Governance

The principal mission of the National Art School is to be a centre of excellence for the provision of higher education and research, scholarship and professional practice in the visual arts and related fields.

The National Art School utilises its independent identity and its historic site to develop and deliver arts and cultural awareness in a local, national and international context.

Our strategic priorities over the 2014 – 2022 period are to:

  • Be the institute of choice for the study of visual art practice in Australia
  • Unlock the historical and cultural significance of the National Art School for the benefit of the broader community
  • Create a vibrant cultural hub that attracts and inspires Australia’s diverse communities
  • Strengthen operational capacity to ensure the highest quality corporate and academic outcomes

Download our strategic plan


GOVERNANCE

The National Art School is:

Registered as a Higher Education Provider under the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA).

The Academic Board is responsible for the maintenance of academic standards in accordance with accreditation requirements.

Registered under the Australian Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) to provide courses to non-Australian citizens studying in Australia on student visas. (CRICOS Code 03197B)

A public company limited by guarantee (ACN 140 179 111), with two members, the NSW Ministers for Education and for the Arts.

The members appoint a Board of Directors with responsibility for the School and oversight of the leadership of the School.

Registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC) as a charity (ABN 89 140 179 111)

Entered on the Register of Cultural Organisations and is recognised by the Australian Taxation Office as a Charitable Institution, endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient under Item 1 for the following funds:

  • National Art School General Fund
  • National Art School Gallery
  • National Art School Library

The National Art School Gallery and the National Art School Library are also endorsed under Item 4, and may receive gifts of property under the Cultural Gifts Program.

Download our Constitution

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Facture – the manner in which something is made
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Join us Saturday 12 April for the 2025 Drawing Symposium at the National Art School, presented by the National Centre for Drawing. Featuring a diverse range of national and international speakers, as well as associated performances and exhibitions, this event is held in conjunction with the 24th Dobell Drawing Prize. The symposium will explore the theme of Facture, a concept that emphasises an artwork’s tangible reality as an intentionally crafted object, linking the act of creation directly to its physical presence. Considering an artwork in terms of its facture reveals it as a record of the artist’s decisions, methods, and materials. Discussions will examine how this concept enriches our understanding of drawing and aligns with contemporary and interdisciplinary approaches to art-making. 
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Learn more and buy tickets at the link in bio.
Opening night and winner announcement: 24th Dobell Drawing Prize  Join us on Thursday 10 April for the opening night of the 24th Dobell Drawing Prize, Australia’s leading prize for drawing, and an unparalleled celebration of technique, innovation and expanded practice. The winner will be announced at 6:30pm.  Presented at the National Art School in partnership with the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation, this biennial exhibition continues to highlight the enduring relevance and changing role of drawing within contemporary art practice. The winning work enters the National Art School’s significant collection, built over the past 120 years.  This 24th edition is curated by Lucy Latella and showcases the work of 56 finalists, selected from 965 nationwide entries by judging panel Vernon Ah Kee, Dr Yolunda Hickman and Paula Latos-Valier AM.  RSVP at the link in bio.
Our academic year kicked off with Drawing Week, a program of drawing intensive workshops for our 2nd and 3rd year BFA students.  At the @sydneyoperahouse workshop, led by Drawing Lecturer Tango Conway, students were invited to experiment and expand their practice in an environment rarely open to the public.  Learn more about the BFA program at the link in bio.
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