Charlotte Paull, National Art School sculpture student (Image: Christopher Phillips)
National Art School (NAS) Head of Studies Simon Cooper believes it is important for potential students to come and see the Art School, before deciding if it is the place they want to study.
So once a year the School throws open its doors an Open Day , showcasing not only courses but the entire experience of an NAS education.
‘They can get to see the facilities, the studios, meet with the staff and get to talk to the students in the place that they might be studying. It’s much more informative, than say going to an expo or a career fest,’ he said.
The Open Day at NAS aims to give prospective students a feel for the campus. ‘If you’re about to start a degree, you’re going to spend the next few years of your life in that place, so you want to feel right,’ said Cooper.
The Open Day is also a chance to find out about the programs offered at the school, both short courses and degree courses: Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts.
‘Often what happens is that a lot of people will try their hand at a short course and then they realise that they want to study more – and enroll in a full-time course,’ said Cooper.
With a small student-to-staff ratio and small tutorial groups, the emphasis of the courses is on artistic practice. Students learn the theoretical dimension through practice and not in isolation.
‘What sets the School separate from other institutions is the centrality of studio practice in all of our programs. We are focused on making art in the studio and learning through making,’ said Cooper.
While the first half of the course is usually instruction-heavy, Cooper said by the third year students are given considerable independence. ‘We really aim for people to find their own voice and be able to speak with some clarity.’
National Art School’s Open Day is on 29 August. To know more, go to the website.
