Introducing Specialized Departments of Performing and Audiovisual Arts in Grammar Schools in the Republic of Serbia

In terms of general secondary education, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development introduced specialized departments for performing and audiovisual arts into grammar schools in 2020 as a way for the educational system to respond to the needs for improved cultural and artistic competencies. Secondary school students with particular skills in performing and audiovisual arts will benefit from specialized education, which will improve the quality and competency of students in various departments of arts colleges. This program helps pupils develop creative thinking while applying new technologies and creating a responsible attitude toward cultural heritage preservation. The program allows pupils to gain knowledge and skills related to theater disciplines, the media, film art, various audiovisual forms, video games, and the internet, in accordance with the continuous process of technological development and digitalization, which is expanding the range of artistic occupations and activities. Students in these departments are continuously involved in cultural and artistic events throughout all four grades through organized and guided tours of cultural and artistic institutions (Yugoslav Film Archive, local film, television, and radio studios, digital studios, theaters, etc.) with the goal of gaining a more thorough understanding of art occupations in the performing and audiovisual sphere. The curricula for the subjects Audiovisual Arts and Performing Arts are aligned and correlate with the curricula for other subjects, the contents of which might serve as stating points for pupils’ creative work. Artistic subjects that are taught in all four grades are Performing Arts and Audiovisual Arts. As part of the Performing Arts subject, pupils get basic knowledge and understanding of the performing arts language and expression, learn about different disciplines in the theater, the characteristics of the professions of director, actor, playwright, costume designer, set designer, the use of light on stage, criticisms, and the relationship with the audience. They also participate in team work in creating scenes, while applying elements of performing arts expressions through movement, voice, word, object animation (puppetry, shadow theater, and other). As part of the subject Audiovisual Arts, pupils learn through theoretical work and many practical exercises about the structure and types of film and television art forms and occupations, the vocabulary of film and television, different forms of audiovisual narrative, videos, video games development, storyboard sketches, photography composition and framing, cooperating between members of the crew working on the piece. They use selected devices, equipment, platforms and apps. They also learn of ways to present their work in an adequate form, while using the proper terminology, and to analyze existing works and cultural events, thereby contributing to the preservation of cultural identity.