The Pavel Křížkovský High School Specialising in Arts was founded in 1993. The school is intended for children who have successfully finished their fifth or ninth year of primary school education and who are naturally inclined to the arts and the humanities. In its conception the school builds on the traditions of classic education which - along with the teaching of the arts and associated subjects - makes it a new and unconventional type of school.

The curriculum of general school subjects is extended by a set of obligatory and optional humanistic subjects, such as the history of art, cultural geography, the foundations of philosophy or Latin.

Artistic subjects make up an ordinary part of the studies and while also offering the students the possibility of creative self-realization under the guidance of pedagogical specialists including external teachers from the conservatory, Janáček Academy of Musical Arts (JAMU), the Faculty of Fine Arts of Brno University of Technology (FAVU), HaDivadlo etc.

Students can chose among the following three artistic branches:

• musical
• fine arts
• literary-dramatic

Their studies terminate in the school-leaving exam which comprises Czech language and literature, a foreign language and two (or three) optional subjects. The students can furthermore complete the practical part of the exam based on their artistic field of study (graduates' concerts, fine arts projects or theatrical performances). The widely-based conception of their studies allows the school leavers to continue their studies at all types of universities, colleges or academies.

Owing to its underlying conception, the Pavel Křížkovský High School Specialising in Arts is a unique Czech school which - thanks to the quality of education and presentation in the Czech Republic as well as abroad - takes its place as of right among successful high schools.

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The study of music presupposes considerable talent along with special training since childhood (provided either by a primary or an artistic school). Its aim is the all-round musical progress of the students and their orientation in the musical and cultural world.

The study of this specialisation includes musical education and playing a musical instrument. In musical education the students cultivate and deepen their intonational, singing, instrumental, listening and music and movement powers. They acquire the foundations of music theory, harmony and the teaching of musical instruments and forms along with the history of Czech and world music.

During their individual lessons, the students become acquainted with the best literature on their subject and learn to master the technical and expressive possibilities of the chosen instrument so that it becomes a medium through which to express artistic thoughts, reproducing adequately solo and chamber compositions and last but not least their own improvisations. An important part of the students' education is preparation for teamwork, including playing in ensembles, orchestras or chamber playing and singing.

The quality of musical education is guaranteed not only by the teachers of the Pavel Křížkovský High School, the Janáček Academy of Musical Arts and the conservatory in Brno but also by outstanding soloists. The students display their musical talents, skills and knowledge during the educational process in the regular interpretative seminars as well as in many cultural projects. The outcome of their efforts include an opera, O komínku (2004), Requiem by T. L. da Victoria (2002), The International Festival of Children's Choirs held on the 100th anniversary of professor Lýsek´s birth (2004) and many other projects. The students of this specialisation often perform on concert platforms in the Czech Republic as well as abroad. They gain outstanding awards for playing musical instruments.

They also regularly participate in cultural events such as vernissages of their classmates or prominent artists.

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This specialisation offers its students a wide range of possibilities of developing their talent by means of the active and theoretical pursuit of fine art. The aim of this main subject is the aesthetic cultivation of personality which leads to the development of "visual thinking" and "visual language"; the students are continuously familiarised with the theory of fine art.

The basic discipline of fine art teaching is supplemented with subjects that allow the students to engage in studies which have aroused their interests or are connected with their future university studies. In the sixth year of their studies, this specialisation is supplemented with a history of fine art seminar. During the ten years of the school's existence a wide choice of optional subjects have appeared:

Ceramics - an obligatory subject for the first, second and third year of study; optional for other students. In the workroom, students acquire the foundations of pottery. They can try various ways of creating ceramic products as well as surfacing. There are several kinds of potter's clay, potter's wheels and a kiln at their disposal.

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Drawing and painting - the teaching focuses on the practice of drawing and painting techniques, figurative and abstract creative expression.

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Graphics - in these lessons students get acquainted with particular kinds of graphic techniques (eg. linocut, woodcut, dry point, etching etc).

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Architecture - the basis of this subject is an introduction to the rules of perspective; students also practice linear and technical drawing.

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Textile production - in this optional subject students can apply their artistic gifts when painting silk, weaving tapestries, tie-dyeing and engaging in many more textile techniques.

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Plastic art - an atelier specialises in the creation of three-dimensional objects and relievos. Apart from carving and sculpture students can try new techniques.

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Students of this specialisation regularly show their works in public. Parents, classmates and the general public are invited to vernissages that take place at the school. Among newly-established traditions may be included students´ commercial exhibitions which have positively influenced the atmosphere of the school concerts at the Governor's Palace, in the Assembly House and recently in the baroque hall of the Lords of Kunštát House. The alumni of this specialisation have displayed their leaving examination works in many galleries and show-rooms in Brno.

Apart from many awards gained in competitions, the fine art students have carried out many interesting projects (cooperation with a social-welfare institute for physically and mentally handicapped children, decoration of the oncological section of the University Childrens´ Hospital of J. G. Mendel in Brno, the creation of a life-sized cr?che for Freedom Square Christmas decoration, cooperation with a nursery and auxiliary school for children with multiple handicaps - ELPIS, decorating the rehabilitation centre in the Nový Lískovec quarter and many more).

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The literary-dramatic specialisation is based on drama in theory and practice. During their four or eight years of study, the students acquire abilities, skills and knowledge directly connected with dramatic and literary works. Thanks to special theoretical subjects (the history of theatre, the history of art and dramatic theory) they gain an overview of the foundations of the history, theory and critique of dramatic art including its reception and reflection. The specialised subjects (literary-dramatic education, vocal education and singing, rhetoric, theatrical expression, movement and communication) are crucial and lead to the conscious development and acquirement of the basic preconditions of dramatic activity (playing, movement, vocal and socially-communicative skills) and the process of theatrical production and staging.

The specialised of literary-dramatic studies furthermore include recitation and textual interpretation, writing plays, staging dramatic or prose texts and other creative areas. The first study cycle is focused on the acquirement of basic skills (voice, body language, facial expressions, gesticulation, expression and rhythm as well as characterisation etc.) whereas the second cycle deals with the writing and staging of the productions. The students work with other authors as well as their own texts. They learn how to act roles and how to work with the characters and the plot. They develop stylized expression and collective cooperation. The skills that they acquire during their studies include improvisation and the cultivated interpretation of texts, situations and plots. The standard of their education is guaranteed by the presence of experienced teachers and theatrical artists.

The fruits of the creative effort of the students and their teachers are presented during school as well as non-school events. These include vernissages, concerts, thematic evenings or performances (theatrical studies, poetic collages, declamatory performances as well as full-length performances).

Among other works, stage performances include Limonádový Joe (a musical, 2002, Barka Theatre), two fairy tales with masks called Pohádky? by Perrault (2003, HaDiadlo), the Bald Soprano (an absurdist drama, 2003, the Mahen Memorial), romantic ballads by Jan Neruda (2003, the Convent of Merciful Brothers), Noční košile by Hevier (number one in the regional round of the National Basic Artistic Schools Competition, 2004), Songs without Music by Frynta (2004), O komínku (an opera, 2004) or a new work called Museum Fiction (2004, The Goose on a String Theatre). The students often gain awards in declamatory competitions and amateur theatrical shows (Brněnské kolo, Dětská scéna, National Basic Artistic Schools Competition etc).

The strength of the literary-dramatic specialisation lies in artistic education and teaching amateur (or professional) playwrights. In the context of the school (and also with regard to the development of dramat education in the Czech Republic in the nineties), this specialisation has undergone considerable changes. Along with the deepening of students´ communicational and creative skills, the current conception concentrates on the development of original theatrical (actor's, interpretative and scenic) production.

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