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NAS Campus

The National Art School respects the history of First Peoples and acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora nation on whose land the school stands.

NAS occupies the heritage-listed site of the former Darlinghurst Gaol, one of Australia’s oldest and best-preserved examples of sandstone architecture. It is a significant part of Sydney’s heritage, and for nearly a century NAS has been a strong cultural presence in the heart of the city.

Providing state-of-the-art facilities and studio spaces for students, the campus is also a hub for arts and culture in NSW, with vibrant and engaging public programs including short courses, school holiday programs, free exhibitions, heritage tours, talks and events that make art and culture accessible to the whole community.

This extensive external engagement generates a deep and vibrant connection to the arts industry and creative sector that feeds back into the school community, giving students and staff a wider perspective outside the curriculum, a strong sense of purpose, and diverse understanding of the role of an artist.

STUDIOS

In keeping with the school’s focus on hands-on studio-based learning, the campus has a comprehensive range of workshop and studio facilities that support learning across traditional and contemporary art making practices.

As undergraduate students progress through the Bachelor of Fine Art degree and commence independent projects within their nominated area of studio specialisation, each student is provided with an individual studio space where they can develop their work.

Similarly, students at Master of Fine Art level are provided with individual studio spaces within dedicated postgraduate studio areas.

Discover more about the facilities dedicated to each discipline by exploring the ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, photomedia and printmaking pages.

WORKSHOP

The workshop includes a full suite of timber and steel manufacturing equipment as well as a range of electric and pneumatic hand tools for students to use. Students from all disciplines have access to these facilities, which are designed to encourage experimentation and to broaden knowledge of the variety of tools and processes available to apply to their art practice.

LIBRARY

The NAS Library is a specialist fine arts library, supporting the teaching at NAS. It has a large collection of art and design literature, journals, periodicals and electronic resources. In addition to resources the library’s literacy officer also runs the Research Essentials Workshops and one-to-one sessions designed to assist students in developing their theoretical writing and referencing skills.

GALLERIES

NAS has four dynamic exhibition spaces including the recently launched NAS Drawing Gallery and the central NAS Gallery, which presents up to four major exhibitions each year as well as presenting annual graduate student exhibitions. Exhibitions are accompanied by scholarly publications and a dynamic range of public programs that provide a rich context for the interpretation and understanding of art.

DIGITAL PRINTING LAB

The NAS Print Lab is a professional digital print facility available to students, alumni and the wider arts community. Established in September 2017, the Print Lab has fast become the print lab of choice for professional artists exhibiting in Sydney and regional galleries.

Our central digital imaging lab also provides students access to the full range of Adobe digital imaging software to assist in preparing their work for print and exhibition.

PARKERS ART SUPPLIES

Owned and operated by the same family since 1918, Parkers has supplied quality art materials and framing services to generations of Sydney artists. Their on-campus shop is open to students and the public and stocks an extensive range of paints, drawing accessories, canvas, charcoal, brushes and other art tools.

AROUND CAMPUS

NAS is in the heart of Sydney’s arts precinct in the vibrant inner-city suburb of Darlinghurst, surrounded by a thriving and diverse creative community.

The school is easy walking distance from the CBD or a short bus ride to Bondi Beach; students have access to some of Sydney’s best cafés, galleries, museums, theatres, live music venues and cinemas.

NAS CAFE

Under the palms and eucalypts, surrounded by the massive convict-cut sandstone walls is the secluded Cafe NAS. Located in what was once the debtors’ quarters of the former Darlinghurst Gaol, Cafe NAS is where artists and art students come together.

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Thank you to everyone who attended the opening night of ‘Queer Contemporary: Chaosophy’

‘Chaosophy’ is now open until Saturday 8 March
11am – 5pm Monday to Saturday
Building 25 Project Space
Free admission, all welcome

Learn more about the exhibition at the link in bio.

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Feb 14

Open
Thank you to everyone who attended the opening night of ‘Queer Contemporary: Chaosophy’ ‘Chaosophy’ is now open until Saturday 8 March 11am – 5pm Monday to Saturday Building 25 Project Space Free admission, all welcome Learn more about the exhibition at the link in bio.

NAS Library is proud to launch their 2025 Library Stairwell Gallery programming with this years LSG show for Queer Contemporary, ‘Subtexts’, opening this Thursday 13 February.

‘Subtexts’ unites four artists whose work demonstrates the complexities of queer identity, each considering their own personal relationship with queerness. The show offers alternative narratives and styles that challenge notions of queer uniformity, opting to explore the undertones and implications of queerness as a dislocated front.

‘Subtexts’ asks of the ambiguous term; Are we united by virtue of our difference, or rather the unique positions it presents us?

Featuring works by
@professional__disoppointment
@sarah_r_serfati
@theolathouras
@ziggywoodartist

View

Feb 9

Open
NAS Library is proud to launch their 2025 Library Stairwell Gallery programming with this years LSG show for Queer Contemporary, ‘Subtexts’, opening this Thursday 13 February. ‘Subtexts’ unites four artists whose work demonstrates the complexities of queer identity, each considering their own personal relationship with queerness. The show offers alternative narratives and styles that challenge notions of queer uniformity, opting to explore the undertones and implications of queerness as a dislocated front. ‘Subtexts’ asks of the ambiguous term; Are we united by virtue of our difference, or rather the unique positions it presents us? Featuring works by @professional__disoppointment @sarah_r_serfati @theolathouras @ziggywoodartist

We’re looking for an Exhibitions Project Officer!

The role has a focus on major Indigenous exhibition projects currently in development for the National Art School as well as touring programs. The role assists with the delivery and coordination of Gallery programs, talks, and other events in the gallery spaces.

You have a background in visual art, art history, curatorship and gallery experience. You have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, along with strong organisational and project management experience.

Note this is an Identified Role and is open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants only, in accordance with Section 14(D) of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act, 1977 NSW.

Application deadline extended to Sunday 9 February.

Apply at the link in bio.
—
Ronan Pirozzi, `Serpentine`, 2023; `Trajectory`, 2023; `Desolate`, 2023; installation view, undo the day, NAS Gallery, Sydney, 2024, oil on welded steel, image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Zan Wimberley

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Feb 2

Open
We’re looking for an Exhibitions Project Officer! The role has a focus on major Indigenous exhibition projects currently in development for the National Art School as well as touring programs. The role assists with the delivery and coordination of Gallery programs, talks, and other events in the gallery spaces. You have a background in visual art, art history, curatorship and gallery experience. You have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, along with strong organisational and project management experience. Note this is an Identified Role and is open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants only, in accordance with Section 14(D) of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act, 1977 NSW. Application deadline extended to Sunday 9 February. Apply at the link in bio. — Ronan Pirozzi, 'Serpentine', 2023; 'Trajectory', 2023; 'Desolate', 2023; installation view, undo the day, NAS Gallery, Sydney, 2024, oil on welded steel, image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Zan Wimberley

The National Art School has today announced respected Australian academic, writer and curator Dr Kristen Sharp as the next Director and Chief Executive Officer.

Kristen joins the National Art School with extensive experience in the fields of contemporary art and tertiary education having spent six years as Associate Dean Discipline, Art in the School of Art at RMIT University, and previously 9 years as Academic Lead Art History and Theory at RMIT. She will commence her new role at the National Art School on 24th February 2025.

Read the full media release at the link in bio.

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Jan 30

Open
The National Art School has today announced respected Australian academic, writer and curator Dr Kristen Sharp as the next Director and Chief Executive Officer. Kristen joins the National Art School with extensive experience in the fields of contemporary art and tertiary education having spent six years as Associate Dean Discipline, Art in the School of Art at RMIT University, and previously 9 years as Academic Lead Art History and Theory at RMIT. She will commence her new role at the National Art School on 24th February 2025. Read the full media release at the link in bio.
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