Department of Art Education | Faculty of Education | Palacký University Olomouc
Olomouc
Art
Education
Department of Art Education
Faculty of Education
Palacký University Olomouc Czech Republic
← ← Matěj Komínek, Maska II [Mask II]
← Miroslava Čierna, Selfpotrait
→ Intermedia group action, Viditelné vztahy [Visible Relationships]
This publication was created with the support of the Faculty of Education, Palacký University Olomouc.
All images and photographs are published courtesy of the Department of Art Education, Faculty of Education, Palacký University Olomouc.
Editors © Anna Boček Ronovská, Jana Jiroutová, Petra Šobáňová, Jana Musilová, Barbora Hoduláková
Translation © Jana Jiroutová
© Palacký University Olomouc, 2025
ISBN: 978-80-244-6648-4
about us
The Department of Art Education at the Faculty of Education, Palacký University Olomouc is an established academic institution with a rich tradition. Today, it serves as an open and inspiring environment for teaching, artistic creation, and research in the fields of art education and museum pedagogy. Located in the historic former Jesuit College — now the Arts Centre of the University — the department benefits from a unique setting that enriches both teaching and artistic activities, while also reflecting the over 450-year history of higher education in the ancient city of Olomouc. The historical context of this place anchors and inspires us: the Baroque College today thrives with contemporary art, creative experimentation, student initiatives, and cultural events and festivals. The department’s generous exhibition spaces allow for regular presentations of student work, faculty projects, and visiting artists.
Our department offers education focused on the professional preparation of art teachers and cultural educators. Students can pursue artistic creation and art education with an educational focus at both the bachelor’s and master’s levels, with specialization options for teaching at lower and upper secondary schools as well as at basic art schools. We offer both single-subject and dual-subject programs, enabling students to combine two areas of specialization.
A fundamental aspect of our curriculum is the integration of practical, theoretical, and didactic disciplines. The study includes a wide range of visual arts studios — drawing, painting, printmaking, modelling and sculpture, textiles, ceramics, jewellery and object art, graphic design, photography, and intermedia art. Students develop their individual artistic expression in response to current developments in the art world, often through interdisciplinary projects. In addition to traditional media, we place strong emphasis on digital technologies, new media art, and teaching that reflects contemporary visual culture.
Theoretical instruction encompasses art history and theory, aesthetics, and gallery educational activities. Art education didactics plays a vital role, linking insights from pedagogy, psychology, and the arts to prepare students for teaching in both school and museum settings. Our students undertake teaching placements in real educational and cultural institutions, where they reflect on their teaching experience and create original educational projects that respond to current trends in art education.
A unique part of our academic offering is the follow-up master’s program Education in Culture, which addresses the need for the systematic preparation of professionals in museum education. As one of the few departments in the Czech Republic, we offer an accredited program designed to prepare educators to work with visitors in museums and galleries. This field has become a natural extension of art education studies and draws on our strong collaborations with the Olomouc Museum of Art, the Regional Museum in Olomouc, and other memory institutions. We are currently developing a new bachelor’s degree program in Industrial Design, aimed at addressing the increasing demand for creative professionals in the fields of design and applied arts. Offered in cooperation with the Technical University of Ostrava, this innovative program combines artistic thinking with technical and structural design, allowing students to explore product design, interior design, packaging, and visual systems. Instruction takes place in professionally equipped studios and workshops and includes training in 3D modelling, visualization, ergonomics, and basic principles of materials engineering. We emphasize the connection between creative design, sustainable practices, and practical impact.
The Department of Art Education also guarantees the doctoral program in Art Education, focused on the theory of art education and artistic creation. This program is intended for graduates of master’s studies with a strong interest in research in art, visual culture, or education in cultural contexts. Doctoral students develop their research competencies through individualized study plans under the guidance of experienced supervisors and actively participate in research projects, teaching, and academic publishing. The program is well-suited for future academics, researchers, curators, or professionals in the field of cultural education. Doctoral studies place strong emphasis not only on academic excellence but also on connecting research with pedagogical practice and addressing contemporary challenges in visual communication.
An important recognition of our department‘s expertise is the right to conduct habilitation proceedings in the field of art education. This status affirms the high research quality of our team and provides a framework for further development of scholarly publishing. Our research activities focus on the theory and didactics of art education, art mediation, visual literacy, art history, and contemporary forms of digital expression.
The department publishes the peer-reviewed journal Culture, Art and Education and actively participates in a wide range of national and international projects. In July 2025, we are proud to host the 38th World Congress of the International Society for Education through Art (InSEA), entitled “Unexpected Territories, Shifting Grounds and Permanence in Art Education” — a theme that closely aligns with the profile and mission of our department. We aim to serve as a platform for exploring new directions in art education — balancing tradition and experimentation in a world confronted with new challenges.
about us
The department is deeply engaged in the cultural life of the region and in international disciplinary dialogue. We regularly organize international ceramic symposia, student and faculty exhibitions, and maintain partnerships with various schools, museums, and cultural institutions. We host professional meetings, offer workshops for teachers and the public, and run programs for children—such as summer camps. A recent highlight is the creation of the online platform I Take Care of Myself, which focuses on mental well-being and self-care in educational settings. This project, which connects art, self-reflection, and education, demonstrates our commitment to current societal issues and our sense of social responsibility. Among our notable achievements is the design work of faculty member Tomáš Chorý, who created the MAD21 camouflage pattern for the Czech Army. This industrial design combines technological precision with deep insight into environmental context and the real-world functions of design. The department regularly produces scholarly publications, and our artist-educators frequently contribute to major exhibitions both in the Czech Republic and abroad, with works held in the collections of leading art museums.
← Kamila Fomina, Dialogy doma [Dialogs at Home]
↑ Alexandra Štoplová, Autoportrét [Selfportrait]