DOI: 10.1515/irsr-2014-0016

IRSR INTERNATIONAL REVIEW of SOCIAL RESEARCH Volume 4, Issue 2, June 2014, 125-141 International Review of Social Research

The Evolution of Artistic Higher Education in Communist between 1948 and 1989

Valentin MAIER• University of Bucharest, The Research Centre for Administrative, Cultural and Economic Studies

Abstract: Although communist regimes gave priority to technical higher education, artistic higher education also received a small, but constant share of the allocated study places and resources. This study outlines both the general features of this field, and its statistical evolution. After 1948, artistic higher education (music, fine and decorative arts, film, theatre and television) went through many changes in order to adapt to communist requirements. This paper presents some of the most important changes, what caused them, as well as their consequences. The statistical reconstruction of artistic higher education mainly focuses on the last 30 years of , on full-time studies and on four important indicators: total number of students, freshmen, graduates and total number of teaching staff.

Keywords: communist regime, Romania, higher education, artistic higher education, statistics.

Introduction (technical) specialized staff; therefore, no wonder that higher education Higher education represented underwent important developments an important opportunity for the accordingly. The number of communist regime to train specialized institutions and students in the fields of staff in order to strengthen its political technical, agronomical and economic control of all the aspects of society, but studies grew to unprecedented shares also to support economic development before communism. But how did the and the creation of a new society1. other fields of higher education, such Economic development was as artistic higher education (AHE), heavily concentrated on the process develop in this context? How much of industrialization, which demanded did the communist regime and its

•e-mail: [email protected]. Valentin Maier is a PhD in history with a dissertation titled Oil Industry in Romania after 1989 (2014) and currently he is research assistant at the Research Centre for Administrative, Cultural and Economic Studies (University of Bucharest). His main interests are in the fields of economic history (especially the process of industrialization in Romania after 1948), economic geography and history of higher education. © University of Bucharest, June 2014 126 | IRSR Volume 4, Issue 2, June 2014 goals to shape a ‘new society’ influence this publication displayed similarities the development of AHE? with the situation concerning other There are not too many studies arts, as mentioned by Magda Cârneci on communist higher education and (Cârneci, 2013) in respect of Arta even fewer focusing on fields like arts plastică (1954)/ Arta (1968), magazine (NG, 1964; ILC, 1966; Demetrescu, for fine and decorative arts: a heavy Beldiman, Bedros: 2006; Pintilie, influence of communist 2006; Cozmei, 2010; Cosma, 2010). before 1960, some sort of propaganda In its first communist years, relaxation for almost 15 years, after Romania adopted the Soviet model at which the situation returned to the all levels of society, including culture 1960 situation, meaning less pure and higher education2. music and more texts of political For AHE, we will take the example propaganda4. For theatre and film arts of music. Irrespective of whether it an important publication was Teatrul referred to civilian life, or the army, (1956)5, another one was Cinema, music composition was subordinated continuing after 1963 the tradition to political requests. Military music of the discontinued publication of was developed as an acknowledgment Probleme de cinematografie/Film of the need to support communist (1951-1958)6. propaganda in the military field and From the onset, we have to not only, since military music bands mention that in Romania, AHE was took part in important festivities made up of three fields: fine and celebrating the communist mythology decorative arts, theatre and film arts (Sîlea, 2006:92-110). Some of the and television7, and music. Students compositions created as military music of AHE studied in special institutions revealed the level of political influence (music conservatories and institutes right from their title (În slujba patriei, of fine and decorative arts, and theatre Din victorii în victorii or Apărătorii and film arts and television), but also patriei), while those created in the field in faculties of music and fine arts/ of ‘civilian music’ were even more drawing within pedagogical institutes ideologically corrupted, especially and universities. during the 1950s: Slavă gloriosului After the reorganization of the partid, Veniţi cu toţii la luptă pentru education system in Romania on pace or Cântecul brigadierilor (Cîntece November 1948, Romania AHE was de masă. Antologie, 1958:108, 172- structured into five Institutes of Arts 178, 355-361)3. located in Bucharest, Iaşi, Timişoara Another important aspect related and Cluj-Napoca (two institutes, with to political interference in art was the courses in Romanian and Hungarian) control achieved by communists over (CLDD, November 1948: 1124- professionals associations such as the 1126), under the management of the Composers’ Association or the Fine Ministry of Arts and Information. Artists’ Association. Another means to The Institutes of Arts from Bucharest influence music-related activities were and Cluj-Napoca comprised four the articles of the main magazine called faculties: music, theatre, fine arts and Muzica. Starting with 1950, the pages of choreography (the last two faculties Valentin Maier The Evolution of Artistic Higher Education | 127 had common courses in the institutes Fine Arts Institute from Cluj-Napoca of Cluj-Napoca in 1948/1949). The (IA) (CLDhd, November 1950: 131, Institute of Arts from Iaşi had only three 132). Timişoara was the only city left faculties (theatre, music, fine arts), without an AHE institution out of the while the institute from Timişoara, initial four, while in Iaşi only drama only two (theatre and music). All studies were kept. In Bucharest and these faculties were organized into Cluj, the Faculty of Choreography did departments. Therefore, the Faculty not survive the changes, while the other of Music had four departments faculties, components of the former (instrumental, vocal, composition, Art Institutes, were transformed into musicology and folklore), the Faculty AHE institutions. of Theatre had three (drama, directing AHE institutions were organized and theatre studies), the Faculty of Fine into faculties. For example, in Arts and the Faculty of Choreography 1950/1951, CP was structured into were each organized in two departments two faculties (canto, piano, orchestra (choreography and painting, sculpture and theoretical studies, composition, and engraving; choreography and conducting and opera direction) and six folklore). The duration of the studies departments (piano, string, whistle and was three years for the Faculty of percussion instruments; canto; choir Choreography, four years for faculties conductors, pedagogy; composition; of music and theatre, and five years for orchestra conductors; opera direction) the Faculty of Fine Arts. From among (CLDhd, November 1950: 131; all the existing art institutes, only the ANIC, PCM, 243/1951, 101). GD had institute from Bucharest held PhD a similar structure, but without the courses at the time (CLDD, October department of opera direction. 1948: 960-963). In fact, until 1973, in The Theatre Institute from AHE there was only one PhD granted Bucharest had two faculties: direction in musicology (AMed, 129/1972, and drama. The Theatre Institute from unnumbered). Cluj had only two departments: drama This structure of AHE was in Romanian, and drama and direction maintained for only a brief period, in Hungarian. The Theatre Institute because in 1950 the Art Institutes were from Iaşi had only one department of abolished, and AHE was reorganized drama (CLDhd, November 1950: 131). into eight institutions: the ‘Ciprian NG was organized into six Porumbescu’ Music Conservatory departments: painting (with the from Bucharest (CP), the ‘Gheorghe specializations painting, mural Dima’ Music Conservatory from painting, stage set design), sculpture, Cluj (GD), the ‘Ion Luca Caragiale’ engraving and decorative arts (textiles Theatre Institute from Bucharest, the and fabric design, ceramics) graphic art Film Institute from Bucharest8, the (graphic art, engraving, lithography), ‘Szentgyőrgy István’ Theatre Institute pedagogy and museology, similar to from Cluj, the ‘Matei Millo’ Theatre those of IA, the latter also with courses Institute from Iaşi, the ‘Nicolae in Hungarian (AMed, 243/1951, 101- Grigorescu’ Fine Arts Institute from 104; CLDhd, November 1950: 131, Bucharest (NG) and the ‘Ion Andreescu’ 132). 128 | IRSR Volume 4, Issue 2, June 2014

In 1951, after a transient existence, of development started in AHE, the ‘Matei Millo’ Theatre Institute because this was the year when the from Iaşi was closed. The main Conservatory of Iaşi was re-opened. reasons for this decision was similar Another important aspect is that the to that of the 1950 AHE reform, i.e. Conservatory from Iaşi was initially budgetary constraints, but also because organized to belong to the Faculty of the training of the teaching staff was Instruments and Canto, but beginning unsatisfactory as was the furbishing with 1962, the Faculty of Composition, and the low number of students (ANIC, Conducting and Pedagogy entered PCM, 233/1951, 5; AMed, 243/1951, its structure copying the organization 102, ANIC, CC-PCR-Economică, of the other two conservatories. The 34/1951, 12)9. Another change was Conservatory from Iaşi received the transfer of the Theatre Institute the name ‘George Enescu’ in 1965 from Cluj-Napoca to Târgu-Mureş, (CLDHD, March-April 1965: 142), which left Cluj-Napoca with only two the same way as other AHE institutions AHE institutions, while Bucharest received their own ‘patrons’. kept its four. All these changes The 1960 changes established meant that AHE was concentrated in a structure of AHE with seven only three higher education centers: institutions: three conservatories, CP, Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca and Târgu- GD and the ‘George Enescu’ Music Mureş. In 1954, because of new Conservatory from Iaşi (GE), two fine reorganization measures, Theatre arts institutes, NG and IA, two theatre and Film Institutes were united into a institutes, ILC and the ‘Szentgyőrgy single institute named The ‘Ion Luca István’ Theatre Institute from Târgu- Caragiale’ Institute of Theatre and Mureş (SI) that would exist until Film from Bucharest (ILC) with two the end of the communist regime, corresponding faculties10. Thus, as of obviously with changes of their 1954, AHE comprised two Fine Arts components (faculties, departments Institutes (with Faculties of Fine Arts and specializations). and Decorative Arts in Bucharest and In the 1960s there was an a Faculty of Fine Arts in Cluj-Napoca), increasing interest in AHE students two Conservatories (structured into a and their education results, because Faculty of Instruments and Canto and after 1962, besides the standard a Faculty of Composition, Conducting scholarships and the special ‘Nicolae and Pedagogy) and two Institutes for Grigorescu’ scholarship, awarded Drama Studies (but also with film arts from 1957 onward to a student of a studies in Bucharest). From 1957, the fine arts institute which allowed him/ ILC Faculties of Film and Theatre her to study for two years abroad were united (from 1974 the name of (CLDHAAN, May-June 1968: 346), the Faculty of Theatre was changed two more special scholarships were to the Faculty of Theatre, Film and established: ‘Ion Andreescu’ for six Television). These were the main students and ‘George Enescu’ for five structural changes of AHE institutions students12. in the first years of the communist rule. In 1969, a few other changes place From 196011 on, a new stage in the structure of AHE: the Faculty Valentin Maier The Evolution of Artistic Higher Education | 129 of Composition, Conducting and painting, graphic, sculpture; Pedagogy was renamed the Faculty monumental art – restoration, of Composition and Musicology, the museology; tapestry, stage design; Faculty of Fine Arts was renamed the (aesthetics of) industrial forms, Drawing Faculty within pedagogical introduced after 1969 (Demetrescu, institutes, and a new faculty was Beldiman, Bedros, 2006: 33), ceramics, established, the Faculty of Music of glass and metal art) (CLD, April-June the Pedagogical Institute from Braşov 1974: 254, 255). (BO, 1969: 3). In 1974, the two GE An interesting aspect in the history faculties merged into the Faculty of of communist AHE is that institutions Music, while in CP and GD, the Faculty from Iaşi were discontinued for most of Composition and Musicology was of the 1950s (with the exception of renamed the Faculty of Pedagogy and the years 1950/1951), before being Musical Composition, Musicology. firmly re-established in 1960 with From 1977 onward, the latter changed the Conservatory. Its evolution its name once more into the Faculty was different from that of the other of Music and Musical Composition, two existing conservatories, with a Musicology while in Iaşi the faculty quickly diminished structure, and was renamed the Faculty of Music and with music grouped together with Fine Arts. fine and decorative arts, the latter After 1972, ILC and SI, the Faculty being organized as a department in the of Fine Arts and the departments of structure of the Faculty of Music and monumental painting and stage design Fine Arts. from the NG Faculty of Decorative Arts, Back to the evolution of AHE, the departments of painting, sculpture starting from 1982, new admission and graphic from the Faculty of Fine conditions were established, limiting and Decorative Arts of IA and CP, GD the access to AHE institutions to and GE were under the subordination only those candidates who, apart of both the Ministry of Education and from the standard conditions (to be the Council of Culture and Socialist high-school graduates, but also other Education13, while the artistic faculties ‘artistic’ conditions depending on from pedagogical institutes were only the AHE field ),were able to present under the subordination of the former documents to justify that they took (HCM, April-June 1972: 16-24). part in mass artistic activities, that From 1974/1975 onward, AHE they were awarded in the National included three specializations Festival ‘Cântarea României’, even that remained until the end of the in artistic school contests or that they communist regime: theatre and film arts were laureates of international artistic and television (specializations: acting, contests (Forum, 1982: 86; Forum, direction, picture film and television, 1989: 71). art and performing methodology), In 1986, after years of decreases in music (specializations: instrumental the total number of AHE students, as music, canto, pedagogy and musical was the case, in fact, with the entire composition, musicology), fine and higher education system, CP and GD decorative arts (specializations: underwent new important changes: the 130 | IRSR Volume 4, Issue 2, June 2014 traditional structure with two faculties unnumbered). This situation had little was replaced with the Faculty of to do with planning decisions14, and Music, while at NG, its two faculties more with the requirements of the were merged into the Faculty of Fine respective specializations. However, and Decorative Arts, while the number the evolution of the number of freshmen of specializations was reduced to 10 (a sharp decline) between the end of from 12 (ANIC, CC-PCR-PropAgit, 1970s and the 1980s, may contradict 39/1986, 3; 47/1986, unnumbered). this assumption. On this point, the Another important element that analysis of the admission competition may assist in understanding the would be very interesting (we also development of AHE in communism have to take into account that artistic refers to the specializations. faculties at pedagogical institutes were In 1989, for theatre and film abolished after 1978/1979), but since arts and television there were three for the moment we lack important data, specializations: acting (in Romanian we can only present a comparison, and Hungarian), direction, picture film which is still representative, for and television (Forum, 1989: 73). For the competition of 1978/1979 as fine and decorative arts there were four compared to 1968/1969. In 1978/1979, groups of specializations: 1) painting, the competition recorded a spectacular (graphic art) drawing-restoration, growth of three times more for some drawing teacher; monumental art- AHE institutions than in 1968/1969 restoration, drawing teacher; 2) (although during this interval fine arts sculpture-restoration, drawing teacher; faculties still existed in the structure glass-ceramic-metal; 3) stage design- of pedagogical institutes, except for drawing teacher, industrial forms; 4) faculties of music): 23.12 students museology-drawing teacher (Forum, per study places at ILC, 15.90 at SI, 1989: 84). Music also comprised four 10.82 at NG, 10.14 at IA, 3.21 at CP, specializations: instrumental music 3.55 at GD and 6.31 at GE, for an (different instruments) - music; canto- average of 10.43 students per study music; music; musical composition- places in AHE, one of the highest musicology (Forum, 1989: 85, 86). rate in Romanian higher education at As opposed to most higher education the time, a characteristic of AHE that specializations, those of AHE were needs to be further researched, since characterized by a significantly low in 1956 there were 8.7 candidates number of freshmen per specialization, per study place, again the highest especially in music. For example, the for that period (AMed, 227/1956, situation of GE freshmen in 1971/1972 unnumbered; 299/1968, unnumbered; was as follows: music teachers - sixty 113/1978, unnumbered). three students, composition - three, We should also stress that the violin - ten, viola - two, cello - four, Theatre Faculty within SI became a bass - two, flute - two, clarinet - one, department, and although there were oboe - two, bassoon - two, horn - two, only a few students attending its studies, trumpet - three, trombone-tuba - one, completed in 1976 by a group of hammer - one, piano-organ - nine students studying acting in Romanian and canto - five (AMed, 311/1971, (ANIC, CC-PCR-Cancelarie, 44/1976, Valentin Maier The Evolution of Artistic Higher Education | 131

94v), the SI number of freshmen functioned between 1961/1962- remained basically unchanged until 1971/1972 in the structure of four 1989. pedagogical institutes (Bucharest, An interesting situation is that of the Cluj-Napoca, Iaşi and Timişoara). specialization of AHE teachers. One of From 1971/1972 onward, there were the objectives of higher education was still four faculties of drawing, but two to train teaching staff, and the same was functioned in the structures of NG true for AHE. Therefore, the Faculties and IA (only for two years), while the of Music and the Faculties of Fine other two in those of universities from Arts/Drawing were established within Iaşi and Timişoara. Beginning with pedagogical institutes and universities 1974/1975, the faculties of drawing with the aim of providing the training of were dissolved, but departments teaching staff in three years of studies. continued to function in the above- Faculties of Music were established in mentioned universities, in the structure 1961/1962 in pedagogical institutes of faculties of pedagogical education in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Iaşi, until they were abolished in the Timişoara and Târgu-Mureş, faculties same year, as was the case with the of fine arts being already established a faculties of music. Many reasons year earlier within the same institutes, supported this 1977 decision, which with the exception of Târgu-Mureş. also affected other higher education From 1964/1965 onward, the sectors, but the main ones were the faculties of music stopped admitting need to improve the nomenclature new students, and from 1966/1967 of specializations translated into a onward, they disappeared from decrease of their number - the process the structure of these pedagogical had already started in 1974/1975, institutes, except for those in Timişoara when 112 specializations remained and Târgu-Mureş15. In 1969/1970, a out of 155, combined with the first new faculty of music was established measures to decrease the number within the pedagogical institute of artistic teachers beginning with from Braşov (from 1971/1972, the 1971) (ANIC, CC-PCR-Cancelarie, University of Braşov) (Catrina, 1995: 68/1977, 178)18; another reason was 68; BO, 1971: 871; CLD, October- that the training of music and drawing December 1971: 537). Because of teachers did not ‘justify two forms of the structural changes which affected training functioning at the same time’ the entire higher education system, in (ANIC, CC-PCR-Cancelarie, 68/1977, 1974/1975 the faculties of music were 181, 181v) - in pedagogical institutes/ turned into departments in the structure universities and in conservatories/ of the Faculty of Natural Sciences from fine arts institutes19, and even Braşov the Faculties of Pedagogical because pedagogical education Education from Timişoara16 and did not prove useful, as already Târgu-Mureş17. In 1978/1979, music at mentioned a decade before (ANIC, pedagogical institutes was dissolved. CC-PCR-Cancelarie, 210/1968, 29; As opposed to faculties of music, 68/1977, 18). This measure was not those of fine arts/drawing (the name was so dramatic, because after 1977, all changed beginning with 1968/1969) music graduates would also become 132 | IRSR Volume 4, Issue 2, June 2014 music teachers (this explains the new Bucharest, 82 in Cluj-Napoca, 98 in titles of music specializations like Iaşi and 101 in Timişoara), while the instrumental music-music, canto- number varied in the case of Faculties music), similar toall graduates of fine of Music (but no more than 82 students and decorative arts (minus those from in Bucharest in 1962/1963). In these the specialization industrial forms, institutions, the students were mostly ceramics, glass and metal art); hence, women. As for the share of artistic new specialization titles appeared students in the total number of students (such as drawing teachers-painting, of pedagogical institutes, an average graphic art; sculpture-drawing of 12.72 was registered in Bucharest, teachers) (ANIC, CC-PCR-Cancelarie, 15.98 in Cluj-Napoca, 14.48 in Iaşi, 64/1977, 50; 68/1977, 181, 181v; 6.05 in Timişoara and 10.38 in Târgu- 71/1977, 173). The reorganization Mureş. was also applied to ILC, were the If the studies for music/arts specialization art and methodology of teachers took three years, other studies performance was abolished (ANIC, took from four to six years depending CC-PCR-Cancelarie, 68/1977, 187), on the form of study, profile and but was not really implemented in Iaşi, specialization (four years for theatre where the Faculty of Drawing from the and film arts and television, daytime University entered the structure of GE courses, five years for evening courses, as a department of the Faculty of Music the same for fine and decorative arts; and Fine Arts. This decision took into four years for music, specializations account the fact that Moldova ‘is an instrumental music – music; music area with high demography, with a high and musical composition, musicology, number of educated population and daytime courses, five years at the with an important shortage of drawing specialization music and musical teaching staff’ (ANIC, CC-PCR- composition, musicology for evening Cancelarie, 71/1977, 40, 40v; 87/1969, courses, five years for canto-music, 90). Therefore, the insufficient number daytime courses, or six years for of teaching staff was still a reality at the evening courses). end of the 1970s, even if the political Since we have already mentioned leaders acknowledged and tried to solve the forms of education, we should this problem (at least) at the beginning mention that in AHE, full-time of the communist regime. It seems studies were dominant, but extramural that the best solution to this problem education was also common at the was adopted in 1977, when students Faculty of Composition, Conducting were trained to be teachers and artists and Pedagogy (CP and GD), at ILC at the same time, thus simplifying the and, for two years, at NG (Faculty of structure of AHE. Fine Arts). From 1981/1982 onward, As for the development of AHE evening courses substituted extramural within pedagogical institutes and courses at ILC, but functioned together universities, the highest number of for another year at NG. At IA, evening freshmen20 of pedagogical institutes courses were introduced in 1981/1982, was registered for the Faculties of Fine while at CP they replaced extramural Arts in 1962/1963 (121 students in courses in 1982/1983 (this time for Valentin Maier The Evolution of Artistic Higher Education | 133 both faculties). At GD in 1982/1983 findings from the statistical data there were only full-time studies, but regarding AHE. The statistical data beginning with 1983/1984, evening were collected from the Archie of courses were also organized at the the National Statistics Institute (INS) Faculty of Instruments and Canto and, 1960/1961-1988/1989, but further from the following year, at the Faculty research should focus o comparing the of Music and Musical Composition, data with those emanating from AHE Musicology. At GE evening courses institutions, the Archive of the Ministry were introduced from 1983/1984 of Education and other institutions (the onward at the Faculty of Music and State Planning Committee). The INS Fine Arts, but not for the department of indicators presented and analyzed in fine and decorative arts. this paper are as follows: total number We will not cover in detail the AHE of students enlisted, freshmen and statistics for extramural and evening graduates, teaching personnel, foreign courses, but will focus on full-time students, ratio between female and male studies, because we lack complete students (mainly from 1960/1961). information regarding their evolution. The focus of our statistical analysis is Still, we have enough statistics to the evolution of AHE full-time studies, mention that extramural courses but, based on (temporarily) incomplete there attended by over 200 students statistics, we can also express partial enlisted at CP for each year between conclusions referring to evening and 1967/1968-1976/1977 and similarly extramural courses. The collection at GD. Beginning with 1977/1978, of all these data raised a number of their number gradually dropped. When issues, especially because we lack data extramural courses were replaced with for 1969/1970 and 1970/1971. We evening courses, the general situation have adopted a few solutions to these of higher education was not the same problems: and evening courses attracted no more 1) The number of freshmen for than 90 students at CP (1987/1988) and 1969/1970 and 1970/1971 was under 50 at both GD and GE. At ILC, on collected from the third and second the contrary, evening courses recorded year of studies of 1971/1972. more students than the previous years 2) The total number of students due to extramural courses, while NG was computed for each AHE faculty recorded a huge number of students depending on its number of study years. enrolled in extramural courses in For example, the duration of studies at 1979/1980 (692), but in just two years, the Faculty of Instruments and Canto the extramural courses were abolished. was five years, and its total number of Starting with 1985/1986, evening students for the year 1969/1970 was courses at NG recorded each year computed by adding the number of over 100 students and only half of this students from the 3rd, 4th and 5th years number at IA. of study in 1971/1972 and those of the Besides the findings on the 3rd and 4th years of study in 1968/1969, evolution of AHE institutions and while for the Faculty of Composition, specializations, our second important Conducting and Pedagogy (six years of contribution is the presentation of study), the total number was obtained 134 | IRSR Volume 4, Issue 2, June 2014 adding the number of students from of society and imposing different the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th years of study in forms of artistic education (through 1971/1972 and the 4th and 5th years of community centers, the National studies in 1968/1969. After all the data Festival ‘Cântarea României’, movie per faculty were counted, the number clubs, fine arts circles, folk art circles, of students per institution was easily literary circles and so on). obtained through the corresponding After an increase of the total number addition. of students from 1960 until 1971, the 3) The number of female students in decrease was already noticeable in the first year of study in 1961/1962 was 1972, with almost 400 students less, obtained from the 2nd year of studies in and then again in 1980 with a drop of 1962/1963. almost 300 students. If in 1960/1961 in Although statistics in general has AHE there were 1571 students enlisted, a certain level of approximation and in 1988/1989 there were only 452. So we also had to obtain data through there were more than three times less the aforementioned methods (we still students in AHE towards the end of miss complete data for more than 10 the communist rule, after the overall years of AHE), in our analysis we have dramatic economic years of the 1980s. used almost 30 years of AHE statistics, In the academic year 1971/1972, which is an important period. AHE recorded the biggest number of The first important fact resulting freshmen (777 students), following from statistics is that the highest two years with consecutive increases, number of students attending AHE, of over 700 students admitted per year. 3258, was recorded in the year From the data we have collected, 1971/1972. During this academic the biggest number of graduates21, year, AHE counted the highest share 703, was recorded in 1974/1975 with in Romanian higher education: 3.04 an expected gap as compared to the per cent. If we divide the period 1960- AHE climax of 1971/1972. Although 1989 into three decades, we find out there is no connection between the two that 1970-1979 averaged 2610 students situations, starting with 1986/1987 the per year, the highest value from among number of graduates dropped to well the others (2299 in 1960-1969, and under 200, the same year with the 858 in 1980-1989). The decrease in important reorganization of not only the total number of AHE students in AHE, but the entire higher education the 1980s is significant: there were system. three times fewer students as compared The maximum number of students to the 1970s. The evolution of AHE enlisted in music was at its peak in institutions and specializations in the 1971/1972, 2101 students, while the 1980s, with a decreasing trend, but with following year was the best for fine still a functional structure, supports and decorative arts with 903 students. the findings from the statistical data. However, for theatre and film arts and This trend in AHE is in contrast with television, the maximum number of the 1970s and the 1980s cultural students was recorded a couple of years movement in general, stressing the before (in 1967/1968, 346 students spread of cultural creation at all levels were enlisted). The lowest number of Valentin Maier The Evolution of Artistic Higher Education | 135 students was attained in 1985/1986 in strong influence over shaping the AHE AHE fields of fine and decorative arts evolution and less over the candidates’ and theatre and film arts and television, desire, let alone the needs of society. while for music it was in 1988/1989. Regarding the number of freshmen, Among the fields of AHE, the one of the most easily controlled number of music students represented indicator of higher education by over half of AHE students. In average, political factors, the decreasing trend music amassed 57.05 per cent of the from 1972/1973 and until the end of students enrolled in AHE, fine and communism can be divided into four decorative arts 30.94 per cent, and stages of low variation: i) 1972/1973- theatre and film arts and television 1976/1977, ii) 1977/1978 and 12.01 per cent. Music also had the 1978/1979, iii) 1979/1980-1981/1982 highest number of AHE institutions as and iv) 1982/1983-1988/1989. The compared to fine and decorative arts last stage was characterized in fact and theatre and film arts and television, by a slight increase in the number of although let us not forget the double freshmen. role of the Conservatory from Iaşi. The situation of AHE students by The institution with the highest gender shows us a slight dominance of number of students registered in AHE male students as compared to female was CP with an average of 590.86 students. students enlisted, followed by NG Another important statistical with 364.96, GD with 341.20; GE indicator of AHE refers to the teaching with 247.34; ILC with 192.13; IA staff. First of all, we can easily ascertain with 185.27 and SI with 37.58. These the dominance of male teaching staff data underscore the importance of and the fact that, according to the high Bucharest, frequently referred to in number of students enlisted in AHE communism as the ‘citadel of higher in 1971/1972, the number of teaching education’ (ANIC, PCM, 224/1951, personnel amounted to the highest 18) for AHE in Romania. They also number during the same year: 894. The reveal the important share of music in following year, almost 100 teaching AHE, with fine and decorative arts field staff left AHE, and the number coming second. They also show two continued to decrease until 1989, other important facts: SI had nearly no with two exceptions: 1978/1979 and variations in the number of students 1988/1989, the latter with an increase throughout the analyzed period, as of over 60 assistant lecturers. From the opposed to the general trend of AHE transcripts of the Central Committee after 1978/1979, when we can clearly of PCR, statistical indicators and the see that the number of AHE students reorganizations that took place, we can was set on a steep decrease with a assume that the 1971/1972 records of stabilization and a slight improvement AHE students drew the attention of after 1986/1987, the last change being communist leaders and thus triggered somehow strange, just after the last planning measures towards a decrease reorganization towards a simplified of their numbers, mostly because of AHE structure. In these two cases, the need to cut expenditures. we can assume that planning had a The allocation of teaching 136 | IRSR Volume 4, Issue 2, June 2014 personnel in the fields of AHE outlines AHE for full-time studies those for the characteristics of the number extramural, evening courses and those of students. Music had the highest referring to pedagogical institutes and number of teaching staff, while the universities (partial data) we can detect same indicator reveals an insignificant that the highest number of students was difference between fine and decorative registered in 1971/1972, namely 4351 arts, and theatre and film arts and (minimum 909 in 1985/1986, 2667 television. At the peak moment of AHE students on average), in the same year evolution, 1971/1972, music teaching for full-time studies, while for other staff exceeded by 200 the number of forms of study, the peak was reached teaching staff members in all the other in 1979/1980, 1129 students, and in AHE fields together (553 versus 341). pedagogical institutes in 1963/1964, The statistical data regarding the 1410 students. In the year 1971/1972, teaching staff also show that for each full-time students represented 75 per teaching staff member there were six cent of AHE students (mainly because students at the most, as was the case of AHE students in pedagogical of GE in 1965/1966, while the average institutes or universities), while in was three, which is a quite good ratio 1979/1980 their percentage dropped to for a higher education field where 63. the improvement of vocational skills Using the combined data, the is decisive for each student (but we highest number of AHE freshmen was should mention that towards the end of recorded in the year 1962/1963 (1275 the communist rule, the ratio was even students), when most AHE students one-to-one in many AHE institutions, in AHE were studying at pedagogical due to a desperate urge to reduce the institutes (53 per cent), while the peak burden represented by higher education for full-time students was recorded in for the state budget, based, especially 1971/1972, 777 students, 78 per cent, in the 1980s, on an increasingly weak the peak for extramural courses was economy). reached in 1962/1963, 180 students. As for foreign students, it seems they were not too attracted by the Romanian AHE. The highest number Conclusions of foreign students was achieved mostly in the last half of the 1970s. Per AHE (music, fine and decorative arts, AHE institution, the highest number theatre and film arts and television) of foreign students was 36 at NG in in communist Romania underwent 1978/1979 (7.05 per cent of the NG important changes which resulted in students during that year). ILC (34 the creation of a modern basis for AHE students in 1978/1979) and CP (19 development. Starting with 1960, in 1975/1976) enlisted an important AHE comprised three conservatories, number of foreign students, at least for two fine arts institutes and two AHE, while the other institutions such theatre institutes, as well as numerous as GD, SI and IA had no more than specializations. AHE was present in five, and GE did not have any. important higher education centers If we add to the statistical data of such as Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Iaşi, Valentin Maier The Evolution of Artistic Higher Education | 137

Timişoara and Târgu-Mureş. of thinking, of understanding reality, of Although it retained its treasuring the values of culture, literature, characteristics, after 1948 AHE was music and theatre’ (ILC, 1966: 82, 83). subject to the influence of communist d2dA document from 1951 clearly states ideology in all its aspects (organization that in establishing higher education of institutions, specializations, institutions ‘the model was taken after education plans, admission and higher education in the U.S.S.R.’, but allocation of students). An important ‘the objectives of the Five Year Plan were influence of ideology can be noticed in also taken into account’ (ANIC, PCM, the AHE statistics in the example of the 233/1951, 52). The purge of the teaching higher number of art teachers trained, staff at the beginning of communism, although still not enough to solve the political interference in the curricula, tests problems of a shortage of teaching staff for admission, the questionable condition at all educational levels. of the artist in communism, the social As a conclusion on the AHE category of freshmen are other interesting statistics, the highest number of topics that can reveal the AHE modus students enlisted at full-time studies vivendi during the communist regime and (3258) and freshmen (777 students) thus lead to its better understanding. 3 was attained in 1971/1972, while the d dAn interesting subject is the way in highest number of graduates (703) which the communist regime tried to was registered in 1974/1975. AHE increase the level of cultural awareness students had a ratio of well under among the (working) people. For example, five percent in the Romanian higher in the field of music, copying the higher education. The most important field of education structure, the Workers’ AHE in communism was music : the Universities of Musical Culture were established in 1959-1960 in Bucharest and highest number of students, freshmen Cluj-Napoca. and graduates, the highest number of d4dThree examples of articles from institutions and specializations, and, Muzica: Partidul, îndrumătorul creaţiei accordingly, it went through the most muzicale (Muzica, April-July 1951: 11- significant changes that impacted its 15), Aportul creator al lui Mihail Jora structure and number of students; at the şi rolul său în evoluţia muzicii noastre same time, it was an important factor (Muzica, October 1966: 1-12), 22 de in the communist decision-making ani de la istoricul Congres al IX-lea al process referring to higher education P.C.R. (Muzica, July 1987: 1, 2). Mihail planning. Jora, an important Romanian composer, is an example of a persecuted artist at the beginning of the communist period, Endnotes who was later ‘rehabilitated’ by the same regime and was even decorated with the d1dHere is an example of a representative Labor Order, 1st class, in 1961 (Vasile, dictum regarding artistic development 2011: 114). It is also worth mentioning that during the communist period : ‘The in the 1951 April-July issue of Muzica, the construction of socialism was, together first three pages were taken with photos of with the elimination of the old social Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej, and system, the establishment of a new model Vasile Luca, top communist leaders of the 138 | IRSR Volume 4, Issue 2, June 2014 time studies at the Faculty of Theatre was 4 d5dThe entire collection of Teatrul was years (CLDHD, September-October 1961: photographed and published on the 61, 62). Internet, under the coordination of the d12dIn 1962, iff in technical higher former Institut de Memorie Culturală and education 57 per cent of the students were can be accessed at http://revistateatrul. set to be rewarded with scholarships, in cimec.ro/. AHE there was the lowest ratio, 47 per d6dMircea Dumitrescu, Reviste de cent (CHDCM, 1962: 396-400). film, http://mirceadumitrescu.trei.ro/ d13dAn important institution to be revistedefilm.htm. studied in the future research for political d7d‘Television’ was introduced in the title influences on AHE and not only as the of this specialization beginning with 1974. follower, beginning with 1971, of the State d8dManaged by the Film Committee (INS, Committee for Culture and Art (established 1938-1951, 6; ANIC, PCM, 2/1951, 56), in 1962). the Film Institute had 3 departments: d14dIn the transcript of the meeting operators, directors and actors (ANIC, of the Executive Committee of CC of PCM, 569/1952, 25). PCR from December 16, 1968, Ion d9dAnother reason for closing the institution Dumitrescu, president of the Composers’ (which merged with that from Bucharest, Union of Romania, provided the in the context of other reorganization following explanation in reply to Nicolae measures meant to concentrate higher Ceauşescu’s opinion that the rate of artistic education in only several cities) was that graduates needs planning: ‘We cannot plan in this way it ‘restores the number of the training of artists […]. I have been institutions to match the real needs of the teaching at the conservatory for 30 years teaching staff, but also improved training and I have witnessed the most amazing opportunities’ (ANIC, PCM, 2/1951, 54). planning. We do not have people in d10dThe main reason could have been the orchestras, there are no cellists, violinists need to cut expenditures. In 1952, spending because we have planned and over- per one student of a Film Institute was Lei planned. Here, planning does not work 9776, more than double for the average, […]. We have to be patient. In art there are Lei 4667 /student. For the institutes under always losses, it’s an occupational hazard’’ the management of the Arts Committee, (ANIC, CC-PCR-Cancelarie, 210/1968, spending averaged Lei 4981/student 37, 38). In the 1969 proposals were made (ANIC, PCM, 572/1952, 12). The cost and implemented for the improvement of an AHE student was a problem during of AHE. They mainly considered an communism. According to a transcript additional study period (mostly one year) from 1971, after finding the cost of an of specialization in some AHE fields in AHE student i, Nicolae Ceauşescu said: order to ensure ‘real artists’ as opposed to ,’We have got to conduct an analysis and mere AHE graduates. Overall, 1969 was a take measures for a sustained reduction year of the clear separation of the two AHE of expenditures in education. I cannot directions (ANIC, CC-PCR-Cancelarie, accept that an artist can cost me more than 45/1969, 18-26). an engineer. We have to check the entire d15dAs an organizational example, the [higher educational] system’ (ANIC, CC- Faculty of Music from the Three Year PCR-Cancelarie, 118/1971, 60). Pedagogical Institute from Cluj-Napoca d11dBeginning this year, the duration of was organized into two departments, the Valentin Maier The Evolution of Artistic Higher Education | 139 canto and canto-instruments (Muzica, teaching staff for which the duration March 1964: 6, 7), following the binary of studies was three years, could be structure of the music faculty from the established within AHE institutions structure of conservatories. Music faculties (ANIC, CC-PCR-Cancelarie, 68/1977, within pedagogical institutes, except for 188v). Timişoara and Târgu-Mures, had organized d20dNo information available from the INS admission only for three years starting with for 1969/1970, 1970/1971 and 1974/1975- 1961/1962. At Bucharest, Iaşi and Cluj- 1977/1978. Data from 1961/1962 on Napoca, the year 1965/1966 was the last female freshmen were missing and when students are mentioned in documents collected for 1962/1963, the second year of the INS. For the years for which we have of studies. Data on the total number of data, the total number of students enrolled students enrolled in artistic faculties within in each music faculty within pedagogical pedagogical institutes from Timişoara and institutes or universities was under 100 Târgu-Mureş for 1969/1970 and 1970/1971 (except for Bucharest, where there were were collected for the first year, from the 192 students in 1963/1964). third year of studies 1971/1972, and from d16dIn Timişoara, the university was the first and second years 1968/1969, established in 1962 (CLDHD, September- while for the other missing year, from December 1962: 106), but the faculties the second and third year 1971/1972 and of music and fine arts operated within the from the first year of study 1968/1969. The three year pedagogical institute from the number of freshmen was taken from the same city. Ten years later, in 1972, the second and third years of study 1971/1972 pedagogical institute was dissolved, and for 1970/1971 and 1969/1970. the faculty of music entered the structure d21dAs in other higher education fields, of the University of Timişoara. It ss AHE graduates were also assigned to worth noting that in 1968 a proposal was working places. For example, in 1973 they issued to transform the faculty of music were assigned to the Ministry of Light into a conservatory (ANIC, CC-PCR- Industry, the Ministry of Agriculture, Cancelarie, 210/1968, 252; ANIC, CC- Food Industry and Water, the Ministry of PCR-Cancelarie, 87/1969, 90). Education, the Home Office, the Ministry d17dEstablished in 1960, the Pedagogical of Defense, the Institute for Scientific and Institute from Târgu-Mureş became an Technical Creation, the Central Union of important institution with quite varied Craftsmen’s Cooperatives (ANIC, CC- fields in higher education, and after 1978 PCR-Cancelarie, 303/1973). the institution became more technically oriented (after 1984 its name was changed Acknowledgements. This research has to the Institute for sub-engineers). been carried out within the project PN-II- d18dThe AHE specialization of teaching ID-PCE-2011-3-0476, Economic Planning, staff was, at least beginning with Higher Education, and the Accumulation 1971/1972, in the attention of political of Human Capital in Romania during factors, which intended to decrease their Communism (1948-1989), supported by number (AMed, 330/1972, unnumbered). the Romanian National Research Council. d19dIf needed, the department for training 140 | IRSR Volume 4, Issue 2, June 2014

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