The legal predecessor of the Tîrgu-Mureș University of Theatrical Art is the Hungarian Music and Drama Conservatory of Cluj which was established in 1946 by Decree-Law no.  276 of April 9, signed by King Michael (Mihai), the Minister of Arts Mihail Ralea and the Minister of Finances Gheorghe Tatarescu. In 1948, by Order no. 263.327/1948 of the Ministry of Public Education, the Romanian Art Institute was established in Cluj. It included music, acting and dancing schools. The Hungarian Art Institute also came into being following the same ministerial order, including the music, theater directing, acting and dancing faculties, which continued the university programs initiated within the Conservatory. In 1950, following a decision of the Council of Ministers, the two drama faculties of the Hungarian and Romanian Art Institutes merged, thus creating the "Szentgyörgyi István” Drama Institute. It had a Romanian drama section and a Hungarian drama and directing section. In 1954, the Romanian section and the directing specialty of the Hungarian section of the "Szentgyörgyi István” Drama Institute of Cluj were transferred to the “I.L. Caragiale” Institute of Drama and Cinema of Bucharest, whereas the acting specialty of the Hungarian section was moved to Tîrgu-Mureș under the initial name of the institution. The Studio Theater, having 188 seats as well as the necessary infrastructure, was established in 1962. Its artistic achievements soon became well-known ona national scale. In 1972, directing studies in Hungarian were resumed with only one graduating class, and in 1976 the Romanian acting section was restored. In 1991 the name of the institution changed from "Szentgyörgyi István” Drama Institute to "Academy of Theatrical Art" of Tîrgu-Mureș. In 1998, by Government Decision no. 57/February 2, 1998 the "Academy of Theatrical Art" was renamed "University of Theatrical Art” of Tîrgu-Mureș. Bibliography: www.uat.ro