The Central Academy of Drama, China

The Central Academy of Drama is the first higher educational institution for theatre art 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 top-level Theatre, Film & Television arts institutions in China and has been included in the country’s ‘Double First-class’ University Plan. 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 institution 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 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 Drama, Department of Theatre Pedagogy, Department of Theatre Management, Department of Film and TV Art, Department of Theatrology, and Department of Science Theatre. Majors offered at the undergraduate level include: Acting, Quyi (Chinese Melodious Art), Directing, Art Design for Theatre and Film & TV, Recording Art, Theatrical, Film and TV Literature, Theatre Studies, Musical Theatre, Theatre Pedagogy, Art Management, Broadcast & Anchoring, Videography and Production for Film and TV, Digital Media Art, as well as Science Theatre. The Academy has authorized programmes for master’s and doctoral degrees in Art Studies, Studies of Theatre, Film & TV Arts, and Studies of Xiqu and Quyi. The Academy also has a post-doctoral research station.

Throughout the Academy’s long history, it continues to uphold the principle of realism, inherits Chinese aesthetic traditions and selectively absorbs from other cultures. The Academy values a solid foundation, stresses practice, and pursues the spirit of “Truth, Creation and Perfection” to training professionals in Theatre, Film & TV Art for the country and the world.

Facing the future, the Central Academy of Drama will grasp the opportunities of the deepened higher education reform and accelerate the development of the education system. It strives to increase the quality of education and its management, enhance teaching quality and reform in teaching, and strengthen the construction of discipline and high-level faculty team.