The Institute of Art in Plzeň offers three new master's programs

Plzeň - The Institute of Art and Design at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen has successfully reaccredited three master's programs. It will accept its first students into the three-year programs in fashion design, metal and jewelry design, and sculpture in the academic year 2009/2010, starting in September. Since last year, it has already offered studies in these fields at the bachelor's level. The program is overseen by educators and artistic personalities who have worked or are working at the Academy of Art, Architecture & Design in Prague. Lenka Bryndová, the institute's deputy director for communication and international relations, informed ČTK about this.
    "Applicants for the master's studies in these three fields can apply until the end of July, and the talent exam will take place on August 25," she stated.
    The guarantor for metal and jewelry design is academic sculptor Vratislav Karel Novák, among other things the author of the Prague Metronome in Letná. After graduation, students will be familiar with both traditional and modern technologies and should be able to work with wood, stone, metals, gemstones, semi-precious stones, plastics, and similar materials. They will be able to work as independent designers as well as in a team.
    The academic painter Helena Krbcová took over the guarantee for the fashion design field in Pilsen. "The program was established based on significant social demand. In our region, it is also supported by the existence of several secondary schools that focus on fashion design as part of their curriculum," Bryndová noted.
    The guarantor for sculpture in Pilsen became the renowned academic sculptor Jiří Beránek, who, among other things, deals with so-called land art, which transforms the landscape. A graduate of this field will be able to work with wood, stone, metal, plastics, and similar materials, mastering all craft and artistic crafts processes.
    The institute is one of the youngest art universities in the Czech Republic and was established on April 1, 2004. In the near future, it aims to start constructing a new building in the university complex in Bory. Additionally, this would allow the institution, with approximately 250 students, to double its capacity in visual arts and design fields and gradually transform into a faculty.