A vibrant splash of maroon and green greets you. This is the University of Santo Tomas College of Fine Arts and Design. Welcome.
The UST-CFAD isn’t just a building. It’s a legacy. It’s the culmination of centuries of artistic endeavors. A place where the brushstrokes of history meet the vibrant hues of the present. It started humbly. In 1785 the Dominicans attempted an Academia de Bellas Artes. It was an experiment. Few students enrolled. The school lacked impact.
Years later in 1935 the Dominicans revived the fine arts school. The demand for Catholic artists was growing. They needed a school teaching the latest artistic theories. From 1935 to 1939 students focused on interior design and public school arts. Interior design boomed. Construction projects flourished. Public school art? It answered a crucial need: training future art teachers.
The UST became the first Philippine school to offer interior design as a fine arts major in 1954. A truly significant milestone. Imagine the excitement. The groundbreaking innovation. In 2000 the Department of Fine Arts separated from the College of Architecture. The Beato Angelico Building became their new home in 2002.
This building you see before you? It houses the creative spirit of generations. National artists like Victorio Edades Jerry Navarro Elizalde and Ang Kiukok honed their skills here. Architects Ildefonso Santos Jr Juan Nakpil and Leandro Locsin also walked these halls. Even Ronnie del Carmen co-director of Pixar’s Inside Out studied here.
The UST College of Fine Arts and Design isn’t just about the past. It is about the future too. It offers undergraduate programs in advertising arts industrial design and painting. It also offers a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. And for those seeking advanced studies there is a Master of Fine Arts program.
So take a moment. Breathe in the creative energy. Feel the legacy of this remarkable institution. The UST College of Fine Arts and Design. It’s more than a school. It’s a vibrant testament to the enduring power of art. A testament to Filipino creativity and vision. A place where dreams take shape and stories unfold. This is a place where art lives and breathes.