About us

Vision
Mission
Philosophy
Core values
School tours
Open day
Student Association
Alumni
ACSA Library
Scholarships
Flinders University
Helpmann Academy

Employment at ACSA

 

Vision

ACSA will stand for excellence in the education and training of a wide community of visual artists, and for the quality and success of its graduates and teachers in the visual arts field. It will have a high reputation locally, nationally and internationally, and be the institution of choice for future practising artists .

Mission

ACSA will provide a rigorous curriculum based on the atelier principle, a cumulative approach to learning and the philosophy of meaning through making, together with teaching excellence, to offer both a breadth and depth of study in the theory, and especially the practice, of visual arts.

To support its mission and vision, ACSA will ensure a strong and transparent process of governance and order its affairs to be financially sustainable.

ACSA will have a strong relationship with its graduates and alumni and with the wider arts community. It will be an influential leader in the visual arts in Australia through: the quality of its programs; its use of well recognized, practicing artists as teachers; the use of its gallery to show high quality, professional art including that of its teachers, graduates and students; its affiliation with professional studios such as Central Studios, and its support for staff, graduates and students to show their work locally, nationally and internationally.

Philosophy

The School's approach to visual arts education is based on the assumption that there is an accessible, cumulative body of knowledge associated with the making of visual art. There is a strong belief that the creation of meaning in art is inseparable from its making and for that reason students must acquire a sound level of technical and conceptual competence and teachers of art should be artists practicing in the areas in which they teach.

Drawing is taken to be the most basic skill in visual art. It is believed that it should be recognised as a media in its own right as well as the basis for other media, and that it should be dealt with broadly and in depth, both technically and conceptually.

Finally, it is considered that in a changing, pluralistic world, students must be exposed to a very wide range of art and ideas from which to develop their own.

To support its philosophy the School has adopted a traditional "atelier" model of visual arts education and training which is taken to mean small groups with the opportunity for one-to-one interaction, an emphasis on studio practice and the importance of the role of artists as teachers.

Pedagogical skills and the School's values are passed to new staff by induction procedures and mentoring by more senior and experienced staff. There is also a commitment to ensure ongoing staff development of each lecturer's teaching and professional art practice.

Core Values

• The integrity and worth of the individual is considered axiomatic: irrespective of their differences, all people are equally important and have a right to equal respect and attention.

• Independence of practice and ideas: each individual's ideas and work will be viewed on their own merits and without prejudice, especially in relation to the views of authorities, prevailing fashions and ideologies.

• The absolute value in all judgments regarding outcomes and performance in aesthetics, ideas, work, education and training will be excellence.

• The organisation's environment should be friendly, exciting and stimulating, encouraging both individual achievement and mutual support.

School Tours

Students, parents, art teachers and career counsellors are welcome to visit the School. School staff welcome the opportunity to personally show visitors the school and discuss the courses on offer. The Gallery Director enjoys showing the current exhibitions and talking about the artists and their work. It is preferable for a personal tour booking to be made a day in advance.

Open Day

On Sunday 7 September 2008 the School is open to visitors from 1.00 - 4.00pm, providing an opportunity to meet all staff and to see students in action.

Student Association

Enrolled students automatically become members of the Student Association. The association is an independent, incorporated, nonprofit organisation which fosters their interests and protects their rights. The association is administered by the Student Committee which acts to represent all students and to facilitate communication between students and the School?s management and staff.

An Annual General Meeting is held early in the academic year to determine the committee for that year.

Through its Student Committee the Association addresses the following:

publication of a student newsletter
mounting of an annual student exhibition and regular exhibitions in the Student Gallery. Students are encouraged to exhibit and participate in the arranging and hanging of the works. This provides invaluable insight and experience in the practical aspects of holding an exhibition.
organisation of social activities including weekly Happy Hours
involvement with the local community
representation of student needs to the school and other bodies
representation at lecturers meetings, on the Academic Board and Board of Governors.

Alumni

ACSA is unique in that it has an Alumni Class made up of undergraduates of this institution who are graduates from other universities, practising artists, students currently undertaking courses at ACSA and former students of ACSA courses, who are stalwarts of ACSA.

ETHOS of ACSA ALUMNI

To contribute to and support the preservation and development of the established ACSA reputation, standards and ethos.
To promote a mutually beneficial relationship between ACSA and ALUMNI.

OBJECTIVES OF ACSA ALUMNI

To maintain a close link with the ACSA Community.
To be a means whereby graduates and former students can maintain contact with ACSA through membership.
To support the activities of ACSA management, Student Association, The Gallery and Council where appropriate.

MEMBERSHIP of ACSA ALUMNI
Full membership shall be open and available to:

All members of the ACSA Alumni Class - past and present
All graduates of ACSA
All undergraduates of ACSA who have successfully completed 2 or more subjects
All Foundation Members of ACSA Alumni
All Staff, Lecturers, and Management, present and former who already have or wish to have an affiliation with ACSA

ALUMNI CLASS STRUCTURE
Eligibility
To be eligible to join the Alumni class, participants must have completed 2 subjects of study at ACSA.

Meetings/ Class Times

Participants/ Members meet 3 hours per week at ACSA
Monday from 9.00 - 4.00 (or as determined by the Alumni and ACSA)
Regular, suitable venue to be determined by ACSA management.

ACSA Library

Thanks to generous donations and work of the ACSA Community Art library Foundation, the school has been able to significantly increase the number of reference books in its library. All students are welcome to use this valuable resource at their leisure but at this stage books can only be borrowed from the library by lecturers.

Full time ACSA students issued with ACSA Student Cards are eligible to borrow books from the library at Flinders University.

The ACSA library is manned by volunteers and is open from 9.00am to 7.00pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00am to 4.00pm on Fridays during the ACSA school term. The library is closed during the holidays. Students are encouraged to help mind the library during opening hours.

Scholarships

Adelaide Central School of Art offers scholarships for commencing and continuing students. Commencing scholarships have been established to encourage outstanding senior secondary students to enrol in the Associate Degree in Visual Art.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR OUTSTANDING YEAR 12 GRADUATES
including the PRO HART SCHOLARSHIP

The Pro Hart Scholarship is awarded for one year of full time study and is generously funded by the Pro Hart family. The value of the Pro Hart Scholarship in 2009 is $15,300 (annual full time tuition fee)
If the student achieves outstanding results in the first year and maintains a grade point average of 75%+, they can re-apply for a continuing scholarship funded by the School.

A review of the student's progress is conducted for all scholarship holders at the end of each semester (see below under Conditions).

Scholarships for Outstanding Year 12 Graduates are for one year of full time or part-time study.

The number and the value of scholarships will be determined by the School and may vary from year to year.

Scholarships are awarded in January so that successful applicants may take up their scholarships by the start of the first term in February of that current year.

Who may apply for a scholarship?
Application is open to persons who have completed their secondary school studies within the last five years and who have been enrolled in at least four years of continuous secondary studies.

How do I apply?
Application must be made on the Scholarship Application form, which should be submitted together with a portfolio of most recent work no later than Friday 9th January 2009.

Criteria
The scholarships will be awarded on the basis of relative merit, having regard to the artistic potential of applicants. A Selection Panel will judge applications with reference to the following criteria:

• artistic merit demonstrated by a portfolio of most recent work;
  
• career aspirations in fine art and likely success in completing the Bachelor program - assessed on the basis of a student's overall achievement including academic achievement in secondary school.
  

The Selection Panel
Head of School or nominee
2 members of the lecturing staff
1 external member of the Board of Governors or the Academic Board
1 student of the School who has completed the Associate Degree in Visual Art or higher award.

The Selection Process
Following the close of applications on 9th January 2009, the Panel will either select the successful applicants or make a short list of applicants for interviews. Interviews will be held at the school during the first weeks of January. Following the interviews, the Panel will make a ranking on the basis of which scholarships will be offered. If the applications are judged not to be of sufficient merit the Panel may decide that no scholarships will be awarded for the year and it may decide not to short list applicants. The award of the Scholarships is at the discretion of the Panel and its determination will be final.

Scholarship Values
The Pro Hart Scholarship will be awarded for the first year of study at the School. The maximum value will be the cost of tuition for the year with additional support in the form of some provision of essential art materials.

The value of the Scholarships for Outstanding Year 12 Graduates may vary and can be for the full value of annual tuition fees or half value of annual tuition fees.

Recipients will not receive cash payments.

Conditions
Scholarships may not be deferred.

A student who withdraws or who is excluded from study will forfeit the scholarship except where the School accepts that there are extenuating circumstances and agrees to continue the scholarship.

A scholarship holder must apply to the School for permission to interrupt his/her studies. The School may allow a student to interrupt the studies and to continue the scholarship, but subject to conditions set by the School.

A scholarship holder's progress will be reviewed at the end of each semester and scholarships may be terminated if progress is unsatisfactory.

Applications
Applications must be made on the prescribed form and must be submitted with the portfolio and SACE results by January 9th 2009.

Late applications will not be accepted.
The portfolio must be submitted in Powerpoint on a CD and comprise between 6 - 9 images of recent work.  Original work will not be accepted.

Portfolio
Applicants must collect their applications and CDs from the School between January 19th - 23rd 2009.
Portfolios will not be returned and will not be kept by the School after 23rd January 2009.

* note that the School will close over the Christmas break.

2009 Year 12 scholarship information

2009 Year 12 scholarship application form

EXETER COMMISSION SCHOLARSHIP

The Exeter Hotel is proud to support a student of the Adelaide Central School of Art by offering an annual commission. The Commission has been established to encourage outstanding students to continue their study at ACSA.

The Commission is currently $2,000 towards the successful students fees.

The Commission is awarded in December so that the successful applicant may continue studies at the start of the next academic year.

The commission is to produce artwork (any medium) to suit the designated 2.5 x 1 metre wall space in the Exeter Hotel, Rundle Street, Adelaide. The subject is entirely at the discretion of the student. The works will be painted on, drawn on or fixed to the wall and protected with a perspex cover. The artwork will remain during that year, then be photographed and a print displayed elsewhere in the Hotel. A new commission will replace the work.

Who may apply for this scholarship?
Application is open to any ACSA student who has completed Level 1 and will continue full time study at ACSA in the following year.

POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS

Each year the School provides a one year full time Postgraduate scholarship to an eligible applicant based on the following criteria:

1.  artistic merit of recent work

2.  quality of their research proposal

3.  academic achievement

4.  professional practice

The scholarship is awarded in December to encourage outstanding visual arts graduates to extend their field of investigation.

Postgraduate applicants are able to apply concurrently for the Postgraduate Scholarship by attaching the Postgraduate Scholarship Application Form to their Postgraduate Application Form.

Flinders University An affiliation between the School and Flinders University commenced in 1997. In addition to working in a cooperative and supportive role, these organisations offer a Double Degree. (Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Visual Art)

Employment at ACSA

Lecturing Staff

ACSA's policy on appointing lecturing staff is that all lecturers must be actively practising in the area in which they teach. 

If you are interested in lecturing at ACSA, you are welcome to submit an application for consideration.  It should contain a full resume of your professional experience along with images of your most recent work, and be addressed to the Secretary of the Academic Committee.

Adelaide Central School of Art
45 Osmond Terrace
Norwood, South Australia 5067 Australia
Telephone +61 8 83645075
Facsimile +61 8 8364 4865
Email: acsa@acsa.sa.edu.au
www.acsa.sa.edu.au
CRICOS 01126M