The Academy of Dramatic Art (Croatian: Akademija dramske umjetnosti or ADU) is a Croatian drama school. Since its inception in 1896, the institution grew in prominence resulting in its successful affiliation with the University of Zagreb in 1979, along with the Academy of Music and the Academy of Fine Arts. The Academy serves as the country's premier drama school, providing education for all types of professions related to theatre, radio, television and film production including actors, directors, cinematographers and editors.
History
The need for an academy of drama in Zagreb was first mentioned in the Croatian parliament's 1861 piece of theatre legislation which stipulated that a "school for theatre personnel should be formed in Zagreb".[1] However, the modern-day academy traces its roots to the Croatian Drama School (Hrvatska dramatska škola) which was established by Stjepan Miletić in 1896, more than 30 years after the 1861 law, in the building at Marshal Tito Square which it occupies today.
Academy of Dramatic Art
During its history the school was renamed and re-formed several times. Up until the mid-20th century its primary role was vocational training of theatre actors, which was gradually expanded with departments for film and television. In November 1950 the school first started using the "Academy" name as it was legally recognized as a higher education institution, mainly through the efforts of Branko Gavella, Drago Ivanišević and Ranko Marinković, and in 1979 it officially became part of the University of Zagreb.[1]
In the Zagreb rocket attacks on 3 May 1995 the Academy's building was hit by cluster bombs fired on Zagreb's Lower Town area. The dean's office and the dramaturgy department offices were badly damaged in the attack and two employees and four students were wounded, including a first-year student of film directing Luka Skračić who later died.[1] In memory of this event, the Academy officially proclaimed 3 May as Academy Day and a plaque commemorating the attack was unveiled on its 10th anniversary in 2005.[1]
In the period between 1950 and 1994 a total of 574 students have graduated from the Academy' departments.[2] The Academy is also member of various international associations such as CILECT (Centre International de Liaison des Ecoles de Cinéma et de Télévision), IIRT (Instituto Internationale per la Ricerca Teatrale), IFIRT (International Federation for Theatre Research) and ELIA (European League of Institutes of the Arts).[2]
Between 1950 and 1979 the head of the Academy was titled "Rector" (Rektor) as it had been an independent learning institution. In 1979 it became part of the University of Zagreb and since then its head holds the title of "Dean" (Dekan).
