Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo

Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo
Name	Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo
Native name	Akademija scenskih umjetnosti u Sarajevu
Established	1981
Type	Public
City	Sarajevo
Country	Bosnia and Herzegovina
Campus	Urban

Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo is a public higher education institution located in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, specializing in theatre, film, and music education. Founded in 1981 during the period of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Academy has interacted with institutions such as University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo Film Festival, Yugoslav Film Archive, and cultural centers across Europe and the Balkans. The Academy's programs and personnel have connections to figures and institutions including Emir Kusturica, Dino Mustafić, Zlatko Topčić, Goran Bregović, and ensembles linked to National Theatre Sarajevo and Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra.

History

The Academy was established in 1981 alongside faculties and academies such as University of Sarajevo Faculty of Law, University of Sarajevo Faculty of Philosophy, and institutions in the former Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Early development involved collaboration with creators from Yugoslav cinematography, practitioners from National Theatre Novi Sad, Miloš Forman-era professionals, and educators with ties to Belgrade Drama Arts Academy and Zagreb Academy of Dramatic Art. During the Siege of Sarajevo the institution maintained continuity through partnerships with International PEN, UNESCO, Council of Europe, and local organizations like Art Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Post-war reconstruction included cooperation with European Commission cultural programs, links to British Council, and exchanges with Film Center Sarajevo and the Sarajevo Youth Theatre.

Academic Programs

The Academy offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees aligned with Bologna Process partners such as European Higher Education Area, and cooperates with universities like University of Zagreb, University of Belgrade, University of Ljubljana, University of Arts in Belgrade, and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Programs include directing, acting, dramaturgy, cinematography, film production, sound design, and music studies with applied connections to Venice Biennale, Cannes Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, and regional festivals such as Mostar Film Festival. Students pursue curricula influenced by practitioners from Aleksandar Petrović, Dušan Makavejev, Käbi Laretei, and visiting lecturers from Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and Juilliard School partnerships.

Departments and Curriculum

Departments encompass Theatre Directing, Acting, Film and Television Directing, Cinematography, Production, Sound Design, Music Composition, and Stage Design, with curricular elements referencing methodologies of Konstantin Stanislavski, Jerzy Grotowski, Lee Strasberg, Augusto Boal, and scenography traditions of Adolphe Appia. Coursework integrates practical modules tied to institutions like National Theatre Sarajevo, Sarajevo Film Festival, and studios associated with Bosnian-Herzegovinian Philharmonic and visiting artists from Opéra National de Paris and Teatro alla Scala. Research-led courses engage with archival materials from Yugoslav Film Archive, script studies connected to playwrights such as Branko Ćopić, Ivo Andrić, and contemporary dramatists like Zlatko Topčić.

Facilities and Campus

Facilities include rehearsal halls, screening rooms, recording studios, a small black box theatre, and workshops for set and costume construction situated in Sarajevo near cultural landmarks like Baščaršija, Vijećnica, and Latin Bridge. Technical infrastructure supports analog and digital workflows compatible with equipment used in studios of RTV Sarajevo, post-production suites linked to CineLink, and orchestral facilities suitable for ensembles collaborating with Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra and chamber groups associated with Bosnia and Herzegovina Music Association. The campus precinct interacts with municipal cultural sites such as National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina and multipurpose venues hosting events tied to Sarajevo Winter Festival.

Notable Faculty and Alumni

Faculty and alumni networks include directors, actors, composers, and designers who have worked with or been recognized by entities such as Emir Kusturica, Danis Tanović, Jasmila Žbanić, Bora Drljača, Goran Kapetanović, Zlatko Topčić, Merdina Husić, and musicians collaborating with Goran Bregović and orchestras like Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra. Graduates and staff have participated in productions at National Theatre Sarajevo, film projects screened at Cannes Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, and award programs including Academy Awards, European Film Awards, and regional accolades from Bosnian Film Festival USA.

Research, Productions, and Outreach

The Academy conducts scholarly and creative projects linked with festivals and organizations such as Sarajevo Film Festival, CineLink, Balkan Film Forum, British Council, European Cultural Foundation, and NGOs like CultureLink. Production output includes student films, theatre productions, music performances, and collaborative research with archival partners such as Yugoslav Film Archive and Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Outreach programs involve workshops in cooperation with UNICEF, community theatre initiatives modeled on Augusto Boal's Forum Theatre, and exchanges bringing visiting artists from institutions like Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and Hochschule für Schauspielkunst Ernst Busch.

Governance and Administration

The Academy operates under statutes aligned with national higher education legislation and interacts administratively with bodies including University of Sarajevo, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and regional accreditation agencies cooperating with the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education. Governance structures comprise a dean, council, departmental chairs, and administrative offices coordinating partnerships with external institutions such as Sarajevo Film Festival, Bosnian Cultural Centre, and international exchange networks including Erasmus+.

Category:Universities and colleges in Bosnia and Herzegovina Category:Higher education in Sarajevo