Faculty of Arts

The Faculty of Arts is a dynamic, youthful, creative division of the university, which is always full of original ideas. It seeks to prepare universal practicians and theorists of arts who would successfully integrate into job markets in Lithuania and abroad. Unique integrated studies of Art History and Criticism, as well as innovative programmes of New Media Art and Acting, are offered here. Departments of Art History and Criticism and Theatre Studies prepare Bachelors of Arts, as well as Master-level specialists of theatrology and performing arts management, art historians and critics, curators, experts of creative industries.

This is the only faculty in Lithuania which offers integrated degree studies of Art History and Criticism: universally educated art historians, knowledgeable in various arts (fine arts, architecture, theatre, music, cinema, dance, photography) and capable of applying theory in practice are prepared here. Art History and Criticism is an elite profession, especially valued among intellectuals. The faculty also offers doctoral studies of the same field.

New interdisciplinary programmes are also available at the Faculty of Arts. The goal of New Media Art studies is to provide knowledge of different media (photography, video, audio arts, computer graphics, multimedia technology) and skills of personal management, curatorship, art project organisation and management. The new programme of Acting arms soon-to-be actors with interdisciplinary skills they can creatively employ in acting, text composition, directing, etc. Its graduates are prepared for professional careers in theatre, cinema, TV and other creative industries.

Studies at the Faculty of Arts take place not just in lecture rooms but also in art laboratories, libraries, museums, theatre, cinema and concert halls, serving as the place for examination of art objects and creative practice. Lectures in the faculty are read by famous artists and experts of Lithuanian art.

The faculty has established international relations with many universities and institutes around the world. Lectures by renowned scientists, teachers and professors from Lithuania, Western Europe, the USA and other countries speak volumes about faculty’s reputation. Participants in the LLP / Erasmus programme spend a semester studying at universities in various European cities. Scientific researchers of the faculty collaborate with higher education institutions of Paris, Gotland, Warsaw, Helsinki, Riga, Tartu, Minsk and Gardin.

A specialized arts reading room and a media art lab are functioning at the faculty. The reading room has accumulated many valuable and rare books and a lot of visual material (slides, CD, DVD, video records) on the specialized subjects of theory and history of various art forms. Also preserved here are periodical publications about art and the BA and MA theses written by the students of the Faculty of Arts.

Faculty students and teachers take part in various EU-funded science and research projects. Little Gallery, which showcases artwork by the students, is open at the faculty. Arts Centre, functioning at the faculty since 2008, supports creative initiatives by the students, creates collaboration opportunities between students and professional artists, encourages objective criticism of art. The Arts Centre includes VMU Art Gallery 101, student folklore collective Linago, girl choir, academic theatre of movement, student theatre studio, folk song and dance ensemble Žilvitis, modern dance collective INDIGO, Brasilian martial art group Capoeira, etc. Interdisciplinary performance projects (dancing, theatre, folklore) and visual art projects (Gallery 101’s projects) produce a medium for application of theoretical knowledge in the practical process of art production. Theatre Studies Department also has a Theatre Club, which brings together fans and professionals of the stage not just from VMU.

Faculty in Brief

Community

  • about 400 students
  • about 30 lecturers and research fellows

Structure

  • Departments of Art History and Criticism, Modern Arts and Theatre Studies
  • Arts Centre

BA and MA Courses in English

Student Activities

Arts Centre

  • Looking to enrich the cultural life at VMU and in Kaunas, the Arts Centre  was established under the VMU Faculty of Arts in 2008. The centre encourages and supports creative initiatives of the students, creates conditions for communication and collaboration with art professionals, promotes objective critical attitude towards art processes, initiates interdisciplinary projects of visual and performance arts, presents them to the public, organizes exhibitions, community discussions and meetings.
  • VMU Arts Centre unites the activities by the VMU Gallery 101, Reading Room Cafe of the Arts Centre, folklore ensemble Linago, girls’ chamber choire, a modern dance collective, academic theatre ERRO, folk song and dance ensemble Žilvitis, dance collective INDIGO, Brazilian martial arts group Kaunas Capoeira.