WITH A NUMBER OF AVENUES OPENING UP FOR CREATIVE MINDS, THE ARTS HAVE MORE TAKERS

FINE ARTS

Fine Arts is the study and making of visual works of art. It can be in the form of paintings, photography, architecture, etc. Over the last few years, there has been a rise in the number of students opting for Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degrees as the scope in the market has expanded.

Due to increased awareness of art among the masses, more exhibitions are being organised, leading to more sales and eventually boosting the field. Students seeking to pursue a career in Fine Arts can opt for a BFA after completing class XII or equivalent in any stream. A BFA focuses primarily on the creation of one's style and detailed knowledge of conceptualisation. However, a significant portion of the course focus es on liberal arts study. Candidates can choose from a range of specialisations in cartooning, painting, architecture, calligra phy, graphic design ing, illustration and sculpture, among others.

The specialisations offered in this field include applied art, art history, painting, print-making, sculpture and visual communica tion.

Professor Meera Saravanan, officiating principal at the Col lege of Art, University of Delhi, states, “The objective of the teaching programmes and training are to achieve overall re finement of the student's per ception not confined to the skills of the profession alone, but also to create the right kind of intellect as well as emotional cultivation to arrive at a level of composite creativity. Institutions usually have a foundation course in the first and second year which cover topics such as drawing, colour design and graphic arts.“ In the third year, students learn to understand visual language and develop their signature `language'. “In the fourth year, students learn technicalities and conceptualisation,“ says Debraj Goswami, assistant professor at the department of graphic arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU), Baroda.

Talking about the relevance of arts education today and its implication, Adwaita Gadanayak, director general, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Delhi, says, “Fine Arts education is not about classroom learning. It involves oneto-one interaction between students and faculty.“

The career avenues for graduates include teaching (in private or government institutions), direction, photography, cartooning, illustrations, and calligraphy, among other areas, depending on their expertise.

PERFORMING ARTS

In performing arts, artistes exhibit their art forms using vocals or bodily movement, in a bid to convey artistic expression.A Bachelor's degree in Performing Arts (BPA) is a four-year degree with 80% practical and 20% theory. Open to candi dates who have completed class XII or equivalent in any stream, it combines several fields such as music performances, dramatic literature, theatre history, dance and culture, musical theatre and dance technique.

The curriculum encompasses Indian as well as Western dance forms and music along with theatre.These are taught together to enable students to engage in the processes of arts such as creativity, expression and responsiveness. The degree is designed to give students a foundation in the cultural history, knowledge and technical skills of dance, music and theatre so that they have an overview of various performing arts.Ashutosh Potdar, a Marathi playwright who is also an associate profes sor of drama at a Pune university, says, “A candi date planning to pursue performing arts should aim to become a complete package and not just gain a degree. One must be prepared to play all roles such as that of a director, dancer, choreographer and scriptwriter. This field has no specialisation. One who has mastered all art forms can look forward to study for the degree.“

Graduates in performing arts have several career options such as that of an actor, community arts worker, dancer, drama therapist, music therapist and theatre director, among others. “After pursuing undergraduate degree in performing arts, students are also eligible to enter the film industry as technician artistes. Those with a degree have an edge in the industry. They can further go on to practising theatre as well,“ adds Potdar.