Visual Arts & Craft

Painting student

Adelaide College of the Arts is a dynamic training centre for visual arts, housing a first-class gallery, versatile exhibition spaces, fully equipped workshops and modern studios.

Students in visual arts are able expand their creative thinking and practices, while developing an individual creative identity. Courses in visual arts are aimed at people who wish to work as practising artists, craftspeople, or in work that requires creative thinking or expression. Students develop skills that are highly technical, while learning to express conceptual qualities that are both contemporary and aesthetic.

Courses in visual art at AC Arts cover a range of studio disciplines:

  • Ceramics
  • Digital media
  • Drawing
  • Jewellery
  • Painting
  • Photography
  • Printmaking
  • Sculpture

Studio studies are supplemented with core studies in art history and visual language, drawing, concept development and design. Units in art practice enable students to mirror real-life practice as an artist and prepare our graduates ready for their career in contemporary visual arts.

Courses

Award Courses

Course Name National Code TAFESA Code
Certificate IV in Jewellery 043
Certificate IV in Media Arts 091
Certificate IV in 3D Ceramics and Sculpture 102
Certificate IV in Visual Arts and Contemporary Craft CUV40103 DFT
Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design ADZ

International Courses

Qualification CRICOS Code National Code
Certificate IV in Visual Arts and Contemporary Craft 053552G CUV40103
Certificate IV in Visual Arts and Contemporary Craft 053552G CUV40103
Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design 047602G  
Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design 047602G  

Short Courses

Course Name Duration
Enamelling & Designing for Enamel - Term 3 8 weeks Part Time
Enamelling & Designing for Enamel - Term 4 8 weeks Part Time
Etching 6 weeks Part Time
Hand Building in Clay 6 weeks Part Time
Introduction to Drawing - Term 3 6 weeks Part Time
Introduction to Drawing - Term 4 6 weeks Part Time
Introduction to Jewellery Making - Term 3 6 weeks Part Time
Introduction to Jewellery Making - Term 4 6 weeks Part Time
Introduction to Painting - Term 3 6 weeks Part Time
Introduction to Painting - Term 4 6 weeks Part Time
Limestone Carving - Term 3 3 weeks Part Time
Limestone Carving - Term 4 3 weeks Part Time
Screen Printing 6 weeks Part Time
Wheel Formed Pottery 6 weeks Part Time

Facilities

AC Arts is a modern, iconic centre built in 2001 specifically for arts training. It includes purpose-built studios and workshops with industry-standard equipment and technologies that ensure learning is relevant and student-focused. This means all computer facilities, as well as subject-specific resources such as easels, cameras and jewellery benches, are modern and fully equipped.

Studios at AC Arts are designed to capture the natural light and, with large, open display and student amenity spaces, visual art students can mix with other performance-based art students, creating a communal atmosphere that promotes the exchange of artistic ideas.
Light Square Gallery, housed within AC Arts, promotes and supports the contemporary work of emerging local, national and international artists. Diverse exhibitions showcase to students the standards, skills and conceptual commitment of contemporary visual art practice.

Regional program

Visual Art and Contemporary Craft courses are also run from TAFE SA Mount Barker, Mount Gambier and O'Halloran Hill campuses, with specialisations including painting, concept design, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, textiles, art history, professional practice and colour theory.

Employment

Graduates are employed across many occupational sectors, with many operating as self-employed practising artists. Artists are employed in galleries, studios, or work with festivals, schools and education providers, or within the tourism and retail sectors.

Arts administration and arts management provide job opportunities for people to work in art- or community-based organisations where the creative arts are a focus.

Many graduates undertake further study in visual arts at Honours or Masters level, while a visual arts qualification with a degree in education provides an avenue into teaching.

Photography Lecturer Video

Industry partners

The Helpmann Academy is a partnership of the major tertiary arts training establishments in South Australia, including the state’s universities and TAFE SA. The Helpmann Academy assists emerging artists by fostering collaboration between artists and creating opportunities via grants, awards, exhibitions, professional mentorships, publicity programs and international exchange programs.

TAFE SA Regional also has links with the following bodies to keep in touch with industry and develop learning or employment opportunities for students:

For information on establishing a partnership through AC Arts, contact:
Lynne Dickson
Educational Manager
Lynne.dickson@tafesa.edu.au

And for TAFE SA Regional partnerships, contact:
Deborah Rogers
Lecturer, TAFE SA Mount Gambier
Deborah.rogers@tafesa.edu.au

Or

Merrilyn Stock
Lecturer, TAFE SA Mount Barker
Merrilyn.stock@tafesa.edu.au