A well established and long standing ecole in scenography education at the academy of fine arts; “Atelier of Theatre Decoration and Costume”

Abstract

Sanayi-i Nefise Mekteb-i, which began its educational journey in 1882 and was the first educational institution in the field of fine arts in Turkey, would later be named Fine Arts Academy in the Republican Era. The Academy would achieve scientific autonomy as Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts in 1969 in accordance with the law no. 1172 and in 1982, it would be affiliated with the Council of Higher Education and become Mimar Sinan University, and as of 2004, it would be one of the most established schools in Turkey under the name Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. A significant part of the curricula in the early years features master-apprentice relationship based on the connections established with the École des Beaux-Arts, a well-established art school in Europe, and the impressions and productions of the teachers who studied there. Knowledge of design forms the basis of the academy for the reason that the three basic fields of art in the formation of the school are painting, sculpture and architecture. The Atelier of Theatre Decoration and Costume, which is a first within the academic structure, was founded in 1962 by Prof. Erdoğan Aksel and Prof. Sadi Öziş. In this article, the origin of stage and costume design education within the history of the Academy, the relationship of the pioneers of the stage design profession in Turkey with the academy, and the artistic developments that affected stage design in these years will be examined. Additionally, the opinions of the first generation graduates who received education in this field and became pioneers of their profession will be included. The purpose of the study in the light of these data is to create a research field on why academic education in the stage design profession is necessary to become a stage designer.