[InTime News]
The Athens School of Fine Arts is grappling with severe operational problems as seven of its 18 workshops have closed, leaving entire subjects untaught.
Rector Erato Chatzisavva told Kathimerini the school faces chronic understaffing after four workshop directors retired in August 2024. Engraving was left with one workshop, sculpture with two, while painting retained eight.
The Education Ministry allocated eight faculty positions, but all were announced at assistant professor level. Under Greek law, only associate or full professors can direct workshops. Chatzisavva suggested some current faculty wanted lower-ranking colleagues to do the bulk of the work.
Students report deteriorating conditions. “There is no security for workshop spaces on Pireos Street, while administrative staff consists of three people. The school is extremely underfunded,” said student council president Antonis Lazos.
Twenty-eight applicants petitioned the Education Ministry after admissions were reduced from the usual 120 to 76 students.