Binh Duong has for a long time been considered as the cradle of Southern handicrafts. There has been a school that was established in the early twentieth century in Thu Dau Mot land to inherit and promote the traditional profession of their fathers. Now it is Thu Dau Mot native fine arts School - the Binh Duong Middle School of Fine Arts and Culture.
Sculpture teachers and students of Binh Duong Middle School of Fine Arts and Culture are in a practice class
Long-term history
In the past, on invading our country, the French colony showed their love for the skillful wooden household products made by the craftsmen of Thu Dau Mot. The history also showed that, in order to exploit the colonial economy for the service of their country, the French believed that Thu Dau Mot local must immediately grasp the strengths of Thu Dau Mot in the traditional profession to promote the profession that required specific art skills of the local people, thereby providing a variety of products for Western officials and exporting to indigenous peoples. Therefore, they quickly recruited most of the excellent craftsmen of Thu Dau Mot and coordinated with French officials specializing in teaching French art to open a vocational school in Thu Dau Mot in 1901.
At first, the school was named Thu Dau Mot Native Fine Arts School. The curriculum at that time was at the elementary level and the training of craftsmen was mainly carpentry, wood carving and sculpture, conch making, bronze casting and decoration. Most of the students entering the school were old and they only needed literacy of the third grade of Phap Viet. The French had a policy of recruiting gifted students for traditional local jobs.
In early 1932, the school was renamed to Thu Dau Mot Practical Fine Arts School. Training program was upgraded intermediate school since the name changing. At this time, the school offered training for 4 occupations of carpentry, lacquerware, sculpture, painting carpentry and decoration. Most of the students who entered the school were poor and talented, who had passed the entrance exams in the local Thu Dau Mot and neighboring provinces. Teachers and administrators were mainly French and a few are artists and painters who graduated from Indochina Fine Arts School were in charge.
In the years of 1945-1964, the school still had the same name as before and the above training for such occupations; however, in the 1960s the profession of wood cutting, conch and bronze casting were no longer in the list. Due to the historical characteristics of the nation, in this period, a number of students of the school participated in the revolution; some had died and some had became cadres of CPV and the State. Some other students had become talented artists and painters; some have achieved high degrees in foreign countries; and a number of other students had become fine arts traders, working in famous handicraft production establishments had contributed significantly to the training reputation of Thu Dau Mot Fine Arts School.
In 1964-1975, the school was named Binh Duong Technical School, the school's training program was favored in technologies. Although traditional occupations were still maintained, during this time, they were still training according to the old methods of the French era, although there were additional theoretical parts of more methodical teaching practice and the majority of the school's teachers had been trained in pedagogical schools
After the South was completely liberated and the country was reunified, in 1977 the school was renamed Song Be Industrial Fine Arts High School. In 2000, the school was renamed Binh Duong Technical High School. In August 2012, the school was once again renamed to Binh Duong Middle School of Fine Arts and Culture.
Traditional career maintained
Through many changes in history and many changes of name, the school is still maintaining training in traditional professions of wood design, decorative lacquer, decorative sculpture, and graphic industry. Since 2004, the school has opened a major in fashion design. Accordingly, the school focuses on program renewals under the guidelines of the Ministry of Education and Training and compiles program content in accordance with the requirements of society. In 2012, the school added 2 majors of cultural management and music. After that, the school tended to more in tourist guidance. It can be seen that, over time, the school has gradually grown in size and become more open to intermediate training majors and short-term occupations.
Over the past 120 years, the school has experienced many difficulties and challenges, but the management, teachers and staffs of Binh Duong Middle School of Fine Arts and Culture have always been enthusiastic and passionate about their career.
Reported by Hong Thai - Translated by Vi Bao
