Vladimir Okushko – educator and reformer of art education in Bessarabia in the end of the 19th century – the beginning of the 20th century

The article examines in detail the life course of Vladimir Fulgentievich Okushko, an outstanding artist, teacher and public figure of Belarusian origin in Bessarabia. First of all, his pedagogical activity in the Evening Drawing School is covered since his arrival in Kishinev in 1897, until he took over the baton from its founder Terenty Nikolayevich Zubkov (1860 - after 1915) and reorganized it in 1918, shortly before his death, into a full-fledged Art School based on a new founding charter and an extended educational and methodological program, including additional special subjects and practices. This was the crown of his educational and social activities. All these events took place against the background of the revitalization of the cultural life of Bessarabia at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries. The number of elementary city and county schools was also growing. Specialized educational institutions were opening in our region. We can feel the craving of progressive youth, not only for natural sciences and technology, but also for the fine arts. As a consequence, an evening art school was created in Kishinev which could be attended by all layers of the population.