AFAM: Italian Higher Arts Education System Overview

Antonio Bisaccia, President of the National Council for Higher Artistic and Musical Education (CNAM), argues for the relevance of enrolling in Italian AFAM institutions (Accademie di Belle Arti, Conservatories, ISIA, National Academy of Dramatic Arts, National Academy of Dance). He emphasizes that these schools transform passion into profession, offering a STEAM approach (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Music, Mathematics) that integrates traditional techniques with new technologies. The system is structured into departments: for art academies, these include Visual Arts, Design and Applied Arts, and Communication and Art Education. Conservatories have departments for Singing and Musical Theatre, New Technologies, Wind Instruments, Keyboard and Percussion, String Instruments, Theory and Composition, and Didactics. ISIA focuses on Industrial Design with schools in Design, Ceramics, and Graphic Design. The National Academy of Dramatic Arts covers Theatre Arts (Directing, Acting, Puppetry), while the National Academy of Dance covers Classical Dance, Contemporary Dance, Choreography, and Dance Didactics. Bisaccia notes that AFAM institutions attract international students at a rate seven times higher than other higher education sectors, reinforcing Italy's cultural brand. He calls for increased investment in arts education to nurture new talent and preserve Italy's artistic heritage, framing talent as an economic project of knowledge and craftsmanship.