The National Art School has been involved with discussions for the past 18 months regarding the creation of a 'centre for artistic excellence.' This is by way of an amalgamation between Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney (SCA); the College of Fine Art (COFA), University of New South Wales, and the National Art School (NAS).

We, the Friends of the National Art School, petition the National Art School to withdraw from discussions, and in turn, petition the Federal Government to support the  National Art School in the same way it supports the National Institute for Dramatic Arts (NIDA).

We further petition the NSW Government to continue to support the three uniquely  different models of tertiary art education (established in 1974 by the NSW Government during its  Division of Fine Arts)  to ensure diversity in art education. 

This diversity has led to enormous success on all three campuses.

An homogenisation of tertiary visual art education is a regressive step that will set-back art education in Australia exponentially.