Arts professional  education is a composite sociocultural phenomenon. The realities of the modern Russian society require significant changes in the system of professional education. First of all, it is improving of the quality of education. Only the highest quality of education will allow our bachelors and masters to reach their full potential and practically realize their creative concepts, based on the rich tradition of Russian art and their own art vision, produce the results that could acquire recognition in the international community.

      Department of Applied and Decorative Arts of the Academy of Architecture and Arts of Southern Federal University in the system of higher education has a status as «determinant» in the development of the regional art school. Based on the achievements of material and spiritual culture, science and technology, as well as the author's conception, the teaching staff of the department provides training for artists to develop their creative activity oriented on the creation of aesthetically perfect, high-quality, original objects of applied arts and crafts. The combination of science and practice during the study, the close relationship of educational policy with the needs of the region made the Department as a «forge» of young talented artists. Currently, the faculty team is developing a system of «dual education», which means  a combination of practical learning in art studio and learning of theory in the classroom. The main features of the educational programs are specialized courses «Conceptual Design» and «Experimental Materials Science». The innovative character of the discipline «Conceptual Design» is determined by a unique area of ​​art practice with focus on the training of artists which could be able to harmonize the living environment of human with conceptual and art means. For example, an extended study of the «formal composition», modeling of the art objects, the design of environment based on associative, abstract and image-associated composition. The study of the program is carried out within the course of practical learning and it also provides independent art work of students. The course «Experimental Materials Science» is based on individually designed original method, it forms a complex system of practical skills of students to implement their own conceptual ideas in the materials. During the study students are in a creative workshop, in direct contact with the material and technologically necessary equipment (muffle kiln, weaving frame, woodworking equipment, etc.), that helps to obtain the full knowledge and technology of applied and decorative arts. In the process of creative work with the students teachers delicately evaluate the boundaries of their interference. On the one hand, personal experience and the authority of the teacher helps students to avoid technological and aesthetic mistakes at work, on the other hand only personal experience allows the students to grow professionally.

       So, in the review and analysis of trends in the development of arts education implementing by the department of Applied and Decorative Arts of the Academy of Architecture and Arts Southern Federal University, it can be concluded that innovative arts education develops holistic, spiritual, moral and creative personality, competitive at the labor market of arts professions. This enables graduates to adapt more quickly to the market of professionals and to the conditions, which the employers demand, to model the path of individual creative development, based on the concept - education «through the whole life» - which is one of the fundamental postulates of modern innovative education.