State Government gives NAS upgrades the nod

The NSW government has announced it will invest $6 million towards upgrades of the National Art School (NAS) in Darlinghurst.

Premier Kristina Keneally and Minister for the Arts, Virginia Judge, unveiled a government grant to upgrade the school’s Darlighurst site to be rolled out in stages over the next five years.

NAS Director, Anita Taylor, said the upgrades would improve studio and teaching space for all students and was needed for the site with some buildings not being used due to neglect.

“It [the school] requires a fair amount of upgrades,” she said.

“Building eleven is currently not fully utilised because it is in such a state of disrepair.”

The school has occupied the Darlighurst site since 1922 and Ms Taylor said the grant would help the school create a focal point for the community.

“It is a fabulous site and this will be an important kick-start to developing our plans for it,” she said.

“I think in time it can become a positive and exciting cultural centre.”

NAS Chairman, Peter Watts said the funding would help secure the future of the school and transition to becoming an independent higher education provider.

“The National Art School has recently been released from the management of the NSW Department of Education and Training and become registered as a not-for-profit public company,” he said.

“This sets the structure for its establishment as a truly independent academy for the study of fine art, a unique position for an Australian institution.”

The upgrades will include the development of a masterplan for the entire site, the construction of two new additions to Building 11, the construction of a two-storey building at the southern end of the site to replace the 1960s services building and the construction of a three-storey building at the northern end.

“The School’s renowned model of studio-based tuition requires the establishment of fit-for-purpose facilities to make possible the combined aims of growth in postgraduate student numbers and our continued commitment to the studio tradition,” Ms Taylor said.

“What we offer and will continue to offer is an atelier model of artist-led teaching in specialist areas of ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture, supported by core study at all levels in art history and theory and drawing.”

The National Art School alumni include Norman Lindsay, William Wright, Rolf Harris and Sydney Ball.

For more information visit www.nas.edu.au/

By Simon Black