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About The Central Academy Of Drama

The Central Academy of Drama is the first theatre higher educational institution of the People’s Republic of China and now it is affiliated to China’s Ministry of Education. It is ranked as one of the best top-level drama, Film & Television arts institutions in China and has been selected into the country’s construction plan of world first-class disciplines. The Central Academy of Drama is the headquarters of China Alliance of Theatre Higher Educational Institutes, Asia Theatre Education Centre (ATEC) and World Theatre Education Alliance (WTEA). It is a world famous higher educational institute of arts.

The history of the Central Academy of Drama dates back to more than 80 years, to April 10th, 1938, when Yan An Lu Xun Art College was established. The Central Academy of Drama opened officially in December, 1949 and held the inaugural conference on 2nd of April, 1950. Chairman Mao Zedong inscribed the official name in calligraphy.

The Central Academy of Drama has two campuses, with the original one located at No. 39 Dong Mianhua Hutong, Dongcheng District, and the new one at No.4 Hong Fu Middle Rd, Changping District. Area of these two campuses reach 230, 000 m2, and the construction area is about 180,000 m2.

The Academy’s academic departments have been subdivided into Department of Acting, Department of Directing, Department of Stage Design, Department of Dramatic Literature, Department of Musical Theatre, Department of Peking Opera, Department of Western Opera, Department of Dance Theatre, Department of Puppetry Theatre, Department of Theatre Pedagogy, Department of Theatre Management, Department of Film and TV Art, Department of Theatrology. Majors offered at the undergraduate level include: Acting in, Directing, Art Design for Theatre and Film-and-TV, Recording Art, Literature on Theatre and Film & TV, Theatre Studies, Theatre Pedagogy, Art Management, and Broadcast & Anchoring. The academy has first-class discipline master’s degree and doctor’s degree authorization centres in Studies of Drama (Film & TV), and Theory Studies of Art. The Academy also has a post-doctoral research station for art studies.

The Academy has the only state-level teaching team in acting, the only state-level characteristic major in directing, the only national innovative experimental zone for talents cultivation in musical acting, and the only state-level demonstration centre for experimental teaching in Drama (Film & TV). The Academy also acts as headquarters of many national and international organizations, including China Drama Association, Committee of Directing Arts of China Theater Association, International Stage Arts Network, China Association of Stage Arts, China Centre of OISTAT, China Centre of International Association of Theatre Critics, China Stage Art Educational Alliance, Education Committee of China Musical Theatre Association, Research Centre on Theatrical Pedagogy of China’s Primary & Secondary Schools, China Collaborative Innovation Center for Theatre Arts Management, The “Belt & Road” International Film Education Alliance, and The World Dance Drama Education Alliance.

In the Academy’s long-term history, it continues to uphold the principle of realism, and inherits Chinese aesthetic traditions as well as carefully absorbs from other cultures. The Academy constantly consolidates basis and strengthens practice, and pursues the spirit of “Truth, Creation and Perfection”. The institution commits itself to training drama, film & TV art talents for the country and the world. A majority of graduates have become world-famous artists, scholars, professors and writers, who have made remarkable contributions to the prosperity and development of Chinese drama, film & TV industry.

Facing the future, the Central Academy of Drama will firmly grasp the opportunities to deepen the reform of higher education and accelerate the development of the school system. It strives to increase the quality of education and education management, promote teaching quality and reform construction, and strengthen discipline and high-level faculty team construction. The Academy also promotes organizational innovations, and carries out multilateral exchanges and cooperation with world’s drama education institutions. This ensures the comprehensive strength and overall quality of the Academy. The Central Academy of Drama maintains its strength as one of the top-level art schools in the world with outstanding characteristics.