NAS announces Head of Advancement

NAS announces Head of Advancement

Terese Casu will take up the newly created position of Head of Advancement at the National Art School in Darlinghurst from 21 October 2019 as an integral member of the School’s Executive Leadership Team.

Securing the future of the National Art School earlier this year, the Hon. Don Harwin, NSW Minister for the Arts announced a 45-year lease on the Darlinghurst Gaol site, the School’s recognition as a State Significant Organisation (SSO), and its ambitious plans to become the leading fine art school in the Asia Pacific.

Steven Alderton, National Art School Director and CEO, said: “We are delighted to welcome Terese Casu to the National Art School. She is recognised as having led the transformation of the Mardi Gras Festival into one of the world’s leading arts and cultural programs, and we now look forward to her working at NAS to establish our School’s position as a leading hub of fine art education and culture in Australia and the Asia-Pacific.”

Terese is an accomplished leader in the arts with a passion for social justice and equality, and has an extensive career as an artist and arts manager spanning over 30 years. She recently stepped down as CEO of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

Previously, Terese was the Executive Director of Performance Space in Sydney, and the Director, Arts Organisations at the Australia Council for the Arts. She has held senior management and leadership positions at La Boite Theatre Company, Bundanon Trust, Australian Theatre for Young People, Belvoir St Theatre, Circa Ensemble, Sydney Film Festival and the Australian Film Commission. Between 1999 and 2002 Terese worked at the Australia Council in several roles including International Audience and Market Development and on the Theatre Board.

Terese will head up the National Art School’s newly created Advancement Team which includes programming, the NAS Gallery, fundraising, benefaction, commercial services, government relations, marketing and communications, student enrolments, venue hire and outreach.

Terese is excited to take on this new role: “I feel privileged to be joining the National Art School at such a pivotal point in time. The school is poised for rapid and transformational growth and will soon become more broadly recognised for its important role in the Australian and international arts landscape. I look forward to contributing to the next exciting chapter of the School’s history.”

Terese arrives in time for significant events at the National Art School. On Friday 25 October 2019 the School will hold the NAS Art Auction to support outreach programs for emerging artists and art education for all. The popular end of year graduate art exhibitions open on 7 November (Master of Fine Art postgraduate students) and 5 December (Bachelor of Fine Art graduate students).

Image: Left to right – Simon Cooper, NAS Head of Studies; Terese Casu, NAS Head of Advancement; Steven Alderton, NAS Director and CEO. Photo: Jaydon Cabe Photography

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Don’t miss out on your chance to bid on an artwork at the NAS Gala! Get your tickets now and join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the treasures of the National Art School, our artists.

Announcing a thrilling line up of artists contributing artworks to our live and silent auction. This is your opportunity to add a special piece of art by a celebrated NAS artist to your collection.

Ann Thomson
Bernard Ollis OAM
Reg Mombassa
Eliza Gosse
Euan Macleod
Gene A'Hern
Guido Maestri
Guy Warren AM
Joan Ross
Juz Kitson
Mitch Cairns
Rosemary Lee
Wendy Sharpe AM FRSN
Zoe Young
More to come…

NAS Gala | National Treasures
Art Auction and Cocktail Party
Friday 21 November, 6.00pm – 11.30pm
Cell Block Theatre, National Art School

Purchase tickets at the link in bio.
Join us for the closing party for The Neighbour at the Gate – 'Afterglow', headlined by Miss Kaninna, and featuring performances by HYLANDER, Rocky Stallone, BRINA, Kuya Hennessy and DJ Court Jester. This free, 18+ concert will be a night to remember! 

Thursday 16 October 2025 
4.30pm – 10pm 
Cell Block Theatre 

RSVP at the link in bio. 

The Neighbour at the Gate has been made possible with the generous support of the NSW Government through its Blockbusters Funding initiative.
Karatsu ceramicist Yukiko Tsuchiya (@tsuchiyayukiko) and curator Kathryn Hunyor (@artspeople_au) delivered two very special workshops in the teaching studios of the Ceramics Department at the National Art School (NAS), in an exciting collaboration between The Japan Foundation (@jpfsydney), Sydney, the NAS Ceramics Department and the National Art School.

Peek inside the wheel-throwing and hand-coiling masterclasses that took place.
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