Secondary Schools & Students
Adelaide Central School of Art connects secondary school students and teachers with South Australia’s leading contemporary art professionals. Our programs inspire creativity, foster connection, and help young people explore career pathways in the arts. We also offer professional learning opportunities to inspire and support educators.
School Workshops
We offer workshops designed to meet the unique needs of your secondary students. Led by practising artists, our sessions can be customised to align with your curriculum goals and provide valuable insights into further study and career opportunities in the arts.
Workshops at ACSA or your school
Available at your school or ACSA’s Glenside campus, our workshops focus on developing practical skills while encouraging students to explore new ways of thinking through visual art, sparking creativity and critical thinking.
We can host small groups of students between 9 am – 5 pm at our Glenside campus most weekdays. Hosting larger groups is subject to studio availability, but we are also happy to work with you to deliver a workshop at your school.
Visit us
We invite teachers and students to discover our vibrant and inspiring learning environment with a free guided tour of our Teaching and Studio Building. While you’re here, immerse yourselves in contemporary art with a tour of Adelaide Central Gallery.
Workshops & Pricing
Please complete the workshop booking form. Availability depends on our artists/lecturers, so provide ample notice to secure your preferred times.
Free Learning offerings include:
- Tour of Central Gallery
- Tour of ACSA
Standard Studio Workshops include:
- Portrait Drawing
- Drawing in Colour
- Digital Drawing
- Mixed Media
- Clothed Life Drawing
- Into to Oil painting
- Soft Sculpture
- Clay and Casting
Pricing of Standard Workshops:
- $400 – Half-day workshop (1 to 3 hours)
- $800 – Full-day workshop
Additional costs:
- Courses with a life model
- Materials (if ACSA supplies)
We are happy to accommodate your curriculum requirements and develop unique learning programs for your students.
Specialised Workshops and Programs:
- Careers in the Arts
- Artist Talks
- Specialised workshops
Pricing of Specialised Workshops (including bespoke requests):
- $495 – Half-day workshop (1 to 3 hours)
- $990 – Full day workshop
Additional costs:
- Course with a life model
- Materials (if ACSA supplies)
For more information, please contact Suzanne Close at suzanne.close@acsa.edu.au
We really enjoyed the workshop. Working collaboratively, students transformed their 2D drawings into 3D cardboard constructions, experimenting with textures through stenciled patterns and aerosol techniques. The students ended up going on their own Quest of problem solving and team building, which was nice to observe, especially across a mixed year level group with various abilities. A lot of them were still buzzing on Monday. I was impressed with what they were able to achieve through James Dodd’s facilitation, and way of reinforcing what they had done, and guiding them gently when they needed a bit more support.
Zoe Crichton
Visual, Media Art and Photography teacher
Professional Development Opportunities for Educators
Adelaide Central School of Art offers a wide range of Professional Development opportunities for Visual Art Educators.
School Faulty & Group PD
We are happy to work with you and your faculty to design a program that meets your staff PD needs. This may include:
- A tour of ACSA and Adelaide Central Gallery
- Artist/Educator talks and workshops with our lecturers focusing on a specific technique or topic
- Information about career pathways in the arts
- Visiting our Graduate Exhibition for your end-of-year PD and planning
Contact Suzanne Close for more information suzanne.close@acsa.sa.edu.au
Short Courses and Masterclasses
Our Short Courses and Masterclasses can be undertaken as professional development, with certificates provided upon request. These programs are designed to help you expand your art practice, refine your skills, and gain practical knowledge that can be directly applied to your classroom teaching. Our courses allow you to meet your professional development goals and grow as an artist and educator.
Please visit our Short Courses page to view our current program.
In addition to our short courses, we also host the annual Visual Arts Educators of South Australia (VAESA) conference at our award-winning Glenside Campus. This conference provides a platform for you to connect with other educators, share ideas, and learn about new approaches to teaching visual art from ACSA lecturers.
‘The environment, lecturers and even the students are all so nice, and surprisingly like-minded, its like everyone has something in common. The environment and the lecturers are so chill and so its easy to feel relaxed and comfortable drawing/painting/etc.’
Teen Course Student
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Short Courses for Teens
Unleash your creative skills with Short Courses designed specifically for teensagers aged 13 – 17 years old.
We offer dynamic, 6-week Teen Short Courses each term of our academic year and 2 to 3 day Teen Intensives during the Summer and Winter school holidays. Each course is designed with a different focus and skill level in mind, so that students can choose which course and level best suits them. Led by experienced educators who are passionate about sharing their love of art, students are encouraged to explore new techniques in a supportive and inspiring environment.
Be Kind!
We expect all members of the Adelaide Central School of Art Community to:
- Be kind and courteous towards others.
- Embrace diversity and everyone’s differences.
- Respect the school’s property.
- Take care of your own and others’ health and safety.
- Let us know if you have any concerns or if we can help support you in any way.
Remember your materials
The teen course you enrol in will have a list of required materials. There are usually asterisks beside the materials you will need for the first class, so you will not need to bring everything. The teacher will tell you what you will need to bring to the following lesson.
Phones and Devices
You can bring your phone, laptop, and iPad to the workshops. However, you will not be able to charge devices on campus. We also ask that you respect the privacy of teachers and fellow students and not post their faces or images on social media. If you get distracted by your phone, you might want to leave it in your bag.
Accessibility needs and medical conditions
Please let us know if you have specific accessibility requirements or medical conditions (including allergies).
There are accessible carparks next to the T&S building (opposite the gallery) and a lift. We welcome young people with neurodivergence, and students can wear headphones or take breaks whenever needed. We want to support your participation in the course., so please let us know if you have any concerns or if we can help you in any way.
Our adult short courses are designed for learners over 16 years of age, catering to adult learning styles and attention spans. These classes include adult participants, which can be socially overwhelming and intimidating for younger students, regardless of their artistic ability.
If you’re under 18 and have never taken a course at ACSA, we recommend starting with one of our teen courses to familiarise yourself with the school and learning format.
Students under 18 must have parental or guardian consent and submit a completed consent form before attending class.
Please be aware that courses often sell out quickly. To be notified as soon as our Short Course Program is released, please join our mailing list.
‘Fantastic choice of activities, with a great mix of new, less common skills and learning upon older, more common skills. Teachers were fantastic at providing new information and catering to multiple ranges of skill level. 10/10, will do again.’
Teen Intensive Student