Arts teacher education in Lithuanian University of educational sciences

Straipsnyje nagrinėjamas meno pedagogų rengimas Lietuvos edukologijos universitete, aptariant meno pedagogų rengimo programų atsiradimo istorinius aspektus ir prielaidas, atskleidžiant Meninio ugdymo katedros ir ilgamečio jos vedėjo ir dėstytojo profesoriaus habilituoto daktaro Vaido Matonio indėlį, rengiant meno pedagogus bei formuojant meno edukologijos mokslo pagrindus Lietuvoje.The article analyses arts teacher education in Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences, the only university in Lithuania which prepares teachers of four arts subjects – dance, music, theater and visual arts both on bachelor and master’s level. Analysing this phenomenon input of Arts Eudcation Department of the university is revealed through scientific and pedagogical activities which are closely connected with arts teacher education programmes implemented by the department. Since 1993 when Arts Eudcation Department was founded it went through various changes which led from general university study subject of Arts education towards six arts teacher preparation programmes: dance pedagogy bachelor, theater and film pedagogy bachelor, dance education, theater education, visual arts education and music education master. Over 500 arts education teachers graduated from Arts Education Department study programmes in the period of 1997–2013. The main leader and longevous head of the department professor, habilitated doctor of social sciences and humanities Vaidas Matonis has created theoretical and practical basis of arts education teacher preparation. His scientific research works in arts education, music and aesthetic education, arts teacher education, arts theory and philosophy as well as arts research fields shaped multirole model of arts teacher preparation. Professor’s activities included preparation of arts education teachers and scientists who later became arts teacher educators in various high schools of Lithuania