Introduction. In 2001, the Concept of Art Education appeared in Russia. To understand the real situation of general education in the subject area of “Art”, it is necessary to analyze state documents and pedagogical practice for their compliance. Theoretical analysis. The historically established system of art education in Russia has a complex multi-stage structure. A special place in it is occupied by the direction of training teachers in the subject area “Art” for comprehensive schools. Empirical analysis. A comparison of the current situation of training students in the field of “Pedagogical education” (profile “Music”) and the problems identified in the Concept of teaching the subject “Art” leads to the understanding of the dependence of solving some problems on the set of competencies of young professionals going to work in educational organizations. Today, there is an objective contradiction between traditional forms and methods of teaching art and the attitude to it of the younger generation, who grew up in a digital environment. Consequently, training for teaching art at school, based solely on tradition, is not very effective. Conclusion. It is necessary to develop a new concept of professional training of teachers for the subject area “Art”, taking into account the realities of modernity.