The Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA; ) is a national public fine arts academy in Beijing, China. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Education. The academy is part of the Double First Class University Plan.
The academy is the only institution of higher education for fine arts under the administration of the Ministry of Education of China. The Manila Bulletin calls the school "China’s most prestigious and renowned art academy". It is one of the most selective universities in the country and turns away more than 95% of applicants every year. The acceptance rate was only 1.58% in 2019. Central Academy of Fine Arts is included in the Chinese state Double First Class University Plan as a Double First Class University. Central Academy of Fine Arts was the first national school of fine arts in Chinese history, and also the beginning of Chinese modern education of fine arts. Since its establishment in 1918, it has produced many notable Artists. Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) is ranked No.1 in Fine Arts by the Development Centre for Academic Degrees and Postgraduate Education, Ministry of Education, China.
Overview
The history of the National Art School in Beiping () dates back to the founding of the National School of Fine Arts in Beijing in 1918, advocated by the educator Cai Yuanpei. It was the first national school of fine arts in China and also the beginning of Chinese modern education of fine arts. The academy was founded in April 1950, as a result of a merger between the National Art School in Beiping and the department of fine arts at the third campus of North China University. The former principals of CAFA include Xu Beihong, Jiang Feng, Wu Zuoren, Gu Yuan and Jin Shangyi. The current president is the painter and historian of fine arts, Prof. Pan Gongkai. The current Vice President is the contemporary artist, Xu Bing. The current secretary of CPC's committee is Yang Li. The current director of academic commission is Jin Shangyi.
The academy comprises six specialty schools: Fine Art, Chinese Painting, Design, Architecture, Humanities and Urban Design. A post-graduate education school and high school of fine arts are also affiliated. There are 534 teachers and staff for 3,800 undergraduate and graduate students and over 100 international students. Its museum of fine arts boasts precious collections, including more than 2,000 Chinese scroll paintings from the Ming dynasty. CAFA edits, publishes and distributes two national first-class academic magazines, "Fine Arts Study" and "Fine Arts of the World".
The design programme of CAFA was renewed in 1995 in the name of the Department of Art Design after a break of some forty years and became the School of Design in October 2002. The university's goal of preparing and training the students as future professionals in design with creative thinking and practical capabilities, the School of Design offers undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D. degrees in programs ranging from visual communication design, product design, fashion design, photography, digital media to design theory and history. The School of Design plays an important role in promoting design in China and is intensively involved in design activities, most noticeable of which are its designs for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The new CAFA Art Museum, designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, is located at the northeast corner of CAFA campus at No.8, Huajiadi Nan Street, Wangjing, with an area of 3546 m2 and a total floor area of 14,777 m2. The Museum opened in October 2008 for the University's 90th anniversary. The new six-floor museum has several notable collections, including over 2,000 historic Chinese scroll paintings from the Ming Dynasty. The museum hosts rotating exhibitions.
The school drew media attention during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 when the students created a large statue called the Goddess of Democracy. Each of the eight art academies signed a statement explaining the purpose of the statue.
In 2018 the asteroid 118418 Yangmei was named in honor of the academy.
In 2019 the university was ranked 27 for art and design in the QS World University Rankings.