The idea of creating a state scientific-artistic institution, which would unite the best artistic and scientific forces of Ukraine for the spiritual rebirth of our nation and the development of the professional and folk arts and would preserve and enrich the artistic traditions, was living in the Ukrainian artistic community since 1920s.

The Academy of Arts of Ukraine was founded on 14th of December of 1996 according to Decree of the President of Ukraine “About the Academy of Arts of Ukraine” N1209/96 as a state scientific-artistic organization in the field of art and art criticism. The Academy includes departments of fine, musical, theatrical and cinematography arts, theory and history of art (art criticism), synthesis of plastic arts, section of aesthetics and cultural studies in structure of department of synthesis of plastic arts. Departments are engaged in identifying priority development paths of Ukrainian art, main directions of fundamental scientific researches.

Governing body of the Academy was elected in January 1997 at the first Constituent Assembly of Academic-founders – most prominent figures in the field of Ukrainian arts. According to results of the election professor, academician, National artist of Ukraine, rector of the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture Andriy Chebykin became a President of the Academy of Arts of Ukraine, so as academician, national artist of Ukraine Victor Sydorenko took position of Vice-president of the Academy and Professor Mykhailo Kryvolapov got a Chief Scientific Secretary place.

Later two more vise-presidents of the academy were elected. Professor Igor Bezgin, academician, Honored scientist of Ukraine, Ph.D. became a vice president in May of 1998 and Professor Yuriy Bogutskiy, Honored Artist of Ukraine, Ph.D. - in March of 2007.

Besides, in March of 2007, Professor Mykola Yakovlev, academician, Honored worker of education in Ukraine, Doctor of Technical Sciences of the specialty "aesthetics" became a new Chief scientific secretary of the Academy

The National Academy of Arts of Ukraine incorporates 104 outstanding scientists and artists of modernity. There are painters, composers, film and theatre directors, actors, art critics, heads of national ensembles, theatres and high art institutions who, by their active prolific work, contributed a lot to the enrichment of the spiritual heritage of Ukraine. At the creative and scientific cast of the Academy there are 10 foreign and 11 honorary members.

The powerful scientific and creative potential of the Academy provides an opportunity to explore deep processes of artistic life and to integrate Ukraine into the international scientific-cultural community. This is confirmed by the numerous publications of our scientists and artists in domestic and foreign journals and by their participation in international conferences, symposiums, seminars, exhibitions and other art projects dedicated to the problems of cultural development and artistic education.

Creation of an Institute of Contemporary Art within the Academy in December 2001 has opened opportunities for working out fundamental research programs on history and theory of art, culture and its transformation in the conditions of global challenges of our time. The Institute has published a number of books and scientific digests: the collective monograph "Essays on the topic of history of the cinema of Ukraine", "Essays on the topic of history of fine art of Ukraine of the XXth century", “Essays on the topic of history of dramatic art of Ukraine of the XXth century "; digest devoted to questions of art and culture "MIST” (art, history, modernity, theory) ,"Actual problems of artistic practice and art criticism. Art horizons: scientific theoretical works and journalism” and others. The Institute participates in many international art events - exhibitions, festivals, realizes numerous of international projects. Head of the Institute - Academician, Vice-President of the Academy, Ph.D. in history of art, National artist of Ukraine, Professor Victor Sydorenko.

Institute of Cultural Studies, established within the Academy in May 2007, deals with fundamental and applied researches in the field of theory and history of culture, particularly working out the questions of self-organization and dynamics of culture, methodological and scientific aspects of national culture, ethno cultural studies, studies of museums and monuments, world culture and international cultural relations, practical and investigative actions directed into development of national culture, introduction of new technologies and artistic practice, scientific and creative processes of the formation of national culture. Institute prepared and published scientific yearbook "Opinion on Cultural Studies”, a number of monographs, scientific digests and organized numerous of scientific seminars, conferences, “round table” discussions. According to Decision of the Presidium of the National Academy of Art of Ukraine - Academician, Vice-President of the Academy, PhD Yuriy Bogutskiy was appointed as director of the Institute.

As the highest institution for professionals of science and arts, the center of methodology in this field, the Academy affiliates creative, scientific and pedagogical forces of Ukraine to solve current art problems and fulfill its assignments for national cultural development while increasing participation in the world of modern art. The Academy collaborates with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Ukraine, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, scientific institutions, national creative unions, art universities. The Academy units real members (academicians), associate members, honorary and foreign members in the field of fine, decorative art, architecture, design, music, theater, cinema, dance, museum studies and others. Real members (academicians) and associate members are elected at the Meeting of the Academy departments and General meeting of the Academy.

Many members of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine have state awards. Among them there are 12 Heroes of Ukraine, 36 laureates of the T. Shevchenko National Award, 2 laureates of the State Scientific-Technical Award of Ukraine, 2 laureates of the State Award of Ukraine in the field of architecture, 5 winners of A. Dovzhenko State Award of Ukraine, 25 National masters of art of Ukraine, 1 Honored Masters of Art of Ukraine, 35 National artists of Ukraine, 5 - National artist of the USSR, 1 National architects of Ukraine, 2 Honored architects of Ukraine, 26 Honored contributors of Art of Ukraine, 2 Honored contributors of Culture of Ukraine, 2 Honored contributors of Science and Technology of Ukraine, 1 Honored worker of education in Ukraine.

24 members of the Academy have been honored by awards, such as the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, The Order of Princess Olga, Badge of Honor, Order of Valor, Order of Merit. 28 members of the Academy are PhD, 62 members are professors.

Some of the most famous artists recognized in Ukraine and abroad include painters Tetiana Holembiyevska, Olexandr Gubarev, Mykhaylo Huyda, Vasyl Hurin, Volodymyr Mykyta, Victor Ryzhyh, Victor Sydorenko, Mykola Storozhenko, Andriy Chebykin and others; sculptors Anatoliy Kusch, Volodymyr Chepelyk and others, figures of musical art - the Heroes of Ukraine Anatoliy Avdiyevskiy, Myroslav Vantukh, Dmytro Hnatyuk, Yevgen Savchuk, Myroslav Skoryk, Yevgen Stankovych, Lev Venedyktov, art critic Borys Voznytskiy, National artists Oleg Tymoshenko, Mykhailo Chemberzhy and others; figures of film art - Roman Balayan, Mykhailo Belikov, Yuriy Illenko, Vladlen Kuznetsov, Mykola Maschenko, Kira Muratova, Vadim Skurativskiy; figures in field of theatrical art - Bohdan Kozak, Yuriy Mazhuga, Tetyana Nazarova, Anatoliy Novikov, Mykhaylo Reznykovych, Bohdan Stupka, Rostyslav Pylypchuk and others; art critics Ihor Bezgin, Nelly Kornienko, Mykhailo Kryvolapov, Lyudmyla Milyaeva, Nina Persydska, Oleksandr Fedoruk and others; figures in the field of plastic art, aesthetic and cultural studies Yuriy Bogutskiy, Andriy Bokotey, Lyubomyr Medvid, Volodymyr Pryadka, Igor Shpara, Mykola Yakovlev and others. Among honorary members of the Academy - Heroes of Ukraine Pavlo Murawski, Boris Oliynik, Olexander Omelchenko.

On February 18th of 2010 according to Decree N 191/2010 of the President of Ukraine Academy of Arts of Ukraine granted national status for a significant contribution into development of Ukrainian culture, national traditions, fundamental researches of history, formation and enriching of the spiritual culture of Ukraine.