Events & Activities

CURRENT EVENTS

Volunteer to work in the new NAS Library

WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOLUNTEER TO ASSIST IN THE NEW NAS LIBRARY?

The National Art School Library has moved into its wonderful newly refurbished home. Building 14, the old gaol hospital, has been given a new lease of life by the refit – the old floorboards have come up shining! There will be cosy and comfy reading spaces, a dedicated room for computer use, and our Rare Books collection will finally have the display space it deserves.

We’re very excited about the new space, and we’re hoping Friends Members will share that excitement. We’d like to ask for your help: will you come and experience this beautiful new library with us by becoming a volunteer? The new library space is spread over two floors, and at certain times of the day we need the assistance of a volunteer to “sit-in” at our first floor service desk and field enquiries to library staff. You won’t be required to perform any duties – in fact, you can read a book, use the PC or Internet, or complete your own work while you’re there. So while you sit comfortably reading in our lovely, new, air-conditioned library, you’ll really be helping the school!

The School values any contribution Friends Members can make and has undertaken to recognise the contributions of the volunteers in a number of ways.

The Library is looking for Friends Members to make a commitment to volunteer their time for approx one hours per fortnight during school term. The roster will work on a fortnightly rotation for the following hours and start early November 2005.

Monday – Friday between 9:00am – 11:00am

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at the new NAS Library please phone the Friends office on 93398635 or email fonas@det.nsw.edu.au, we look forward to hearing from you.

Paris Studio applications out September/October 2007

STORRIER ONSLOW NATIONAL ART SCHOOL, PARIS STUDIO

The Paris Studio is located in the prestigious 'La Cite Internationale des Art's' located in Rue De L'Hotel De Ville in the 4th arrondissement on the River Seine, a short walk from Notre Dame.

This exciting opportunity has been made possible through the tremendous generosity and support of our two patrons Tim Storrier and Annette Onslow and the ongoing commitment and collaboration between NAS and Friends of NAS. FONAS will be administering the applications, however all applications will be reviewed by a Committee that is comprised of Tim Storrier or his representative, Annette Onslow or her representative a NAS representative and a Friends of the National Art School representative.

Applications are invited from NAS academic/teaching staff, NAS graduates or successfully completed final year NAS students.

Should you have any further questions about this exciting opportunity, please do not hesitate to contact Administration Manager, Friends of the National Art School, on (02) 9339 8635 or email fonas@det.nsw.edu.au

Friends of the National Art School
C/- National Art School
Forbes Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010

T: (02) 9339 8635

fonas@det.nsw.edu.au

Xavier Art Space applications out August/September 2007

Exhibition Space for Friends Members

Friends of the National Art School and St Vincent’s Campus Art Committee Present

Xavier Art Space

A collaborative initiative by Friends of the National Art School and St Vincent’s Campus Art Committee designed to promote the visual arts to the public and in particular the spiritual and healing endeavour of the St Vincent’s Campus community.

Contact:

Administration Manager, Friends of the National Art School

T: (02) 9339 8635

E: fonas@det.nsw.edu.au

PAST EVENTS

An Artist at My Table - A Charity Fundraising Event

Painted Ceramic plates by Euan Macleod, Sydney Ball and Ken Done.

An Artist at My Table is a silent auction of painted ceramic plates by celebrities, public figures, emerging and eminent artists. All plates sold will receive ASX-Reuters Charity Foundation Art Union Tickets, giving buyers the opportunity to win fabulous prizes, draw March 2007.

Art works have been handmade by NAS Alumni Wendy Thurgate and Josh Heaton and painted by Zoe Carides, Mary Coustas, Adam Cullen, Max Cullen, Elisabeth Cummings, Quentin Dempster, Kerry O'Brien, John Peart, Tanya Plibersek MP, Lee Rhiannon MP, Martin Sharp, Wendy Sharpe, Margaret Woodward, Angus Wood, Peter Berner, Kevin Conner, Norman Hetherington, Judy Cassab and many many more.....

ONE NIGHT Only, Thursday, 7th December 2006 6-8pm

Cell Block Theatre, National Art School, Forbes Street Darlinghurst

All bids start at $100 with $20 increments.

All purchased ceramics will receive the equivalent value in ASX-Reuters Art Union Tickets, valued at $20 each.

2006 Campaign

Photo by Leigh D Stark

To see other images of our MASSIVE RALLY by Leigh go to http://www.leighlo.com/spore/index.php?gallery=./B-Paparazzi

RE: NAS Merger with COFA (UNSW)

Just when we had become used to the utter distain with which FONAS is treated by the NSW State Government (all the emails from FONAS to Ms Tebbutt’s, Minister for Education and Training, office being blocked is just one example) when yesterday’s article in The Australian newspaper proved that we can still be shocked by their tactics. What followed was 24 hours of non-stop phone calls from concerned supporters until we were able to get verbal confirmation from the minister’s spokesperson who claimed that they had been ‘misquoted’.

The article concerned, written by Imre Salusinszky, quotes Ms Tebbutts spokesperson confirming that the merger between NAS and COFA will proceed and that the minister would ‘try and preserve the school’s artistic philosophy’. Follow the link Schools of art in unlikely merger

The FONAS committee immediately ratified that such a hostile take-over of the National Art School through dubious and questionable processes will not deter us from continuing our campaign to save the school.

Even though there appears to me no substance to the quote, legitimate questions demand to be answered regarding this merger. For example, the proposal that COFA originally submitted never fulfilled the criteria set out in the original tender applications procedure. If the criteria has changed then surely other universities should be given another opportunity to apply, otherwise it is COFA rather than Department of Education and Training (DET) who is setting the agenda, with DET adopting the role of mere facilitator.

We would also like to know how Ian Howard (COFA Dean) felt able to inform the staff only last week (at the COFA Art Teachers Drawing Conference) that whilst remaining ‘circumspect’, an announcement regarding the expansion of COFA to include the National Art School in the creation of a very “exciting new art school” was imminent? He also stated that the negotiations with DET were ‘going very well indeed’.

So where to from here? Certainly we are full-steam ahead in our support for Angus Wood who will stand as an Independent candidate against Carmel Tebbutt in the State election in March 2007.

We will continue using every means available to ensure that the correct decision is made – and we need your help to do this.

We would ask each and every one of you to do what you can to save the National Art School. Please write to newspapers, phone radio stations, talk to anybody and everybody who might be able to influence the decision. Forward this email onto all your contacts. Every little bit helps.

The unexpected support that the Liberal Party has extended reflects poorly on the Iemma Labour Government and the way it views art and art education in this State. Echoing the voices of over 400 supporters outside Parliament House on 20 September 06, ‘Shame Iemma shame’.

We will keep you updated on news as it happens and would ask you all to do the same. Let us know what you are doing. Let us know what you would like us to do.

In the meantime, hold firm and do not be dissuaded from our chartered course. It is the duty of governments, as the elected servants of its people, to listen to its electorate. Democracy must prevail.

Kind regards,

Bernadette Mansfield

FONAS President

John McDonald writes on the future of the NAS in his article in last Saturday’s Spectrum, 1 October 2006

As the future of the National Art School hangs in the balance, the importance of core skills is shown in an impressive show.

Follow the link below:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/arts/to-draw-or-not-to-draw-that-is-the-question/2006/09/28/1159337269907.html

Please visit the FONAS blog site for information and discussion:

http://nasindependence.blog.com

Open letter to the Hon. John Howard MP

On Saturday 26th August 2006 FONAS published a full page open letter to the Hon. John Howard MP requesting that the National Art School be recognised for its past and present contribution to the cultural life of Australia and grant it federal status and federal funding as a member of the Australian Roundtable for Arts Training Excellence.

We thank all the many supporters who have signed petitions in support of the independence of the National Art School. All original petitions will be tabled at State Parliament by Clover Moore over the coming weeks.

Please continue to be active in supporting the independence of the Naitonal Art School. A campaign such as this could not be successful without individual support at all levels.

To assist with our campaign please phone our office on 9339 8635 and we will forward you petitions to be signed by friends and like minded supporters.

Alternatively please write to your local Member of Parliment with your concerns or to the following:

Minister for Education and Training

Level 33

Governor Macquarie Tower

1 Farrer Place

Sydney NSW 2000

minister@det.nsw.edu.au

Andrew Cappie-Wood

Director General Department of Education and Training

GPO Box 33

Sydney

NSW 2001