THE ROLE OF CUSTODIAN IN THE FORMATION OF ART WORKS COLLECTION (on the example of educational and methodological funds of the Drawing Department of the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture)

Abstract

Abstract. The article considers the peculiarities of formation of the collection of educational and methodical funds of the Drawing Department of the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture (NAFAA). The purpose of the study is to identify the role of the custodian in the process of forming the collection; determination of special professional requirements and specific range of job responsibilities of the keeper of museum collection of the institution of higher art education by studying the history of the collection. On the basis of the study of NAFAA archival materials and conversations with employees of the Academy, the list of persons responsible for the preservation of the collection of educational and methodical funds of the Drawing Department since 1937 has been established. It was found out that the position of the person responsible for the preservation of the collection of educational and methodical funds of the Drawing Department, during second half of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, had different names: Head of the drawing studyroom, Educational master, Master of industrial training, Head of the educational laboratory of the Drawing Department. People who worked with the funds mostly had higher art education (or intended to acquire it): they were practicing artists, graduates of painting, graphic arts, restoration, theory and history of art, pedagogical or architectural faculties. It was noted that the process of transferring art values took place between the responsible employees without any documentary support, and the employees themselves were changing their positions almost annually until the 1990s. It was proved that the absence of appropriate position of funds keeper in the staff schedule of the KSAI-NAFAA, which requires a professional education in art history and knowledge of museum management methods, had a negative impact on the preservation of collection. Thus, the museum, which is planned to be established under the NAFAA in the near future, should become a special structural subdivision. Along with its main activity related to the acquisition, recording, storage, conservation (preservation) and restoration of museum treasures, the NAFAA museum should perform an important educational and methodological function. To the typical duties of the Head keeper of the NAFAA museum collections there should necessarily be the requirement to know the history, methods and techniques of teaching artistic disciplines, as well as to have pedagogical experience.