As per the definition of fine arts, it is visual art created primarily for aesthetic purposes and valued for its beauty or expressiveness, specifically, painting, sculpture, drawing, graphics, music, dancing, poetry, or architecture. It is any art created for its own sake, as opposed to commercial artwork. According to the theory of fine arts, the smaller the base, the greater is the fine arts. A painter needs paper or canvas, a dancer needs floor, a musician needs some instrument, a sculptor needs clay or stone. All these fine arts need some base. That way, poetry or vocal music is the finest of the fine arts. John Ruskin has aptly summarised, “Fine art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together.”

The main objective of the fine arts courses is to make students understand the basics of art history, aesthetics and art appreciation. They would be made aware of different types of visual art forms as well as techniques employed therein. It can be learnt through the lectures, reading, gallery visits, visits to the art historical sites and hands-on activities, students will develop an understanding of the elements of art and a basic vocabulary for describing and appreciating visual art forms.

An aspirant who wants to enter this beautiful field will have many choices:

Art and Craft, Visual Art, Performing Art, Indian Theory of Rasa and Bhava, Painting (Murals, Miniatures, Easel Paintings), Sculpture (Relief, Round) and Architecture, etc.

The study of the fine arts prepares students for a variety of careers in and out of the arts. Since this field is different from other professions, it has typical opportunities like designing, teaching, graphics, creative visualizer, in dance schools, freelancing, opening own studio, performing at various places, TV, and films. Whatever be your choice, you have to work very hard; popularity, name, fame and money will be at your doorstep.

Eligibility Criteria:

10+2 or equivalent (minimum 50% marks)

Courses offered:

• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) (4 years program)
• BA. (Fine Arts) (3-years program)

Professional Institutes:

1. Amity University, Web: www.amity.edu
2. Faculty of Visual Arts, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Web: www.bhu.ac.in/visualarts
3. Kalabhawan-Vishva Bharati University, Shantiniketan, West Bengal, Web: http://www.visvabharati.ac.in/
4. Delhi College of Arts, Delhi, Web: http://www.delhicollageofart.com/

Career in Performing Arts

People in India are proud of their heritage and rich culture under the patronage of kings and rulers since the 2nd century CE, which is also reflected in temples and palaces across the country. Dances, songs, and folk or classical music are linked to numerous ceremonies like births, weddings, religious processions, harvest seasons, etc. Dholak, tabla, sitar, mridanga, and scores of musical instruments and various dance forms show the rich culture of India.

Natyasastra and Abhinaya Darpana are two surviving dance documents, thought to have originated around 2200 BC, includes eight classical dance forms, namely, bharatanatyam, kathak, kathakali, mohiniattam, kuchipudi, yakshagana, manipuri, odissi and sattriya from different regions of India. In addition to that, there are the folk dances of tribal areas that include bhangra of Punjab; bihu of Assam; chhau of Jharkhand; birhas and charkulas of Uttar Pradesh; ghoomar of Rajasthan; dandiya and garba of Gujarat; yakshagana of Karnataka and lavani of Maharashtra.

In order to serve the cause of the performing and allied arts and to establish a national centre for the preservation and promotion of classical, traditional and contemporary performing and visual arts, Sir Dorabji TataTrust donated forty lakh rupees to National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai in the year 1966. This also is the home of the Symphony Orchestra of India, which was established by NCPA in 2006.

A number of educational institutes and universities in India are offering courses in the field of performing arts at different levels certificate, diploma, undergraduate degree, postgraduate degree, and diploma. The aspirants for performing arts can become singers, music composers, dancers, musicians – vocal or instrument – drama artists and even enter film world. Remuneration in the field of performing arts depends upon the talent of the artist as well as the field he/she chooses.

Eligibility Criteria :           

10+2 or equivalent (minimum 50% marks)

Courses Offered :            

• Bachelor of Music
• Classical Hindustani Vocal (3 years)
• Hindustani Classical Instrumental (3 years)
• B.A. (Performing Arts) (3-year program)
• BPA (Bachelor of Performing Arts)

Professional Institutes   :

1. Amity University, Nodia, Uttar Pradesh Web: www.amity.edu
2. Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Bihar. Web : http://www.lnmuuniversity.in/login
3. University of Mysore, Karnataka . Web : http://www.uni-mysore.ac.in/
4. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Maharashtra . Web : http://www.bamu.ac.in/
5. Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Uttar Pradesh. Web : https://www.ccsuniversity.ac.in/ccsu/index.php
6. Sri Padmavathi Mahila Visvavidyalayam, Andhra Pradesh. https://www.spmvv.ac.in/