The Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University (, or MSGSÜ) is a Turkish public university dedicated to higher education in the fine arts. It is located in the Fındıklı neighbourhood of Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Turkey. Founded in 1882 by Osman Hamdi Bey, the institution imitated the traditional European Beaux-Arts model and was the first Western-style art academy of its kind in the Middle East. The Mimar Sinan Fine Arts High Schools in Istanbul and Ankara have no relation with the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. History On January 1, 1882, he renowned Turkish painter, art historian, archaeologist, and museum curator, Osman Hamdi Bey established the School of Fine Arts (Sanayi-i Nefise Mekteb-i Âlisi, formally Mekteb-i Sanayi-i Nefise-i Şâhâne or Sanayi-i Nefise Mektebi) here. When it opened on March 2, 1883, with eight instructors and 20 students, it was Turkey's first educational institution for the fine arts and architecture. In 1914, the school became co-educational. In 1928 it was converted from a school to an academy - the first in Turkey - and its name was changed to the State Academy of the Fine Arts (Devlet Güzel Sanatlar Akademisi). In 1969, it was renamed as the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts (İstanbul Devlet Güzel Sanatlar Akademisi, or İDGSA), and gained administrative autonomy according to Law No. 1172 on Fine Arts Academies in Turkey. On July 20, 1982, its status was changed again, and the academy became Mimar Sinan University"(Mimar Sinan Üniversitesi) in memory of the great Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan. Finally, in December 2003, the administration of the university changed its name to the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. Since 1982 the institution has been providing four-year educational programmes. Building The building that houses what is now the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University started life in 1856 as the twin palaces of Münire Sultan and Cemile Sultan, the daughters of Sultan Abdülmecid. They were used for meetings of the Chamber of Deputies of the Ottoman Empire between 1910 and 1920. Basic Design Education Division Following the Academy Reform and a student occupation in 1968, Basic Design Education (Temel Sanat Eğitimi) was incorporated into the curriculum in 1969. The Basic Design Education Division was critical of the master-apprentice model and aimed to blur the distinction between handicrafts and fine arts. The co-founders of this division included Altan Gürman, Ercümend Kalmık, Ali Teoman Germaner, Erkal Güngören, Özer Kabaş, and Nuri Temizsoylu, who wanted to