A still from A Dream Play at NIDA (Image: NIDA)
The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) has a history of producing successful stars like Cate Blanchett and Mel Gibson. But from next year it will also be training Australia’s next generation of cultural leaders.
In 2016 the new Graduate School will offer a Master of Fine Arts in Cultural Leadership, which will present a unique opportunity for mid-career artists to develop the skills needed to pursue leadership roles in the arts.
‘This is the next big step, both for NIDA and Australia’s cultural community. It’s about nurturing the next leaders of our arts organisations and festivals, the political advocates for the arts and the people who will really transform the cultural landscape of Australia,’ said Dr Egil Kipste, Director of Graduate Studies NIDA.
The new course is part of a Graduate School that will enhance and house NIDA’s expanding range of Masters programs.
‘The school will be a creative hub where creative professionals from Australia and around the world will have access to state-of-the-art facilities to build and diversify their skill-set in a range of areas such as Design for Performance, Screen, Creative Producing, Voice and Cultural Leadership,’ said Kipste.
The Graduate School will complement NIDA’s successful undergraduate program, which offers world-class training for actors and creative professionals, with an emphasis on academic study and practical opportunities.
Kipste said that NIDA students have the chance to work on full-scale theatre works, musical productions and film projects.
‘Whilst all our students receive a strong theoretical grounding for their area of study, we also make sure they have many opportunities to put that knowledge into practice.
‘This year our Directing students attended the Theatertreffen festival in Berlin and our Design for Performance students will be part of the Prague Quadrennial in the Czech Republic,’ he said.
Kipste said that all NIDA courses are developed with a strong focus on future changes in the arts and entertainment industries to ensure students graduate career-ready.
NIDA offers full-time accredited Bachelor courses in Acting, Costume, Design for Performance, Properties and Objects (props), Staging, and Technical Theatre and Stage Management, as well as Masters courses in Directing and Writing for Performance, and Diploma courses in Musical Theatre, Specialist Make-up and Live Production and Technique Theatre.
Find out more about studying at NIDA at the centre’s Info Night on 22 July, or read more on their website.
Watch this short clip for a glimpse of NIDA.
