Myanmar Art Education

Ms. Daw Mu Mu Khin

Principal ,State School of Music and Drama ,Yangon, Myanmar

   1. Introduction

  The Union of Myanmar is a country which stand with own developed culture throughout its lengthy and concrete historical development. Human beings have been living on the land of Myanmar since thousands of years ago and the national races lived collectively with their own cultures. That unbroken line of culture has existed throughout of the lengthy history of Myanmar. The entire national races have been safe- guarding Myanmar culture which had developed in succession with historical events for ages.

 

  "If culture is lost, race disappears". "Only when culture is high the country can aspire to greatness". "Genuine culture is the essence of the humans". Such are the important sayings of Myanmar people. Awareness and understanding of the history of Myanmar people's culture contribute largely to the preservation and protection of Myanmar culture tradition, custom and heritage and the fostering of the spirit of patriotism. In order that every Myanmar citizen have been carrying out one of his or her birth duties. There are so many evidence that everybody love and cherries to have their duties. According to the stone inscriptions of various eras found at the pagodas, temples tell us the performing arts developed throughout the Bagan, Pinya, Myinsaing, Sagaing, Inwa, Toungoo, Nyaungyan and Konboung periods.

 

1.1   Brief Account on Myanmar Art

  Myanmar has a deep-rooted socio-cultural heritage, which reflects a distinct mode of living and a rich aesthetic past. Culture in Myanmar, like elsewhere, is the combination of our traditional values and practices.

 

Myanmar arts and crafts have long been in existence in Myanmar. Myanmar arts can be traced back to Pyu period. Preserved temple inscriptions suggest that the Pyu and Mon tradition of visual and performing art were appreciated and were performed according to Myanmar Tradition.

 

Began is the most important historical site in the country. Began was founded by King Anawratha in the eleventh century AD. Theravada Buddhism was also introduced into of the neighboring countries. Myanmar is still a nation with the culture of her own. At Began, interest in the Visual arts was already evident by the eleventh century, with painting and sculpture being featured in works of arts. Myanmar Arts reflect a nation's civilization. "Myanmar has its own flourishing literature, traditions, national character, national identity and norms."

 

1.2 The Development of Art Education:

Art Education is very important in Myanmar society to make a balance of cultural knowledge, civilization and cultural heritage through teaching process from generation to generation. In making handicraft, they followed their parents and experienced from their ancestors. In ancient period, most of the Myanmar Kings used to build the pagodas and monuments. Many cultural heritages are as living monuments with important functions such as pagodas festival etc. In this case, the peoples residing near monuments and sites are very proud of their cultural properties and participate in the establishment of centers for cultural conservation and protection to promote tourism for their local culture.

 

The artistes of ancient times loved and cherished Myanmar traditional performing arts. They recorded the traditional cultural performing arts by stone inscriptions for the future generations. The ancient Myanmar had show the way to preserve Myanmar have great artistic value. They make Myanmars to love and value the national prestige. The loss of Myanmar culture can be followed by the loss of race. We would like to praise the thousand-year old of Myanmar performing arts.

 

At present, Myanmar people always preserve their cultural tradition following their ancestor. Realizing the importance of the preservation and development of cultural heritages, the University of Culture in Yangon and Mandalay are established. One of the objectives of the University of Culture is to conduct research and training with the aims of bringing about the progress of Myanmar fine arts and visual arts turning out outstanding artistes and artists. The University teaches various courses of Myanmar fine arts and visual arts and conferred degrees after the completion of three-year courses. Moreover, Music and Drama school and Fine Arts School in Yangon and Mandalay are opened under the Research and Training Department of Fine Arts, Ministry of Culture. The student of these schools and universities have een learned to preserve and promote the development of the Myanmar Arts. As above mention the most important and leading structure of Myanmar is the Ministry of Culture.

 

Brief History of the Ministry of Culture

  Ministry of Culture was established in 1952 to carry out the various cultural affairs. The Office of the Ministry of Culture is being opened now at No. 131 Kaba-aye Pagoda Road, Yangon.

 

Policy of the Ministry of Culture

  Respective cultural aspects have been upgraded since March,1952,on which Ministry of Culture was established. Policy of the Ministry of Culture is "to love and cherish the country and the people by taking pride on own good traditions as well as by preserving, exposing and propagating Myanmar cultural heritage" throughout the lengthy Myanmar and good traditions and customs.

 

Work programmes of the Ministry of Culture

  Ministry of Culture complying with the laid down policy, the following nine objectives on culture have been implemented.

-to preserve Myanmar cultural fine arts and to look forward to developing genuine Myanmar culture.

-to be the fine arts, which helps the development of the State and the people.

-to educate, not only to be entertainment and after wiping out the concept "the fine arts is for the artiste" and to substitute with "the fine arts is for both the people and the artiste".

-to agitate the people urging them to change their ideas and attitudes in line with the developing time.

-to beneficial to entire national races for amity, unity, mentality to live together through thick and thin and for the development of patriotism.

-to help for eradicating the type of culture, which is unsuitable for society.

-to develop good character, morals and mentality of the people.

-to be in line with time and system in exposing cultural arts and to help for preserving the Union Spirit.

-to strive for the development of cultural arts and for the attainment of higher standard.

 

Work programmes of the Fine Arts Department

  The Fine Arts Department under the Ministry of Culture has laid down the following work programmes.

-To study, expose and preserve Myanmar traditional performing arts, drama, plays, anyeint, classical drama and national races' traditional dance and music;

-To expose and preserve ten kinds of Myanmar traditional arts and crafts;

-To carry out cultural exchange programmes with foreign countries;

-To scrutinize and make efforts for issuing correct traditional Myanmar calendar;

-To scrutinize Myanmar fine arts if it is in harmony with norms and customs; and

-To nurture and bring out new generation persons of advanced fine arts through basic painting, sculpture and theatrical training schools and the Universities of culture

 

  To be able to implement the aims and policies on work programmes of the Ministry of Culture, the Production Division of Yangon and Mandalay, the Research and Training Division including the State School of Music and Drama and the State School of Fine Arts Yangon and Mandalay and Yangon University of Culture and Mandalay University of Culture under the Fine Arts Department have been continuously striving. Of the main endeavor of this department, exposure and collection of traditional Myanmar cultural fine arts of painting, sculpture, singing, playing musical instruments and arts of dancing, keeping records, preservation, research and inventing for propagation are being carried out. Moreover, traditional singing, playing musical instruments and dances of national race are being preserved and multiplied as possible as we can.

 

  Under the Department of Fine Arts, Yangon Music and Drama school was established in 1952 and Mandalay school was established in 1953. Singing, dancing, writing and playing subject are taught as full time courses at the school. Certificates are given to those who passed the three years courses. This Music and Drama school has produced a total of 1071 artistes. Yangon Fine Arts School was established in 1952, and Mandalay school was established in 1953. Myanmar Traditional Art, basic carving and sculpting Myamnar Traditional kanote (floral design) subject taught full time at the school. Certificates are given to those who passed the three year courses. This Fine Arts school has produced a total of 1032 artistes.

 

  Fine Arts Department, Yangon University of Culture was established in 24th September 1993, and Mandalay University of Culture was established in 5th November 2001.

 

Yangon University of Culture has produced a total of 530 artistes in B.A (music), 334 artistes in B.A (Dramatic), 339 artists in B.A (Painting), 152 artists in B.A (Sculpture). Degrees have been conferred on the graduates totally (1183) persons. Moreover, Post Graduate Diploma in Musicology (P.G.D.M) course has been offered and the University conferred (52) graduates for Post Graduate Diploma in Musicology and (1122) artistes for Diploma in Computer Arts (Dip.CA)

 

List of artists produce from fine arts school

 

Progressive Chart of Number of Artistes

2.Art Education in Myanmar

2.1   Forms of Art Education

  The initiations of Arts and Crafts are being taught at Primary, Middle and High School level as co-curriculum courses. At Vocational training school level, students have to study the theoretical and practical training on Arts and Crafts. At University level, the students can choose any one of the specialization in Music, Dramatic Arts, Painting and Sculpture.

 

  By Non Government Organizations just to educate different levels of Arts:

-Theatrical Asiayone (Association)

-Music Asiayone (Association)

-Artists and Artisan Asiayone (Association)

 

  One of the objectives of the Myanmar Theatrical Asiayone is to be preserve, rehabilitate, propagate and upgrade the various theatrical art forms. The music committee that has carried out the work under the Myanmar Music Asiayone (Association) entertainment, information, social, education are conducted. Myanmar traditional Artists and Asiayone display different forms of Art Exhibition to educate the public.

 

  Myamnar Radio and Television produce the progrmrunes that educates and entertains the public.

 

2.2   Level of Art Education

  In Myanmar, the education system for craftsmanship corresponds with the goals of art education. The vocational education training is an integral part of human resource development and is one of the major ways and means of improving the ability to society and to further self-development of the craftsman. Levels of the art education of the Myanmar are as follows:

(a) Vocational training school level:

Ministry of Culture-    State School of Music and Drama

(Yangon and Mandalay)

State School of Fine Arts

(Yangon and Mandalay)

Ministry of Cooperatives-Myanmar lacquer ware College and Saunder’s Weaving Institute.

(b) University level:

Ministry of Culture-    Yangon University of Culture

                     Mandalay University of Culture

State School of Music and Drama (Yangon and Mandalay)

Selection and Admission

Through announcements in newspaper new students for Music and Drama School, Fine Arts School are recruited. An assessment for their talent, character and keen interest in arts is made and only outstanding and fully qualified applicants are selected.

 

Diploma in Computer Arts (Yangon University of Culture)

Requirements for Admission

-Should have passed the Basic Education High School Examination with 'A' level.

Post Graduate Diploma in Musicology (P.G.D.M)

(Yangon University of Culture)

Requirements for Admission

       Any University Graduates, interested in Musicology can apply for admission.

Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Archaeology (P.G.D.A.A)

(Yangon University of Culture)

Requirements for Admission

Any University Graduates, interested in Applied Archaeology can apply for admission.

 

Post Graduate Diploma in Music

Post Graduate Diploma in Dramatic Arts

Graduate Diploma in Painting

Graduate Diploma in Sculpture

 

2.3   Centres for Art Education

  Traditional Arts and Crafts skills were passed on from one generation to another within the family line. The Government tried its best to revive local arts and crafts by establishing the Universities of Culture, Music and Drama Schools, Fine Arts Schools, Myanmar Lacquer Ware College and Sounder's Weaving Institute. Moreover, Arts and crafts were formally taught in Primary School level, Middle School level and High School level. The introduction and practicing offered at a certain period. For artisans in Myanmar the main mode of training is through a apprenticeship and gain their own experience outside classroom.

 

  The followings are the schools under the Department of Fine and performing arts are revived preserved, promoted and transmitted.

 

The State School of Music and Drama (Yangon)

  The State School of Music and Drama Yangon was first opened in 1952 at Jubille Hall on the site where the Defence Services Museum now stands. It was later moved to No. 131, Kabaraye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township in the compound of the Head Office of the Ministry of Culture. The total strength of its staff is 38 consisting of one principal, 14 instructors, 16 assistant instructors and 7 clerks.

 

The State School of Music and Drama (Mandalay)

  The State School of Music and Drama Mandalay was first opened in 1953 together with the State School of Fine Arts in Ashe Pyin quarter, Mandalay. The strength of the staff is 40 comprising one principal, 14 instructors, 16 assistant instructors and 9 clerks.

 

The State School of Fine Arts (Yangon)

  The State School of Fine Arts was opened in 1952 at Jubilee Hall on Shwedagon Pagoda Road, Yangon. From there the school was moved to No.8, Ko Min Ko Chin Road, Bahan Township, and Yangon, where it stands till to-day. The staff comprises one principal, 6 instructors, 6 assistant instructors and 9clericals,a total of 22 in strength.

 

The State School of Fine Arts(Mandalay)

  the state School of Fine Arts, Mandalay was opened in 1953 in Ashe Pyin quarter. The staff comprises one principal, 6 instructors, 6 assistant instructors and 7 clerks totaling 22 in strength.

The school gives 3 years training courses. Every year in March and April candidates are recruited.

 

Objectives are:

-To maintain, to preserve, to promote Myanmar Traditional Dances, Cultural Dances, Court Dances, Drama, Music and Dance of National races. Fine Arts, Painting and Sculpture.

-To make research for Myanmar forms of performing Arts and Fine

-To hand over the true type of Myanmar Dances, Classical Songs and Music, Painting and Sculpture to next becoming generations as National Cultural Heritage.

  The following are the Universities under the Fine Arts Department where higher art education are taught.

 

Yangon University of Culture

The Fine Arts Department intending to develop and propagate the Myanmar and to bring out the world class outstanding artistes, the University of Culture was established as an advance University under the Fine Arts Department, No. 131, Kabaraye Pagoda Road, on 24 September, 1993.

 

  The university had been moved to the new campus to Ward 26 of South Dagon Township on 18September 1996, on the 52.072 acres.

 

Mandalay University of Culture

  University of Culture Mandalay was opened in 5th November 2001, on the 41.35 acres land on the western side of Shwe-Sayan Pagoda Road, Ohn-Chaw Village, in Pathaingyi Township, Mandalay Division.

 

Diploma Computer Arts(Yangon University of Culture)

The Yangon University of Culture also confers a Diploma in Computer Art(Dip CA) since 2000-2001, Academic Year after completion of three levels. Location, No.8, Ko Min Ko Chin Road, Campus in State School of Fine Arts, Bahan Township, Yangon.

 

Post Graduate Diploma in Musicology (P.G.D.M)

(Yangon University of Culture)

 The Yangon University of Culture also confers a post Graduate Diploma in Musicology (P.G.D.M) since 2002-2003 Academic Years. The duration of study is one year course. Any University Graduates, interested in Musicology can apply for admission. Location No.66/73 National Museum Pyay Road, Dagon Township, Yangon.

 

Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Archaeology(P.G.D.A.A)

Yangon University of Culture

-Field School of Archaeology, Pyay,Bago Division.

 

Aims and Objectives of University of Culture

Aims:

-Keeping dynamic patriotism

-Strengthening of National unity

-Preservation of National culture

 

Objectives:-

-To preserve, promote and disseminate Myanmar Cultural Heritage

-To conduct research and training with the aim of bringing about the progress of Myanmar fine arts and visual arts turning out standing artistes and artists.

-To contribute to the teaching of traditional cultures and customs of indigenous national races at the universities, institutes colleges and school.

-To help strength the sprit of nationalism and patriotism.

-To turn out good artistes and artists with high morality and integrity.

 

3. Syllabus and Courses Conducted at Centers for Art Education

3.1 The State School of Music and Drama (Yangon and Mandalay)

3.2 The State School of Fine Arts (Yangon and Mandalay)

  The Schools offer 3 years course and recruits trainees every year in March and April. Half-term examination is held in October and in February, the final examination had been held, annually in March Certificates are gibed to those who passed the three years courses. After that they can be appointed as artists in the production division, Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture and in other Ministries. Some are working their careers privately according to their qualifications.

 

  The followings are the subjects taught at Music and Drama School:

Saing (Myanmar drum circle) Playing

Myanmar Oboe (Hne) Playing

-Traditional Dances in Dramatic Arts

-Xylophone (Patala) Playing

-Saing (Myanmar drum circle) Playing

-Piano Playing

-Violin Playing

-Vocal Training

-Notation (and)

-Dramatic literature.

  The followings are the subjects taught at Fine Arts School:

-Aesthetic Art (Fine Art)

-Commercial Art

-Myanmar Traditional Art

-Basic carving and sculpting

-Carving and sculpting animal and human forms and

-Myanmar Traditional Kanote (Floral Design)

 

The University of Culture (Yangon and Mandalay)

Undergraduate education system is dual- education system of teaching both academic and cultural subjects simultaneously. Students are required to have artistic sense along with academic competence. Knowledge of language, science and social science are required.

 

  Myanmar Literature, English Language, Aesthetics, Myanmar National Culture, and

Archaeology is included as Foundation Courses. Geography, Mathematics, Oriental Studies

History and Science are included as Elective Courses in addition to Specialized Cultural Subjects. (Music, Dramatic Arts, Painting and Sculpture.)

 

DIPLOMA

Musicology

  The University also confers a Post Graduate Diploma in Musicology (P.G.D.M) since 2002-2003 Academic Year.

 

Curriculum

-Museum Administration and Management

-Museum Collection, registration and storing Exhibits Technology

-Museum works of Research

-Museum Exhibition Technology

-Museum Conservation Technology

-Museum publication and Education

 

Computer Arts

  The University also confers a Diploma in Computer Arts (Dip.CA) since 2000-

2001. Academic Year after completion of the following levels certificates are awarded

Level 1  :  Certificate in Graphic Production      (2 months)

Level 2  :  Certificate in Video/Audio Production  (3 months)

Level 3  :  Certificate in Multimedia and Information,

            Communication Technology     (4 months)

 

 

Specialized in

-Character Animation & Advanced Media

-Multimedia & Information Technology