EU funds help: Education and facilities at JAMU improved thanks to EU grants

Brno - The Janáček Academy of Performing Arts in Brno (JAMU) implemented five projects in 2017-2022, which significantly improved the school's facilities and equipment and also approximated the learning to what awaits young artists in their professional lives. The total of the grants from EU funds exceeded CZK 250 million. The JAMU Faculty of Music implemented a project called Improving the Infrastructure of the Music Arts Study Programme at JAMU. Kateřina Kopecká, project manager of the Faculty of Music, outlined what it entailed: "The project focused on the qualitative development of the faculty, which would enable students to learn the art in conditions as similar as possible to real artistic practice."

A NEW HARPSICHORD SIMILAR TO ONE FROM THE 18TH CENTURY 
The technological improvement included the acquisition of new musical instruments and equipment. "Among other things, we acquired ten wind instruments, two string instruments, thirteen historical instruments and twenty-eight keyboard instruments. Those include two harpsichords. One of them was handcrafted by a Brno producer," Kopecká pointed out. She added one interesting fact about that instrument: "Its tone colours are the same as those of its historical original from the 18th century. A similar instrument was played by Johann Sebastian Bach." According to Kopecká, technologies represented a significant part of the newly acquired equipment. "Students use them, for example, to mix sounds or make recordings in the field," added the project manager of the Faculty of Music. That faculty also participated in a European project called Enhancing the Quality of Education at JAMU. Kateřina Kopecká explained its benefits: "As part of the support for international cooperation, the study programme Historical Performance has been newly accredited. It is a master's degree studied jointly with one of the most prestigious schools in early music, the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague." She mentioned that, during the project implementation, five master's degree programmes were also newly accredited to better prepare graduates for their future artistic practice.

EXPERTS PROVIDED CONSULTATIONS AT THE THEATRE FACULTY
Four JAMU projects supported by EU grants and implemented by the Theatre Faculty were presented by Michaela Šilinová, Head of the Project Office of the JAMU Theatre Faculty. "Two of the projects focused on ensuring the spaces and technology for teaching at the Theatre Faculty," she explained. The total amount of funds used to improve the technical facilities for theoretical and practical instruction at JAMU was over CZK 119 million.

“One of the project activities was the building modification of the Astorka Information, Education and Accommodation Centre in Novobranská Street, where new classrooms, studios and a photo chamber have been built. Another activity was an extensive reconstruction of the theatre hall in Studio Marta, new equipment for the recording studio and the renewal of lighting, sound and audiovisual technologies in the classrooms of the Theatre Faculty," Michaela Šilinová lists.

According to her, the project entitled "Increasing the Quality of Education at JAMU" was no less beneficial. "It provided re-accreditation for the study programmes Dramaturgy and Directing, Acting, Scenography, Dramatic Arts and Media, and Theatre Management and Stage Technology. The funds from the project also enabled us to finance visits by experts in different fields who consulted with teachers and students at the Theatre Faculty the structure of individual study specialisations, teaching methods and possibilities for further development," the head of the project office explained.

JAMU has been very successful in the implementation of European projects. One of them enabled the re-accreditation of the Theatre and Education study programme. Moreover, tutoring services were facilitated for the school's teachers who received technical support, help with new technologies and software, and better access to the necessary training. "A total of CZK 16.5 million was used for these activities," said Michaela Šilinová.
 
"Among other things, we acquired ten wind instruments, two string instruments, thirteen historical instruments and twenty-eight keyboard instruments. Those included two harpsichords." Kateřina Kopecká, Project Manager
 
EU FUND SUPPORT HAS IMPROVED THE INSTRUCTION OF YOUNG ARTISTS. The Janáček Academy of Performing Arts in Brno (JAMU) was able to significantly improve its facilities thanks to support from European funds. For example, young musicians can now use new musical instruments or technologies for sound recording. The facilities for practical learning at the Theatre Faculty, which takes place in Studio Marta, have also been significantly modernised. New study programmes were accredited. In total, more than a quarter of a billion Czech crowns were spent on these projects.

Photo: JAMU archive