2015 Annual Report
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ANNUAL REPORT 2015 Contents Contents & Publication panel Year at a glance 5 Chair’s Report 6 Director’s Report 7 Degree Programs 9 The Student Experience 13 Prizes and Scholarships 14 Graduate Profiles 16 Educational Outreach 21 Faculty Achievements 25 Art Forum 27 Public Programs 29 Professional Opportunities 31 Staff Profile 32 NAS Gallery 35 National Art School Fellowship 39 Library and Archive & Collection 41 Venue Hire 43 Philanthropy 45 Corporate Partners 49 Financial Report 50 National Art School Staff 52 Mission Governance The principal mission of the National Art School is to be a The National Art School is registered as a Higher Education centre of excellence for the provision of higher education and Provider under the Higher Education Support Act 2003 research, scholarship and professional practice in the visual (HESA). arts and related fields. The National Art School is a public company limited by The National Art School utilises its independent identity guarantee, with two members, the NSW Ministers for the and distinctive teaching and learning methods to realise this Arts and for Education. The members appoint a Board of mission through the development of creativity and visual and Directors with responsibility for the School and oversight cultural awareness in an international context. of the leadership of the School. The aims and objectives of the National Art School are: The Board of Directors operates three sub-committees, the Finance and Audit Committee, the Properties and • To be a centre of excellence for the delivery of high Assets Committee, and the National Art School Foundation. quality specialist education in studio-based visual arts and related fields; The Academic Board is responsible for the maintenance of • To be at the forefront of learning, creativity and practice academic standards in accordance with the Higher Education in the visual arts, nationally and internationally; Threshold Standards. • To provide high quality education that fosters the The National Art School is entered on the Register of acquisition and interrelationship of technical skills Cultural Organisations. It is recognized by the Australian with creative invention; Taxation Office as a Charitable Institution, and is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient under Item 1 for the • To ensure that practice, research and scholarship following funds: in drawing is a core visual language and underpins creative development in all aspects of provision; • National Art School General Fund • To situate all programs of study within the art historical, • National Art School Gallery theoretical, cultural and professional contexts • National Art School Library appropriate to the development of knowledge and understanding of the studio arts; The National Art School Gallery and the National Art School Library are also endorsed under Item 4, and may receive gifts • To promote the widest possible participation and of property under the Cultural Gifts Program. diversity of students and to recruit locally, nationally, and internationally; • To ensure that all academic staff are distinguished in their field as actively practising artists, scholars and/or researchers. cover Aly Indermühle You’re So Cool 2015 cardboard, LED lights, nano computing, sound, scent Exhibited at the National Art School Graduate Exhibition 2015. Photo: Peter Morgan opposite Photo: Zan Wimberley NATIONAL ART SCHOOL | 3 4 | NATIONAL ART SCHOOL YEAR AT A GLANCE Degree enrolments increased by Launched $8.7m Postgraduate Centre 16% on time and on budget NAS Gallery visitation increased by Students rated the 50% teaching quality at 89% Facebook audience increased by Short Course workshop enrolments increased by 39% 86% 89% of staff were proud to say they work at NAS Postgraduate Student Anthony Hodgkinson. Photo: Zan Wimberley NATIONAL ART SCHOOL | 5 CHAIR’S REPORT In the last Annual Report I outlined the work done during My sincere thanks also to our major corporate supporters 2014 in building growth foundations for the National Art and to the committed group of individual donors who ensure School. I talked about the major building renovation to create that we recognise our graduates’ hard work through awards a Postgraduate Centre, about the installation of new IT and prizes, several of which allow for substantial periods of systems and new computer network, and about the complete work time overseas. This support is highly sought-after by redesign of the School’s brand. I talked about a virtuous the graduates and students and deeply appreciated by the circle of delivering an expanding scale of teaching, more School. It often provides the necessary stimulus that an artist admissions, and superior student outcomes. I was optimistic needs to transition into professional practice. that these new foundations would underpin the continued Previously I have referred to uncertainty around the funding growth and success of the school. of tertiary education at both State and Federal levels, and on So, you might ask are we achieving these ambitious goals? the consequential challenges in developing the best business The unambiguous answer is, yes we are. model for the National Art School. Those uncertainties remained during 2015 during which the NSW Government In support of that answer I will highlight, generously continued their direct funding support. Discussions • Degree student numbers increased by 16% are on-going to examine the potential benefits of close collaboration with other tertiary education institutions. The • Staff surveys have recorded substantial improvements Board and Management are optimistic that these discussions in morale and satisfaction levels will result in a more robust business model while protecting • Philanthropic contributions have risen the School’s traditional commitment to delivering excellent • Record numbers of visitors are coming to our Gallery fine art teaching. to view the various exhibitions of student work and I again acknowledge the continuing strong financial and other exhibitions broader operational support and encouragement provided • Public Programs expanded and grew to the school by the NSW Government through the Minister of Education and the Minister for the Arts. Particular thanks • Our secondary school programs again reached across must also go to our fine staff who deliver the virtuous circle the state of the National Art School. One favourite reflection on the year was my delight in seeing huge billboards advertising the National Art School Graduate Exhibition displayed prominently in Sydney’s railway stations. Mr Nicholas Johnson The advertisements displayed work by famous NAS alumni Chair, Board of Directors with a series of tags like, ‘Own a legend before it becomes one’. Fabulous. It clearly had an impact, with more than $170,000 of student work sold and fantastic visitation to the exhibitions. 6 | NATIONAL ART SCHOOL CHAIR’S DIRECTOR’S REPORT REPORT In the last Annual Report I outlined the work done during My sincere thanks also to our major corporate supporters The National Art School entered 2015 riding high on the and offered a unique experience for our students and staff. 2014 in building growth foundations for the National Art and to the committed group of individual donors who ensure achievements of the previous year, with enthusiasm to The NAS Gallery, the Forum program and the Visiting Artists School. I talked about the major building renovation to create that we recognise our graduates’ hard work through awards continue the momentum of change and consolidation that program offer the NAS community an invaluable educative a Postgraduate Centre, about the installation of new IT and prizes, several of which allow for substantial periods of has been driving the School in recent years. opportunity in bringing us diverse groups of professionals systems and new computer network, and about the complete work time overseas. This support is highly sought-after by to show and share their practices. The results of our entry into the UAC admissions system redesign of the School’s brand. I talked about a virtuous the graduates and students and deeply appreciated by the gave us a significant bump in first year enrolments. With the move to the new Postgraduate Centre in Building circle of delivering an expanding scale of teaching, more School. It often provides the necessary stimulus that an artist Our overall student numbers increased by 16%. We 11, the NAS Archive and Collection has become accessible admissions, and superior student outcomes. I was optimistic needs to transition into professional practice. also acquired invaluable hard data; for example, non- to the public, students and researchers for the first time that these new foundations would underpin the continued Previously I have referred to uncertainty around the funding metropolitan Sydney applications were 39%, much since its inception over ninety years ago. Valuable work on growth and success of the school. of tertiary education at both State and Federal levels, and on higher than we previously thought. conservation, maintenance and expansion of the Collection So, you might ask are we achieving these ambitious goals? the consequential challenges in developing the best business allows us to draw on it for exhibitions in the NAS Gallery as Our students and graduates reported very high satisfaction The unambiguous answer is, yes we are. model for the National Art School. Those uncertainties well as lending works to other institutions. with their NAS experience and the work in