History

Since our founding in 1966, we have been dedicated to education and research in the arts--both in theory and practice--while supporting the advancement of culture.

Founding

Our university was founded on April 1, 1966, as an industrial and economic boom swept Aichi and all of central Japan. Our purpose was to create a unique cultural area located between Japan's eastern and western regions in order to develop the local culture. Masters' programs were added on April 1, 1970 to further drive education and research in the arts while supporting the true cultural advancement that lies at heart. Doctoral programs were first offered on April 1, 2009.

Key milestones

1966	Aichi University of the Arts established Painting, Sculpture, and Design established within the Faculty of Art, Department of Fine Arts Composition, Voice, and Instrumental Music (Piano and Strings) established within the Faculty of Music, Department of Music UENO Naoteru takes office as the first president
1970	Graduate School (master's courses) established Painting, Sculpture, and Design established within the Graduate School of Fine Arts Composition, Voice, and Instrumental Music (Piano and Strings) established within the Graduate School of Music
1972	KOZUKA Shinichiro takes office as the second president
1977	TOYOOKA Masuto takes office as the third president
1983	KONO Takashi takes office as the fourth president
1989	TATEHATA Yoshikado takes office as the fifth president The Faculty of Art is expanded to include the Department of Fine Art and Craft; Design is transferred out of the Department of Fine Arts; Ceramics is added Painting within the Faculty of Arts, Department of Fine Arts is restructured into Japanese-style Painting (Nihonga) and Oil Painting Winds and Percussion are added to Instrumental Music within the Faculty of Music, Department of Music
1993	Painting within the Graduate School of Fine Arts is restructured into Japanese-style Painting (Nihonga) and Oil Painting; Ceramics is added
1994	Composition (Musicology) is established within the Faculty of Music, Department of Music Composition (Musicology) is established within the Graduate School of Music and Winds and Percussion are added to Instrumental Music
1995	KAWAKAMI Makoto takes office as the sixth president
2001	Art History, Art Theory, and Conservation established within the Faculty of Art, Department of Fine Arts SHIMADA Shozo takes office as the seventh president
2007	Operations transfer from Aichi Prefecture to the Aichi Public University Corporation The five programs offered in the Graduate School of Fine Arts and the three offered in the Graduate School of Music are reorganized into Fine Arts and Music programs, respectively ISOMI Teruo takes office as the eighth president
2009	Graduate School (doctoral courses) established Doctoral courses in Fine Arts and Music are added to the Graduate School of Fine Arts and the Graduate School of Music, respectively
2013	MATSUMURA Koji takes office as the ninth president
2016	Aichi University of the Arts celebrates its 50th anniversary
2018	SHIRAKI Akira takes office as the tenth president
2019	TOYAMA Toshiki takes office as the eleventh president
2022	New Media & Image program added to the Faculty of Art, Department of Design and Craft
2024	SHIRAKAWA Noriyori takes office as the twelfth president