Institute of the Arts (ITA)
The Canberra Institute of the Arts amalgamated with the The Australian National University in January 1992, becoming the Institute of the Arts under the Australian National University Act 1991. Within the Institute are the Canberra School of Art (CSA), the Canberra School of Music (CSM) and the Australian Centre for the Arts and Technology (ACAT).
Located on the ANU campus within walking distance of the city, the Institute
has impressive purpose-built facilities, including the Llewellyn Hall for
Music and the Canberra School of Art Gallery. The Jazz and Composition
Departments of the School of Music are housed in the original School of
Music buildings at Manuka.
The Institute’s role
The Institutes principal function is to conduct an education institution for the purpose of fostering the achievement of excellence in the study of music and the visual arts and crafts at tertiary and other levels. The two Schools meet the needs of students not only from the ACT, but through Australia and overseas. At some time in the future, the Institue may offer study opportunities in other fields of the arts.
The Institute uses its facilities and resources to advance and develop knowledge and skill in the fields of art and music, and promotes the development of community awareness and appreciation of the arts.
In carrying out this work, the Institute cooperates with other education
institutions, associations, organisations and authorities with similar
concerns. This work is not confined to the Canberra campus. The Institute
has special relationships with similar institutions throughout Australia
and overseas.
The Canberra School of Art is a purpose-built institution in Australia’s national capital. Its wide range of unique well-resourced workshops provide an excellent working environment for further study. The School is one of the most attractive and functional campuses in Australia, and has attracted to its staff some of the countrys most distinguished artists with national and international reputations.
A workshop structure has been established to provide a teaching environment closely related to day-to-day professional art studio activity. Special features include a large modern exhibition gallery, a well-equipped library, residential accommodation for visiting artists and a continuous guest lecturer program.
Because of its central location, the Canberra School of Art is able to
develop productive relationships with the University of Canberra, the National
Gallery of Australia, the National Film and Sound Archive, the National
Library of Australia, and other institutions. This enables students to
develop particular contacts and opportunities to complement their studio-based
practical studies which are designed to equip graduates for work as practising
artists.
Internationally acclaimed as a centre for music study, the Canberra School of Music brings together a distinguished faculty of teachers and musically gifted students. The school has an enviable reputation as a centre for excellence in performance. Many of its graduates have assumed important positions in the music profession, further enhancing the reputation of the School throughout the music world. A substantial program of visiting artists and concert activities extend opportunities and experiences for students.
Performance studies encompass string, wind, brass, percussion, keyboard and guitar as well as voice, conducting and jazz. Students have a wide range of opportunities for solo performance and are also tutored in large and small groups to extend their repertoire and ensemble skills. For students of music theory, composition, electronic music or music history and literature, the School offers staff and facilities equal to the best in Australia.
The School’s second campus encompassing the Jazz and Composition departments is located at Manuka, a few kilometres from the main campus, which is close to the city. The Australian Centre for the Arts and Technology (ACAT) is located adjacent to the two schools on the University campus, and offers electronic and computer music studies, with an excellent synthesiser and multitrack recording facility.
Canberra School of Music students have access to the resources of the National
Library of Australia, the National Gallery of Australia Library, the National
Film and Sound Archive, and the Australian Institute for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Studies, each of which holds specialist archival
collections.
The Australian Centre for the Arts and Technology (ACAT)
The Australian Centre for the Arts and Technology is a centre for the teaching,
research, recording and publishing of music and dynamic visual art made
with new technology. The centre is the first of its type in Australia and
maintains links with similar centres around the world. It provides a unique
environment for the study, research and artistic use of computers and is
a focus for the multidisciplinary education of composers and visual artists
interested in using new technologies as expressive tools. Music and Visual
Art students are encouraged to undertake joint projects where applicable.
Institute of the Arts Undergraduate Courses
Canberra School of Art
Bachelor of Arts (Visual) — 4 years full-time* (pass and honours)
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Arts(Visual) — 5 years full-time* (pass and honours)
Bachelor of Asian Studies/Bachelor of Arts (Visual) — 4 years full-time* (pass and honours)
Bachelor of Asian Studies (Specialist)/Bachelor of Arts (Visual) — 5 years full-time* (pass and honours)
Diploma of Art — 2 years full-time or part-time equivalent
* NOTE that from 1999, the BA(Visual) course will no longer be offered to new students, or to students transferring from other courses. A new, three-year course leading to the degree of BA(Visual) is being designed, together with corresponding new versions of the various combined courses and it will be that course into which new single-degree and combined course students will enrol or transfer in 1999.
Details of the new single and combined degree courses will be published in the The Institute of the Arts Handbook 1999 in due course. Continuing combined course students will be subject to the course requirements listed in the Combined Courses part of this Handbook.
Canberra School of Music
Bachelor of Music — 4 years full-time (pass and honours)
Advanced Diploma of Music in Jazz Studies — 3 years full-time
Advanced Diploma of Music — 3 years full-time
University of Canberra — Music Education — a single or double music major for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Education at the University of Canberra.
WORKSHOPS/PROGRAMS
(Canberra School of Art)
Ceramics, Glass, Gold and Silver, Painting, Photomedia, Printmedia, Sculpture,
Textiles, Wood.
DEPARTMENTS/PROGRAMS
(Canberra School of Music)
Composition, Jazz, Literature and Materials of Music, Brass, Guitar, Keyboard, Percussion, Strings, Voice, Woodwind.
For detailed information please refer to the Institute of the Arts Handbook.