Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography  Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography (YSITC), (), is a state university and higher education institution based in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. The University was founded in 1944 as Yerevan State Institute of Theatrical Arts, in 1953 it was united with State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia and functioned as a part of Yerevan State Institute of Art and Theater till 1994. In 1994 Yerevan State of Art and Theater was divided into State Academy of Fine Arts and Yerevan State Institute of Theater, Institute became independent institution and till nowadays works as Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography. Theater in Armenia has a centuries-old history and dates back to pagan rituals, for example, worship of death and resurrection of God Gisane – Ara the Beautiful and celebration of coming of spring in honor of fertility and healing goddess Anahit. Armenian tragedy dzajnarku-gusan and vohbergak, comedy genre katakergak and kataka-gusan, known from 1 century b.c., served as a base for further development of professional theater. The institute was established in 1944, as the Yerevan State Institute of Theatrical Arts. The institute had three departments:  From 1950 number of enrollee had been declining (because of the WWII). Due to that the government decided to merge two institutes - Yerevan State Institute of Theatrical Arts and State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia. As a result, in 1953 new institute was formed and named Yerevan State Institute of Art and Theater that worked till 1994. In 1994 after Armenian independence and due to political changes, the government decided to split the Institute into two separate institutions – State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia and Yerevan State Institute of Theater. In 1999, the institute has been restructured and became to be known as the Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography, with a major expansion in its specialties. The university has 12 main specialties:  The university is currently home to 3 faculties:  Department was opened in 2011 as a result of restructuration of the faculty of theater and cinematography. Specialties:   Faculty was founded in 2011. Fields:  Specialties:  The faculty consists of two chairs:  It was established in 2001, after restructuration in 2011 became known as chair of Cinematography and television. Specialties:  Chair was founded in 2011.