Celebrating 110 years of Gia Dinh Art School

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hung, Deputy Head of the Emulation and Rewards Department of Ho Chi Minh City, awarded the Traditional Emulation Flag to the School.

Speaking at the Anniversary Ceremony, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Minh, Principal of the School, expressed that today is a meaningful festival for teachers and students of generations of Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts to meet, share, and encourage each other to continue the good tradition in the career of fine arts training with the journey of 110 years of formation and development.

Reviewing the tradition of the School, Mr. Nguyen Van Minh said that at this time 110 years ago, the "Ecole de Dessin" (Drawing School), commonly known as "Gia Dinh Drawing School", was established in 1913, the predecessor of today's Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts.

In 1917, Gia Dinh Art School was the only art school classified as a "first-level secondary school" and recognized as a member of the "Central Union of Decorative Arts of Paris" (Membre Perpetuel de l'Union Centrale des Arts décoratifs de Paris). This was an important milestone because for the first time, the school's students were exposed to Western painting. The school began to provide systematic training with scientific methods instead of traditional training. This is the place to provide training in decorative arts in a systematic, standardized manner in terms of knowledge of fine arts and practical skills.

After many name changes according to historical requirements and missions, in 1981, the school was upgraded and renamed Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts by the Prime Minister. Since 1990, the school opened a major in monumental painting; in 1992, it opened a major in applied fine arts; in 1993, the school was assigned by the Ministry of Culture and Information and the Ministry of Education and Training to train postgraduates in fine arts; in 1996, it established a computer lab and exhibition room; in 1997, it established the Center for Applied Fine Arts (including a printing workshop, a sculpture workshop, an animation workshop); in 1998, it established the Faculty of Fine Arts Pedagogy... During this time, the school also cooperated to open part-time fine arts training classes in localities such as: Lam Dong, Can Tho, Soc Trang, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Ben Tre, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Binh Duong,...

One of the outstanding achievements of the school in serving society is the establishment of the Center for Applied Arts, Information Technology and Foreign Languages with the function of improving practical skills for students and training applied arts to serve the needs of society. Since its establishment, the Center has organized the creation, consulted on project establishment, designed and successfully constructed many meaningful and effective fine art works, such as: The statue of Uncle Ho at Ho Chi Minh Square, Vinh City, Nghe An and the magnificent ceramic mosaic work at Ben Duoc Temple, Cu Chi, Ho Chi Minh City.

On behalf of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Associate Professor, Dr. Le Anh Tuan, Director of the Department of Training, awarded the Minister's Certificates of Merit to the groups.

The school is currently organizing 6 undergraduate training programs (painting, graphics, sculpture, art theory and history, graphic design, art pedagogy) with 10 majors (oil painting, lacquer, silk; sculpture; printmaking, comic books; art theory and history, art pedagogy; graphic design, multimedia art design); 3 master's training programs (with 3 majors: Fine Arts; Applied Arts; Art Theory and History); 1 doctoral training program specializing in Art Theory and History.

The school pays special attention to international relations, especially in the period of opening, exchange and integration. The school has signed cooperation agreements on lecturer and student exchange, scientific research cooperation with many universities in countries in the region and internationally such as: Royal University of Fine Arts of Cambodia; National Academy of Fine Arts of Laos; KhonKaen University, Silpakorn University (Thailand); Tokyo University of the Arts (Japan); Chosun University (Korea); Minchen University, Guangzhou University (China); Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Brussels (Kingdom of Belgium), University of South Australia, etc.

“It can be said that Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts has inherited the quintessence of national and world art, preserved the traditional beauty in the school's training as well as selectively absorbed training experiences from many domestic and foreign art schools,” said Mr. Nguyen Van Minh.

On behalf of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Associate Professor Dr. Le Anh Tuan, Director of the Training Department (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) congratulated the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts, recognized and praised generations of staff, lecturers through the periods, generations of students and trainees of the University for the achievements gained in the past period of construction and development.

Mr. Le Anh Tuan emphasized that the predecessor of Gia Dinh Painting School, after 110 years of establishment, Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts has made many efforts, strived, overcome all difficulties and challenges and achieved many outstanding achievements in training human resources, scientific research, contributing to preserving and developing the artistic values of Vietnamese fine arts in general, and the Southern region in particular. With the continuous efforts of the collective of cadres, civil servants, workers and students through generations, up to now, Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts has become a cradle in fine arts training with brand, reputation and quality in the period of national innovation, integration and development.

Individuals receiving Certificates of Merit from Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee

Director of the Training Department Le Anh Tuan said that, in response to the requirements and goals of cultural and artistic development according to the guidelines and policies of the Party and State and the conclusions of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the 2021 National Cultural Conference, units under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, including training institutions, need to focus resources to successfully implement the programs and action plans issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

“Therefore, in the coming time, facing the requirements of the Party, the State, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, facing the difficulties and challenges in enrollment, training, development and integration in the current period, it requires the Party Committee, the Board of Directors, cadres, lecturers, civil servants and employees, students and trainees of the School to always promote tradition, maintain prestige, strengthen solidarity and unanimity; focus on perfecting the team; perfecting the training program and curriculum.
create; focus on developing technical facilities to serve learning, research and teaching; improve training quality, well implement the School's development strategy for the period 2021-2026 to affirm its position in training human resources and training fine arts talents for the country", Mr. Le Anh Tuan emphasized.

Ms. Ariadne Feo Labrada, Consulate General of Cuba in Ho Chi Minh City, awarded the ICAP Commemorative Medal to Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts.

At the 110th Anniversary Ceremony, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee awarded the Traditional Emulation Flag to Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts; awarded Certificates of Merit to eight groups and 18 individuals. The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism awarded Certificates of Merit to five groups and 10 individuals who had made contributions to the construction and development of Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts in the 2019-2023 period; the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism awarded the "For the Cause of Culture, Sports and Tourism" Medal to 15 individuals.

In recognition of the contributions of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts to Vietnam - Cuba friendship activities, the Cuban Institute for Friendship with Nations awarded the "60th Anniversary of ICAP" Medal to the School.

On this occasion, the Center for Education Quality Assessment, Ho Chi Minh City National University awarded the Certificate of Educational Institution Quality Assessment to Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts.

In gratitude for the support and cooperation over the past time, Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts has awarded Commemorative Medals to domestic and international organizations and individuals.

THUY TRANG

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