The Academy of Watercolours and Fine Arts is the largest academic and methodological centre for art education in Russia. The Academy carries out comprehensive academic and methodological work: Both teaching methods of the past and the best modern techniques are studied, and educational materials are developed across the entire spectrum of techniques and areas taught at the Academy. For the first time in Russia, comprehensive analytical studies are being carried out of treatises of the Ancient World, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance, of manuals and textbooks for artists of the 17th to 20th centuries, and of the results of laboratory studies of masterpieces of painting and graphics. In addition, the method and system of education at the St. Petersburg Imperial Academy of Arts is being comprehensively studied, and unique visual educational materials have been created on digital media .

Academic research is carried out in seven key areas:

  1. Aesthetics

1.1. Aesthetics as a philosophy of art

1.2. Aesthetic aspects of art history

 

  1. Theory and history of art

2.1. Research into the essence of the artistic image as a result of sensible and rational perception of the world

2.2. Study of the unity of content and form of art

2.3. Comprehensive research of the main stages of development of the theory and history of world fine art

 

  1. Theory and methodology of teaching the visual arts

3.1. Development of methods of teaching the visual arts at all levels of the educational system in the context of Russian and foreign educational practice

3.2. Research into the history of development of methods of teaching the visual arts and study of the pedagogical heritage of outstanding art educators of the past

3.3. Analysis of innovative and experimental teaching activities as a source of development of methodology, theory, and techniques of teaching fine art

3.4. Analysis of foreign practice in art education and development of ways to use it in Russian teaching practice

3.5. Development of study programs in the visual arts for supplementary, pre-professional, and higher art education

3.6. Educational and methodological support of the process of teaching the visual arts in the system of supplementary, pre-professional, and higher art education

3.7. Retraining and advanced training of art teachers

3.8. Ways of developing academic education at the present stage: issues of teaching painting, drawing, sculpture, and arts and crafts within the Russian system of art education

3.9. Development of principles for training children in the visual arts at different stages of growing up

3.10. The visual arts in the system of children’s education

 

  1. Techniques and technologies in the visual arts: historical and contemporary

4.1. Study of authentic historical technologies for painting, drawing, sculpture, and arts and crafts

4.2. Enhancement of technology for creating works of art

4.3. Research into techniques and technologies used in the visual arts for creation of an academic research database

 

  1. Integration of academic and creative knowledge in the process of preserving cultural heritage

5.1. Study of methods of restoration of paintings and drawings, scientific problems of restoration

5.2. Methods of technical and technological research of works of art

 

  1. Art and science in the modern world

6.1. Art and science as the basis of civilization and culture

6.2. Art as a method of scientific research

6.3. Achievements of fine art and science: ways of interaction

6.4. Integration of scientific knowledge in the work of the artist

6.5. Art and science as ways to overcome the dehumanization of social space

6.6. Creative experience in the search for visual art forms

  1. Humanistic foundations and social functions of the visual arts

7.1. Analysis of the role of art in modern society. Study of the potential of art’s possibilities in the fight against negative trends of modern society: the problems of educating young people

7.2. Art as a form of therapy: spiritual and scientific aspects