Performing Arts Degrees in Adelaide

[cruel_world00]

It looks like Performing Arts students in Australia will be losing another institution to further their studies at. Isn't it time that the FESTIVAL State invested more in the performing arts? Seems like a good opportunity. Right now, in Australia, there is only NIDA in NSW and WAPA in WA, surely SA could try it's luck at providing a degree course to create a respected performing arts school? No, Yes, Maybe?

An article on the subject:
http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/08/ind ... -need.html

Movement to support the fledging VCA:
http://www.savevca.org/the-problem.html ... estructure

[Queen Anne]

I confess I don't know much about this subject, but I have sometimes wondered why SA does not invest more in the performing arts, considering our festivals are top rate. We have the BA program in drama at Flinders, but it doesn't seem to have that much of a profile (not amongst the general public, anyway).

It would be good to see SA go all out to play to its strengths. Wine tourism is another area I wonder that we're not quite reaching our potential with.

[SRW]

I have to agree -- it's something that's been bothering me for awhile also.

We have such a terrific basis for the arts (not just the performing arts) in this state that is such a shame that the study of them is not given much attention. I think we ought to look at strengthening the Helpmann Academy to become a more coherent and marketable entity rather than just a loose association of tertiary level arts schools (as I understand it to be).

[Hooligan]

What do you say to an arts student graduate?







Large Big Mac meal thanks.

[Prince George]

What do you say to an arts student graduate? Large Big Mac meal thanks.

The variant of that joke that I used to hear was "What did the arts grad say to the engineer? 'Do you want fries with that?' ", which was invariably told by an engineer who was oblivious to the joke's unintended second message - Mr Bigshot Engineer eats at McDonalds.

[monotonehell]

An Arts Degree and Performing Arts are different things, Hooligan.



cruel_world00, you know there's that huge building on Light Square. Purpose built. Has a stage or two, fully outfitted technical workshops for stagecraft, tutorial spaces, rehearsal spaces...

I wonder what they do in there?



http://www.tafe.sa.edu.au/Default.aspx?tabid=853

They offer Advanced Diploma of Arts in Acting, Bachelor of Dance Performance, both fully accredited. Sure they might not have the prestige of RADA (UK) or NIDA (NSW), but you can't win that kind of prestige by throwing money at it. That's due to snobbery and reputation, built on the fact that the Arts are a closed house. The State is already funding such facilities in South Australia.

[Queen Anne]

http://www.tafe.sa.edu.au/Default.aspx?tabid=853

They offer Advanced Diploma of Arts in Acting, Bachelor of Dance Performance, both fully accredited. Sure they might not have the prestige of RADA (UK) or NIDA (NSW), but you can't win that kind of prestige by throwing money at it. That's due to snobbery and reputation, built on the fact that the Arts are a closed house. The State is already funding such facilities in South Australia.

I think your post illustrates SRW's point. You mentioned the TAFE courses and centre, I mentioned the course at Flinders - they are both under the umbrella of the Helpmann Academy, but who knew? Not me, that's for sure. I've never even heard of the Helpmann Academy

There does seem to be something lacking here in the packaging of our arts education offerings. It feels like an opportunity let slip by. It's great that the state's funding all this stuff, but if a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, etc etc...

[SRW]

but if a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, etc etc...

Exactly.

We've talked on this forum before about specialisation and niche industries -- the idea of finding something we're good at, or have natural advantages in, and throwing our full weight behind it. It strikes me that the arts is one such area. Why shouldn't we invest in a centre of excellence in the arts with the prestige and kudos to attract people to it and our state?

[monotonehell]

While I wouldn't say no to more "weight behind the arts" in South Australia. I think it's more a case of being ignorant(*) of what you're not actively interested in.

For example how many of you know that SALA is on right now? How many of you know what SALA is? If your eyes are tuned to the arts there's adverts in the print media, venues and exhibitions all over Adelaide and activity everywhere you care to look.

But if you're not really into South Australian Living Artists, you wouldn't be aware of the festival that's been an annual event here for years -- despite all the publicity it gets.

I only know(care) about performing and creative arts because I have several friends who are actors, artists, designers and such -- so that kind of publicity catches my eye. I suspect something opposite to this is what gives the publicity, vibrancy and importance a low profile on most people's radar. It's not just the Adelaide Festival and Fringe there's a year round calendar of events. The courses held in our schools are recognised. Generally they are a stepping stone to the EXCLUSIVE academies like RADA & NIDA for those places are extremely hard to gain a place in. And the way the performing arts in crowd are, it's near impossible to alter the establishment (you think the development assessment process is political ..?)

Again, I'm not saying no to a concerted effort to raise international attention! Just pointing out that a lot of what is going on here never even registers on most peoples' radar.


An analogy; think of these two statements:
"I went to Harvard."
"I went to UniSA."

----
(*Nb I don't mean this in the pejorative)