National Art School

The National Art School (NAS) is a culturally significant Australian visual arts institution with origins that can be traced back to 1843. Situated within the historic walls of the old Darlinghurst Gaol, the school has a rich tradition of artistic practice and has produced generations of many of the country’s best-known artists. The campus, located in inner-city Darlinghurst, offers a select number of full-time programs – B Fine Art and M Fine Art – as well as a comprehensive range of part-time and intensive short courses.

The National Art School uses practice-driven teaching methods and maintains a high staff-to-student ratio. Intensive instruction by over 80 eminent practising artists and art historians takes place in a studio environment. Drawing, art history and theory and their relationships to contemporary culture are taught each year in the undergraduate programs. Specialist study is offered in the studio disciplines of ceramics, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.

The fully accredited B Fine Art program is designed to develop the creative independence, knowledge and experience required for a career as a professional artist and the academic rigour required for further study at postgraduate level. The program is delivered full-time over three years and involves a comprehensive investigation of studio practices and historical and theoretical reflection supported by individual tutorials, peer discussions and reviews.

National Art School student cohort profile

CRICOS provider number: 03197B
TEQSA provider ID: PRV12036