The rich historical traditions of the Cyclical Commission for Professional and Practical Training in “Decorative and Applied Arts” have concentrated the creative and pedagogical achievements of the best representatives of the art of the Zakarpattia region, demonstrating its consistent leadership in all areas of artistic education. Today, it represents a unique atmosphere of interaction between teachers and students, new methodologies for passing fundamental knowledge and skills from generation to generation, and a creative artistic energy that brings qualitative changes to professional specialization. Essentially, the entire 75-year experience is integrated into the training of specialists in decorative and applied arts: artistic ceramics, artistic woodwork, and artistic metalwork. For practical training, the department is equipped with the necessary material and technical resources, classrooms, and workshops to ensure high-quality preparation of specialists at the level of Junior Bachelor in the Educational Program “Decorative and Applied Arts.” In classrooms and workshops, students gain solid training, broad artistic erudition, understanding of traditions, and the ability to solve technological, organizational, and production tasks. Above all, they develop flexible modern creative thinking. Studying, restoring, preserving, and further developing the traditions of Ukrainian decorative arts, as well as exploring new directions in visual arts, forms the foundation of the department’s educational and work programs. This organization of the educational process develops independent thinking in students and encourages them to seek original creative solutions.

The main professional disciplines, along with drawing, painting, and sculpture, include design and professional craftsmanship, which foster the development of individual creative abilities and spatial thinking by combining traditional experience with the exploration of new expressive means and technologies.

According to the curriculum and study programs, the “Artistic Woodwork” specialization (which was the main specialty when the Uzhhorod State Art and Industrial School was established in 1946, with instructors F. Manaylo, I. Harapko, V. Svyda, M. Popovych, K. Lozovyi, M. Medvetskyi, I. Chepa, F. Lashchak, J. Pal, H. Tovtyn) preserves the continuity of traditions in all techniques—decorative carving, intarsia, inlay, turning, carpentry elements; execution of individual and complex tasks in artistic woodwork. The department’s activities cover a wide range of theoretical-conceptual research and artistic design of public facilities, exclusive furniture design, and creation of garden-park, monumental, and decorative wooden sculptures. Modern technologies, avant-garde design innovations, extraordinary interior decoration, and the ability to restore and repair wooden architectural elements and antique furniture are taught in the department. The integrated design course consistently develops the creative potential of young artists. Professional training of future decorative artists working in wood is realized through the gradual increase in complexity of tasks and expressive techniques. Graduates’ creative work has made a significant contribution to contemporary regional art.

In 1956, the Department of Artistic Ceramics was founded, and over 65 years, it has trained about 800 decorative and applied artists who work in various branches of art, state and cultural institutions, and higher education. The first instructors were A. Koptev, K. Lazovyi, R. Dyakivskyi, A. Dunchak, M. Puhlyk, and master Y. Bendyk. In the 1960s, the curriculum focused on training masters for ceramic production. With L. Averkieva’s arrival, study programs were updated, new composition tasks were introduced, and the role of pottery and technological processes was strengthened. The main areas of creative activity are artistic ceramics—decorative-applied, exhibition pieces, and works for architectural environments. Teachers also work in other art fields: painting, graphics, sculpture, artistic photography, and interior design.

The curriculum includes a wide range of study tasks, including mastering various techniques for forming and decorating ceramic products, and familiarization with achievements of folk and contemporary professional ceramics, including compositions for architectural environments and unique exhibition pieces.

The Department of Artistic Metalwork was established at UUPM in 1968. Since the 1960s, when most instructors were graduates of the school, priorities included studying traditional Ukrainian art and creating decorative-applied works. The first instructors were R. Dyakivskyi, I. Barnych, V. Tekel, I. Didyk, and I. Masnyuk. In the 1970s–1980s, students completed tasks using embossing, created enameled jewelry from copper and brass, electroplating, and forged items.

The modern team emphasizes the artistic potential of metal as a material, the preservation of national metalworking traditions, and the search for innovative development paths. Students explore creative techniques in the forge and workshops, receiving a wide range of theoretical and practical knowledge in traditional and modern techniques.

The department’s instructors are regional award laureates and NSHU members who actively shape the cultural and artistic environment of Zakarpattia. The teaching staff is renewed with graduates from Ukrainian academies, forming a cohesive team of like-minded professionals whose goal is not only to provide theoretical and practical knowledge but also to develop high spiritual standards in students. The aim is to raise the prestige of the decorative-applied arts profession in society. The broad scope of an artist’s work in the modern art space requires training a new type of artist—nationally conscious, prepared for independent creative and pedagogical activity.

The educational process of the cycle is provided by:

Dynnyk Oleksiy V. – 2nd category instructor
Chopoydalo Andriy T. – senior category instructor
Popova Nataliya O. – senior category instructor
Shpontak Tetyana M. – 2nd category instructor
Trehubov Vitaliy Y. – 2nd category instructor, production training master
Tymko Vasyl V. – senior category instructor
Chehil Yuriy S. – senior category instructor
Yudyk Mykhailo M. – production training master