Sutnar Faculty / The Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen was established on 1 September 2013 through the transformation of the Institute of Art and Design, thus completing the ten-year development of the school, which has built a strong position among other higher art schools in the Czech Republic during its existence.

Institute of Art and Design

The original Institute of Art and Design was established based on the proposal of the Rector by a resolution of the Academic Senate of the UWB in Pilsen on 31 March 2004, effective as of 1 April 2004. The reason for the establishment of the Institute was the absence of a university of art in north-western, western, and southern Bohemia and a strong social demand for art disciplines in the region and beyond its borders, as well as the opportunity to use the professional potential and technical background of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen.

Since then, the Institute has been developing and growing dynamically, expanding the portfolio of taught fields for both Bachelor's and Master's degrees, working on the development of its activities in the field of life-long learning, international relations, and cooperation with secondary schools. In 2005, the first year of the ArtCamp international summer art school took place, and its annual course has already become a tradition and an integral part of the Faculty’s summer activities. In the same year, the Institute announced the first year of its Teendesign art competition still popular among grammar school and high school students, which aims to seek out new talent and support young artists on their way to their art university studies. From its beginning, the school opens up not only through its numerous exhibition activities, but also through its offer of lifelong learning courses.

The Return of Ladislav Sutnar Project

Marching towards a new stage in its history, the Institute set out in 2011, when it launched the Return of Ladislav Sutnar project and began working dynamically on the return of this famous Czech-American designer, whose inspiring legacy the school follows up with his philosophy and activity, to his home town and homeland. In the same year, the original University Gallery was transformed into the Ladislav Sutnar Gallery. With the new name came a new concept of the exhibition plan, new spaces in the city centre and gradually the position of a prestigious exhibition space, which hosts solo and group exhibitions of renowned Czech and foreign artists. The Return project continues today. It has included, for example, the laying of the remains of Ladislav Sutnar and his wife Františka in an honorary grave at the Central Cemetery in Pilsen in 2014, the publishing of a number of publications, realisation of dozens of domestic and foreign exhibitions, and founding of the SUTNAR - Radoslav and Elaine Sutnar Foundation in 2018.

New building

The year 2012 was another milestone in the development of the future faculty as the construction of a new modern building tailored to the needs of an art school was completed on the university premises. During the grand opening of the building on 12 October 2012, Ladislav Sutnar’s son Radoslav Sutnar and his wife Elaine were present as well. On this occasion, the prestigious Ladislav Sutnar Prize was awarded for the first time to artists and designers who significantly contributed to the development of the world art and design.

In the spirit of the latest world trends, the new building recalls an industrial hall and, thanks to its unique availability, it offers both open space for joint creative meetings and places for private focused work. In addition, the building is regularly transformed into a large exhibition area, as well as a place for various cultural and social events. The students are provided with modern studio equipment.

Faculty

The long-awaited transformation of the Institute of Art and Design into the Faculty took place on 1 September 2013, and in March of the following year, the Faculty accepted its unique name – the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art.

During its entire development from the original institute to the present, the faculty, currently known as Sutnar Faculty or Sutnarka for short, has placed a great emphasis on the development of its foreign partnerships and support of study and practical internships at its partner schools and institutions abroad. Its interdisciplinary partnership with other faculties and workplaces within the University of West Bohemia and with practice is extremely important for it. The Sutnar Faculty, through its exhibition and publishing activities and other projects not only significantly contributes to Pilsen's cultural life, but it also continues with its project The Return of Ladislav Sutnar. The faculty's intensive development in the study area results in a wide portfolio of bachelor's and master’s studies focused on design, applied and useful art.

And today? Although strongly linked to Pilsen and its University of West Bohemia, the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art is far from just a Pilsen school. It is an important player both at home and abroad.