The Central Academy of Drama, China

The Central Academy of Drama is the first theatre higher educational institution of the People's Republic of China and now it is affiliated to China's Ministry of Education. It is ranked as one of the best top-level drama, Film & Television arts institutions in China and has been selected into the country’s construction plan of world first-class disciplines. The Central Academy of Drama is the headquarters of China Alliance of Theatre Higher Educational Institutes, Asia Theatre Education Centre (ATEC) and World Theatre Education Alliance (WTEA). It is a world famous higher educational institute of arts, and holds the UNESCO CHAIR ON THEATRE EDUCATION.

The history of the Central Academy of Drama dates back to more than 70 years, to April 10th, 1938, when Yan An Lu Xun Art College was established. The Central Academy of Drama opened officially in December, 1949 and held the inaugural conference on 2nd of April, 1950. Chairman Mao Zedong inscribed the official name in calligraphy.

It is our educational philosophy to develop the Central Academy of Drama as a world-class art school and a top international theatre education institution with distinct characteristics, by sticking to the principle of Realism, inherited from Chinese traditional aesthetics, and through absorbing all other useful resources.

Taking Truth, Creation, Perfection as its motto, the school emphasizes the training of students’ basic skills through practice, aiming to train competent theatre and film artists for China and the world.

In the Academy’s long-term history, it continues to uphold the principle of realism, and inherits Chinese aesthetic traditions as well as carefully absorbs from other cultures. The Academy constantly consolidates basis and strengthens practice, and pursues the spirit of “genuineness, creation and beauty”. The institution commits itself to training drama, film & TV art talents for the country and the world. A majority of graduates have become world-famous artists, scholars, professors and writers, who have made remarkable contributions to the prosperity and development of Chinese drama, film & TV industry.

Facing the future, the Central Academy of Drama will firmly grasp the opportunities to deepen the reform of higher education and accelerate the development of the school system. It strives to increase the quality of education and education management, promotes teaching quality and reform construction, and strengthens discipline and high-level faculty team construction. The Academy also promotes organizational innovations, and carries out multilateral exchanges and cooperation with world's drama education institutions. This ensures the comprehensive strength and overall quality of the Academy. The Central Academy of Drama maintains its strength as one of the top-level art schools in the world with outstanding characteristics.

The Academy has the only state-level teaching team in acting, the only state-level characteristic major in directing, the only national innovative experimental zone for talents cultivation in musical acting, and the only state-level demonstration center for experimental teaching in Drama (Film & TV). The Academy also acts as headquarters of many national and international organizations, including China Drama Association, Committee of Directing Arts of China Theater Association, International Stage Arts Network, China Association of Stage Arts, China Centre of OISTAT, China Centre of International Association of Theatre Critics, Education Committee of China Musical Theatre Association, Research Centre on Theatrical Pedagogy of China’s Preliminary & Middle Schools and China Collaborative Innovation Center for Theatre Arts Management.