National Art School COVID-19 Response

National Art School COVID-19 Response

I am writing to provide an update regarding the National Art School and Covid-19.

The health and safety of our students, staff and visitors are our utmost concern. In response to the COVID 19 Pandemic we have put a number of precautionary measures in place to minimise risk of infection and transmission. This includes increased cleaning across the site and sanitisers in all public areas, re-assessing class sizes, reducing gatherings on site and implementing recommendations from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, including recommending that visitors keep a safe distance from each other when visiting our galleries and programs.

The National Art School remains open and continues to teach across the academic program and short courses. The 22nd Biennale of Sydney exhibition NIRIN remains open as does our cafe Two Emus, the Print Lab, the Library and Parkers Art Supplies.

To further increase the safety of our School and community we have decided to postpone or cancel public events and related programs for the months of March and April, effective immediately. This includes school visits and school workshops, site tours, education expos, the Autumn school holiday program, and Biennale of Sydney public programs.

We are looking at other ways to engage with our community; to activate the Biennale of Sydney exhibition and our arts program in digital platforms including our website. We apologise for any disruption this may cause and thank you for your patience and understanding as we make the necessary adjustments to our programs and hope to restart our public events as soon as practicable. Please refer to our website for further information as we are constantly updating our position, www.nas.edu.au

Thank you for your consideration as we put in place systems to ensure the health and safety of the community at National Art School, and look for alternate ways to connect great art, artists and community. For further health enquiries, please contact NSW Health on 1800 022 222 or visit www.health.nsw.gov.au.

Yours sincerely,
Steven Alderton
Director and CEO, National Art School

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We are pleased to announce that applications are now open for the Prudence MacLeod Prize. 

The Prudence MacLeod Prize, which will continue for a further three years, supports a recent National Art School graduate to undertake a six-month residency at @acme.art, London.

Supported by the Lansdowne Foundation, the Prize provides an emerging artist with an opportunity to step forward into an expanded, international context at a vital time in their career. The artist will live and work in London, one of the world's great art cities, in a supportive artist community. This important opportunity will enable the artist to forge professional international contacts, explore London's art world and rich cultural resources, and produce a new body of work.

The recipient of this Prize will receive:
– Return travel to London. To be arranged for the artist by NAS.
– Studio accommodation and workspace at Acme Studios for 6 months.
– Living stipend of $AUD3,500 per month for 6 months. Total $AUD21,000.

Application deadline: Sunday 1 February 2026, 11.59pm
Residency: Monday 6 July – Friday 18 December 2026

The Prudence MacLeod Prize is open to eligible NAS alumni who have graduated within the past five years and meet the selection criteria.

Learn more 🔗 in bio. 

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Acme Fire Station, 30 Gillender Street, 1999 © Acme Archive
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the opening of The Grad Show!

Find works by this year's cohort exhibited throughout the NAS campus until 14 December. Open daily from 11am — 5pm and until 9pm on Fridays. 

View online via 🔗 in bio.

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Video: Tim Connolly
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