It is very important that the National Art School retains full and independent use of the site.
The importance of diversity in teaching methods for visual arts, and also of university and non-university options. Non-university schools are less restricted in enrolment requirements e.g. NAS is portfolio assessment only with no minimum ATAR
We want direct funding from the Federal Government’s Arts budget, in the way that the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS) are funded as arts training bodies instead of being funded through Commonwealth-supported places as part of a university.
OR we would like to continue to receive direct funding from the Government of NSW, without the threat of the sale of the site or mergers with other organisations.
You could also mention the following, which would be at risk in a merger:
The School’s specialist model of atelier teaching, which includes dedicated studio space, small class sizes and high teacher contact hours
You could reference statistics from the 2015 annual report, e.g. degree enrolments increased by 16%, and results from the 2015 Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) Student Experience Survey where students rated the teaching quality of NAS at 89%, higher than those at UNSW Art & Design (76.5%) or Sydney College of the Arts (83.3%). In fact, NAS beat the other two Sydney art schools in every quality indicator.
It is impossible to sum up the contribution that the National Art School makes to Australia.
The National Art School is in negotiations with UNSW, USyd, the State and Federal Governments as to where the funding will come from after 2017.
It is cheaper to fund the National Art School directly (through Commonwealth Arts) than through the UNSW.
Our National Art School is valued by all and needs to be funded, but we want the funding to come directly, not via a university. Thank-you for supporting this amazing tradition of over 100 years of fine-art education in Australia.
Australia needs a National Art School, but right now our National Art School needs Australia.
Here’s to the next century of great Australian artists.
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