Large Drawing class, Photo by Ingrid Kellenbach
Historically, visual arts education has always been practice-led. From the sculptors of Ancient Greece to the Renaissance masters, learning happened more in the studio than in the classroom. And while larger institutions are increasingly finding it impractical to give individual students the attention that arts education requires, smaller institutions such as Adelaide Central School of Art are stepping up to provide the dedicated education that seems to be disappearing from universities in this age of online learning and standardised course structures.
As an independent, not-for-profit organisation, Adelaide Central School of Art isn’t subject to the funding concerns or large-scale changing priorities of universities. The School offers a practice-led, studio-based model of learning where conceptual content is taught alongside technical skill, with an eye towards integrating the two elements of visual arts education. “Because we’re independent, all our students come with a very focused sense of wanting to be practising artists… a real ambition and drive,” explains Luke Thurgate, a lecturer at the School. “We’re not struggling to fit into a larger managerial structure.”
GIF Animation Workshop Photo by Beth Shimmin
Adelaide Central School of Art is devoted entirely to the visual arts, with the only courses that it offers being a Bachelor of Visual Art and a corresponding Honours degree. There are no majors, as the School opts instead to take a more cross-disciplinary, holistic approach. “Most of the graduates are going to have quite hybrid career paths… we try and unpack just how big the visual arts actually are,” says Thurgate. The studio-based aspect is vital to this breadth of the program, as the face-to-face interaction with lecturers in small groups allows students to be immersed in an environment where they’re constantly absorbing new information and receiving critical feedback from both staff and peers. Thurgate believes that the small-scale, intimate structure of the course creates unparalleled intensity, rigour, and focus, giving the students an extreme learning curve.
At a time when many smaller institutions and art schools are being absorbed by universities, Adelaide Central School of Art has opened its doors to students from around Australia who want to study in a practice-led, independent school. Thurgate sees the Australian arts community as going through an “unknown period”, but is hopeful that “through the energy and initiative of young students and graduates, there’s going to be an invigoration of the arts community at large.”
Anatomy Drawing with Rob Gutteridge. Photo by Ingrid Kellenbach
Potential applicants are encouraged to book an appointment for a campus tour or virtual campus tour in November-December 2016. Interstate students can apply for an Interstate Relocation Grant of up to $2000. Furthermore, the School is offering $5000 School Leaver Scholarships for recent high school graduates looking to enrol in a Bachelor of Visual Art, as well as a $7500 Bachelor of Visual Art (Honours) Scholarship for those interested in the honours program. Applications for scholarships close 13 January 2017, and more information can be found here: http://www.acsa.sa.edu.au/study-options/degree-courses/scholarships/.
