China Central Academy of Fine Arts or CAFA (simplified Chinese: 中央美术学院; traditional Chinese: 中央美術學院; pinyin:Zhōngyāng Měishù Xuéyuàn) is an advanced academy of Chinese fine arts under the direct supervision of the Department of Education in China.
The Manila Bulletin called the school "China’s most prestigious and renowned arts academy". It was founded in April, 1950, as a result of merger between National Art School in Beiping (国立北平艺术专科学校) and the department of fine arts at the third campus of North China University.
Mao Zedong came up with the school name. The history of the "National Art School in Beiping" might date back to the founding of the "National School of Fine Arts in Beijing" in 1918, advocated by the notable educator, Cai Yuanpei. It was the first national school of fine arts in Chinese history, and also the beginning of Chinese modern education of fine arts.
Former presidents 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. Current Vice President is renowned contemporary artist, Xu Bing.
Current secretary of CPC's committee is Yang Li. Current director of academic commission is the oil painter, Prof. Jin Shangyi. The academy now comprises of six specialty schools, including: the School of Fine Arts, School of Chinese Painting, School of Design, School of Architecture, School of Humanities, and the School of City Design. A post-graduate education school and a high school of fine arts are also affiliated.
There are 534 teachers and staffs, over 3,800 undergraduate and graduate students, and over 100 international students at the school. Its museum of fine arts boasts precious collections, including more than 2,000 Chinese scroll paintings since the Ming Dynasty. CCAFA edits, publishes and distributes two national first-class academic magazines, "Fine Arts Study" and "Fine Arts of the World".
The new CAFA Art Museum, designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, is located at the northeast corner of the CAFA campus at No.8, Huajiadi Nan Street, Wangjing, covering an area of 3,546 m2, with 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 dating back to the Ming Dynasty. The museum hosts rotating exhibitions. Tickets cost 10 RMB.
The school drew media attention during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, during which the students protested by creating a large statue, called the Goddess of Democracy. Each of the eight art academies signed a statement explaining the purpose of the statue.
