Establishment and Mission
The Department of Art Theory and History of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the Athens School of Fine Arts (ASFA) was established and began operating during the academic year 2006-2007. Its scientific mission and educational goal consist in providing the necessary tools for the proper training of art historians, art theorists, art critics, and scientific researchers, who are employed in institutions related to culture and the arts, as well as of those who wish to pursue careers in secondary and higher education.
Art Theory and History is treated as a specialised and clearly defined academic and professional orientation. The research scope of this scientific field is strengthened by an expanded interdisciplinary framework, covering a significant number of subject areas such as History and Theory of Architecture, Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art, European History, History and Theory of Literature, Museology, Anthropology, and Sociology of Art. In line with this orientation, the Department of Art Theory and History has adopted and implemented a Quality Policy and remains committed to systematically ensuring quality through the corresponding processes. Its goal is to further enhance the Department’s academic identity and to keep improving the study programmes it offers.
The Department of Art Theory and History promotes historical and theoretical approaches to Art as the first and only department in Greece dedicated to this particular subject. More importantly, it forms part of the Athens School of Fine Arts and this creates the conditions for direct contact and collaboration with the very space of production and exhibition of art works, namely the workshops of the Department of Visual Arts and the exhibition areas of the Institution. It is also supported by the School’s functional and well equipped New Library.
The Department of Art Theory and History offers higher education studies at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels, as well as the opportunity to conduct postdoctoral research. Graduates of the Department, as well as doctoral candidates and alumni of the Postgraduate Programme “Theory and History of Art”, can offer their knowledge and scientific experience in museums, art galleries, cultural institutions, cultural centres, research institutes, specialized or general media, as well as in secondary and higher education institutions (see relevant details here).
The Assembly of the Department