opened in 2011 as a result of restructuration of the faculty of theater and cinematography. Specialties:
Faculty was founded in 2011. Fields:
Specialties:
The faculty consists of two chairs:
It was established in 2001, after restructuration in 2011 became known as chair of Cinematography and television. Specialties:
Chair was founded in 2011. Specialties:
Faculty was founded in 2011. It consists of the following chairs:
Specialties:
Chair covers several areas of art studies:
Specialties:
Chair was established in 2011 and combined chair of socio-cultural management, that was founded in 2003. Specialties:
Chair was established in 1944. Academic program includes following subjects:
In 2014, the part-time faculty was founded for distance education with the specialties of Choreography Directing, Cinematographic Art and Sociocultural Activity.

Educational programs

As of 2015, 795 students are enrolled in the head university and 214 students in the branches. University has two options of educational process for two-level degree :
There are also postgraduate studies.
Institute collaborates with several international universities. Students participate in state and international art competitions, festivals and often become laureates and prize-winners.
Since 1961 international students including Armenians from diaspora enrol at the university.
The educational process is organized in specialized auditoriums, workshops, pavilions, cinema and video halls. There are 225 places in student theater. This is repertory theater, that operates all year round. The institutes hold a rich collection of more than 40,000 specialized books in its library, as well as films and videos. The institute publishes a monthly journal “Handes” that includes scientific and methodological articles of professors and students.

Branches

The Institute has branches in three cities of the Republic:
The Gyumri Branch was founded by the governmental decision №231 in 1997. It is the only higher educational institution in the field of theater working in the Shirak Province.
Educational process is held on the following specialties:
Around 110 students are studying in the university. Since 2007-2008 academic year the University provides two-stage educational programs – bachelor and master degree. The University implemented academic credit system. Educational process is organized based on plans and programs approved by the head University and in compliance with the up-to-date regulations.
Chairs:
Substantial part of educational process is student theater. The institute hold specialized competitions – scenic speech, singing, dance, “best duet acting”, “best directing work”, “best photography.” After completing courses students find jobs in Gyumri Drama Theater named after V. Ajemian, Gyumri Puppetry Theater named after S. Alikhanian, tele and radio companies. Many students continue their education in post-graduate programs. There is a preparatory department.

The Institute in Vanadzor

The Vanadzor Branch was founded by the governmental decision №1283 in 2003. Specialties:
In the 2005-2006 academic year, the department of cinematography was opened. In 2008-2009, the departments of choreography and camera operator, in 2010-2011, art administration and in 2011-2012 masters programs in the fields of acting, directing and cinematography were opened.
By 2012, 55 students and in 2012 – 16 students have graduated from the Institute. Currently 78 students are enrolled in the University.

The Institute in Goris

The Goris branch was founded by the governmental decision №547 in 2004. In 2007 the Institute was registered.
Educational process is held on the following specialties:
First application process was held only at the acting department. In 2004-2005 academic year 10 students enrolled in the institute, 2005-2006 – 9 students, 2006-2007 – 5 students, 2007-2008 – 8 students, 2008-2009 – 4 students, 2009-2010 – 7 students, 2010-2011 – 4 students, 2011-2012 – 12 students. Now 25 students are studying in the Institute.
The following performances were stages as final works:
At the theater festival in Lori, students of the University took prizes in following categories:
Academic staff of the University includes best artists of the Republic, who are known not only in the country but even far beyond – popular artists, laureates of international contests, State Prizes in addition to 39 professors, 38 docents, 102 lecturers and teachers.

Rectors

Over the years several well-known artists taught in the University or some of the alumnus became prominent artists including Victor Abajian, Khoren Abrahamyan, Vagharsh Vagharshian, Armen Gulakian, Aleksey Djivgelov, Vahram Zaryan, Karen Kocharyan, Henrik Malyan, Yervand Manaryan, Gudj Manukyan, Frunzik Mkrtchyan, Vladimir Msryan, Edvard Muradyan, Nerses Hovhannisyan, Michael Poghosyan, Samir Razaev, Metaksia Simonyan, Tigran Shamirhanyan, Arthur Elbakyan and Edgar Elbakyan.