ORGANIZATION OF EDUCATIONAL PROCESS AT KHARKIV INSTITUTE OF ARTS IN 1920s

In this paper we analyze the problem of educational process in higher art institutions of Ukraine over a span of 20 years using professional literature and archival documents. A new concept of practicality and professionalism is introduced after the high school reform (1920). Academic education is eliminated completely; schools of various orientations are created instead having subject-specific departments. Numerous vocational art schools appear in the system of higher art education and face new challenges, such as to have excellent knowledge of the production processes and to be able to combine engineering knowledge with artistic skills. Despite the reformist, vigorous character of these developments, aestheticization of the teachers’ professional training becomes prominent in the educational practice. However, grand prospects of the art and industry cooperation face some difficulties, such as the lack of properly trained teaching staff. Around mid-20s, Ukraine leading art institutions (Kyiv Institute of Plastic Arts (1925), Odessa Polytechnic College of Fine Arts (1925)) open education departments. Based on archival documents, a hypothesis is suggested regarding opening of the Education Department at Kharkiv Art College. For the first time there are unknown documents introduced on A. Komashko’s role in turning the Kharkiv Art College into an Institute