Tbilisi State Academy of Arts
The Tbilisi State Academy of Arts () is one of the oldest universities in Georgia and Caucasus. It is located in central Tbilisi near the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre on Rustaveli avenue. History. Based on the resolution of the People's Commissariat on Education of 8 March 1922, the Art Academy of Georgia was founded. Four faculties were established, those of painting, sculpture, graphic arts and architecture. In 1927 the department of ceramics was added. In 1922 Mose Toidze founded an art school providing training to the young people wishing to enter the Academy. The  Academy is housed in the former Vardan Arshakuni mansion, completely reconstructed and refurbished by the architect Simon Kldiashvili in 1902. From the beginning, the teachers and professors of the academy were renowned artists; the first were Gigo Gabashvili, Iakob Nikoladze, Eugene Lanceray, Joseph Sharlemagne, Henryk Hryniewski, Egishe Tatevosyan, Nikolay Sklifosovskiy, Nicholas Antadze, Anatoli Kalgin, Nikolay Severove, Dimitri Shevardnadze, Michael Machavariani, Alexander Pitskhelauri, Michael Khananashvili, Boris Shebuev, Mose Toidze, Alexander Tsimakuridze, Nicholas Kandelaki, Valerian Sidamon-Eristavi, David Kakabadze, Lado Gudiashvili, George Sesiashvili, Ucha Japaridze, Shalva Amiranashvili, Apollon Kutateladze, Vasili Shukhaev, Sergo Kobuladze, Silovan Kakabadze, Shota Mikatadze, David Tsitsishvili, Zakro Maisuradze, and  Lado Grigolia. At February 2019 Turkish ceramic technology expert Dr. Sencer Sari has joined the Ceramic Department as an invited professor. The Tbilisi State Academy of Arts is located in the former “House of Arshakuni”, since 1922 (architect G. Ivanov. 1856). The interiors were designed by Iranian masters (in Qajar art style) who were working in Tbilisi. In the same building (till 1937) there were placed the Ballet studio (the Mirror Hall) of Maria Perini, the spouse of an artist Henryk Hryniewski, as well as his own art studio; Studio of the academy professor – "Gigo Gabashvili"; and Kobulashvili family flats . In 1972 the new ten-floor academy block was built (architects A.Kurdiani, M. Chkhikvadze, L. Sumbadze, constructor D. Kajaia). In 2005–2006 the new block was restored by Cartu Bank . Faculties. All educational programs at the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts are conducted in the Georgian language. For applicants with a foreign upper-secondary school education that lack qualifications in Georgian a language test is required. Exhibitions. The academy operates the following exhibition spaces: