Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava (AFAD)

The Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava was established on 9 June 1949 by the Slovak National Council, the same year as the founding of the Academy of Performing Arts and the Slovak National Gallery. Its first academic year opened two painting studios, led by Ján Mudroch and Ľudovít Fulla, and two sculpture studios, under Jozef Kostka and Fraňo Štefunko.

AFAD describes itself as the largest and oldest institution of art education in Slovakia and as an autonomous public institution combining creative, educational, scientific and research activity. Teaching is built on contemporary art, scientific knowledge and the technical background for a wide range of artistic work.

The school works from three addresses in Bratislava: Hviezdoslavovo námestie 18, where painting, architecture and theory of art are based; Drotárska 44, home to design, textiles, applied arts, sculpture, intermedia, printmaking, photography, digital arts, visual communication, drawing and conservation; and Koceľova 23. Fourteen departments offer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programmes.

Research and artistic production are closely tied to teaching, carried out by pedagogues, researchers and students, and the academy runs an academic library, the MEDIUM Gallery and the RARE cultural space. International mobility extends the programme, and in 2024 the school marked its 75th anniversary.