2020 NAS Annual Report Contents Welcome Strategy and Governance 3 Directors’ Biographies 5 Year at a Glance 6 Chair’S Report 9 Director’S Report 10
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2020 NAS Annual Report Contents Welcome Strategy and Governance 3 Directors’ Biographies 5 Year at a Glance 6 Chair’s Report 9 Director’s Report 10 Academic Degree Programs and Statistics 14 The Student Experience 16 NAS Connect 18 NAS Corona Quilt 19 NAS Artist Achievements 20 Prizes and Scholarships 22 Staff Profile 25 Faculty Achievements 26 Art Forum 27 Library 29 Staff List 30 Art, Artists and Community Creative Precinct and Community Activation 35 Graduate Profile 36 Education Outreach 38 Public Programs 40 NAS Gallery 42 Archive and Collection 46 Commercial and Development Venue Hire 50 Print Lab 51 Philanthropy 52 Supporter Engagement 53 Support 54 Donors 55 Financial Report 56 NAS Gallery re-imagined as a drawing studio during COVID-19. Photo: Peter Morgan. Strategy and Governance Welcome Vision To become the leading Welcome fine art school in the Asia-Pacific. Mission Started in 1843, the National Art School (NAS) provides outstanding visual arts education centred on learning through practice and critical enquiry under the guidance of experienced artists and educators. NAS builds on its success as Australia’s leading independent fine art school to develop our international reputation at the forefront of 21st century studio- based education. Through our art school and site, we educate and inspire students and audiences by creating innovative, accessible arts programs to make lively and meaningful contributions to Context a global society. NAS is Australia’s leading independent fine art school; a producer of new art; Values a place to experience and participate We honour the significant artistic in the arts; and a presentation venue. and educational heritage of our Our value proposition charts a institution and seek to continue that pathway to achieving excellence in important tradition through arts education and growing a vibrant contemporary scholarship, critical arts and education precinct to thinking and practice. We value the contribute to NSW becoming a leading diversity of our students and staff centre for arts, culture, creativity and the individual experiences and innovation in the Asia-Pacific. they bring to their learning, teaching and professional aspirations; Governance we prioritise their individual NAS is registered as a Higher development. We value authenticity, Education Provider under the Higher talent and dedication. We represent Education Support Act 2003 (HESA). many different perspectives, NAS is a public company limited but share a deep commitment by guarantee, with two members, to art and the important role artists the NSW Ministers for the Arts contribute to the world. and for Education. The members appoint a Board of Directors with responsibility for the School and overseeing of the leadership of the School. The Board of Directors operates three sub-committees, the Finance and Audit Committee, the Properties and Assets Committee, and the Fundraising and Development Committee. The Academic Board is responsible for the maintenance of academic standards in accordance with the Higher Education Threshold Standards. 2 NAS studio. Photo: Peter Morgan. 2020 NAS Annual Report 3 Directors’ Biographies Welcome Carolyn Fletcher AM David Kent Ross McDiven (Chair until 30 November 2020) Former Managing Director and (Chair from 1 December 2020) Welcome Executive Director and CEO for Country Head of Morgan Stanley Former Chairman of the Multiplex Opportunity Cambodia; Australia; Senior Trade and Investment Group. Notable projects included Senior Consultant Black Isle Group Commissioner in Paris and the Sydney Olympics Stadium, (leadership organisation); Washington DC; member of Financial Chifley Tower, King Street Wharf, former member of the Services Advisory Council and Luna Park and Jones Bay Wharf; Darling Harbour Authority and Sydney Chief Executive of Axiss Australia; appointed to a number of advisory Harbour Foreshore Authority Deputy Chairman of AGNSW positions in the property and Boards; former Chair of Australian Foundation; Chairman of Brett construction sectors; former Theatre for Young People (ATYP); Whiteley Foundation; Chairman Trustee of the Museum of Applied and current member of the of the SH Ervin Gallery Committee; Arts and Sciences. Australian Haydn Ensemble board. President of the Alliance Française de Sydney. Currently Advisory Director John Mitchell Jennifer Byrne to the French Australian Chamber Partner at Arnold Bloch Leibler law Journalist, broadcaster and patron of Commerce and Industry, firm and non-executive director of Coastrek, which has raised and Vice President of the Société des of the board of Carriageworks. $20 million for the Fred Hollows Membres de la Légion d'Honneur. Foundation; long-time ambassador Susan Rothwell for the Australian Indigenous Guido Maestri Architect, visual artist and Education Programme; Chair of National Art School alumnus and horticulturalist; former Museum of Create NSW Artform Advisory Board winner of the 2009 Archibald Prize Contemporary Art, Art Gallery of NSW for Literature. and 2013 NSW Parliament Plein Air and Historic Houses Trust foundation Painting Prize; his works are in the board member; currently board Brooke Horne collections of the National Portrait member of the North Foundation. (Board member until 30 November 2020) Gallery, Parliament House, Art Gallery Equality Campaign co-founder, of NSW, Art Gallery of South Australia Jeff Weeden the lead ‘Yes’ organisation in the 2017 and Artbank. Chief Executive Officer of Forager Marriage Equality Postal Survey; Funds Management; formerly at Equality Campaign Director of Andrew Muston Bankers Trust and Executive Director Philanthropy, devising and (Board member from 1 December 2020) at Macquarie Bank. He has a long held implementing one of the most Andrew is the Head of Wholesale interest in the visual arts, and as a successful LGBTI fundraising and Family Office Distribution at long-term community member he is campaigns in the world. Roc Partners. Andrew has held passionate about the NAS site. capital raising roles at Contango Asset Management, QVG Capital and Totus Capital. Andrew is on the board of the Scots College Foundation, Evolution of the Foundation Committee for St Vincent’s Curran Foundation and Atelier Advisory Council for the Art Gallery of NSW. 4 NAS campus. Photo: Peter Morgan. 2020 NAS Annual Report 5 Welcome Welcome Year at a glance 1500 people visited NAS for Open Day in October Instagram followers NAS website Facebook likes increased by page views: increased by 17% to 35,089 2,763,773 7% to 13,031 2573 posts to NAS Connect 942 entries for Dobell Drawing Prize, Instagram hashtag created for COVID-19 lockdown a record since it started in 1993 5 NSW regional art galleries $ collaborating for On Stillness online exhibition $60,000+ raised for NAS annual appeal $ $240,000 of $28,910 sold at National Centre for Drawing launched student work sold Sydney Contemporary in November 2020 at Grad Show 2020 of 5 recent NAS graduates work 6 2020 NAS Annual Report 7 Chair’s Report Welcome While 2020 was such a difficult and disruptive year, Welcome there were also bright spots, as people and communities around Australia came together to help each other and keep each other safe. One of those communities was the National Art School. Our dedicated staff worked incredibly hard to design Carolyn Fletcher AM innovative solutions that allowed our students to stay connected and to return to campus as early as possible after lockdown. While at home, students reached out to each other and continued creating their extraordinary Thanks to donors work, which they shared via NAS Connect on social media. I want to extend our sincere thanks to our generous and In sharing their work, they also supported each other longstanding donors, and to those new donors who joined in spirit which was so important to their own health us in 2020. Philanthropic support is vital to ensure the and resilience. ongoing viability of NAS, and it is through this generosity It certainly became clear that staying actively creative at that we can remain at the forefront of visual arts education home helped students deal with the sudden isolation and in Australia. uncertainty. The joy was palpable when they began to return to face-to-face teaching and working in their Thanks to the Minister NAS studios from May. I would like to thank the Minister for the Arts in 2020, The Hon. Don Harwin MLC, for his unwavering support It was also clear the enormously important role and positive action on behalf of the school. His invaluable government played in the constantly evolving new world assistance and keen presence are always appreciated; of COVID-19. We thank the NSW Government for its he has helped the School to thrive, enabling NAS to look invaluable support during 2020, which culminated in to the future with new confidence as never before. December with the announcement of $18 million in funding My thanks also to the Premier and Government of NSW for NAS. This will allow the School to commence urgently for their generous ongoing support. needed building work and renovations on our historic site which celebrates it bicentenary next year, as well as the Thanks to the Board centenary of NAS occupying the former Darlinghurst Gaol. My sincere thanks to my fellow Board members Jennifer Due to the disruption caused by COVID-19, the figures in Byrne, Brooke Horne, David Kent, Guido Maestri, Ross this year’s annual report will be adversely affected when McDiven, John Mitchell, Susan Rothwell and Jeff Weeden compared to the growth of previous years. Yet this year has for their hard work, dedication and support during 2020. demonstrated beyond a doubt what a dynamic and resilient It has been a pleasure working with you all during this year place NAS is, as a creative community that reaches far of many great challenges. I was very sad to step down beyond these sandstone walls, providing a quality of visual as Chair in November, due to moving overseas, arts education that is unmatched. but delighted that Ross McDiven agreed to take on the role from December 1.