The School of Drama, Fine Art and Music (incorporating The Conservatorium) has earned a reputation for delivering quality programs in the creative arts. The School has more than 1300 undergraduate and postgraduate students studying courses in Drama, Fine Art and Music. While many students study on campus, the School also delivers a number of courses online to over a dozen countries throughout the world.

Graduates from the School are well regarded with many enjoying national and international careers in the creative arts industry. The specialist training that students receive is a valuable asset to their career paths with many progressing from undergraduate studies through to postgraduate research.

Many academic staff in the School of Drama, Fine Art and Music (incorporating The Conservatorium) have an international profile, being recognised as experts in their fields. The School's research activities continue to expand with continued involvement with centres such as the ArtsHealth Centre for Research and Practice. The School is a vibrant and exciting community providing excellence in teaching and research in the realm of the creative arts.

Drama

We aim to develop an understanding of performance as a phenomenon and drama as a medium in their social and cultural contexts. This involves the study of performance across a range of sites from theatres to the street, and includes theoretical and practical investigations, both of which we see as indispensable to a thorough knowledge of the discipline.

These investigations will be valuable to you even if your interest in drama is purely as a spectator or student rather than as a practitioner. However, our courses are particularly valuable to those of you who will become responsible for facilitating, organising and realising live performing arts projects within and for the community. Our definition of community is wide: it embraces youth (including schools), the disadvantaged or underprivileged, business, the indigenous community and the ad hoc 'communities' which participate at specific events as spectators or audiences. In this capacity you will be involved in the creative development of ideas, and the design and implementation of effective strategies through to completion and evaluation of performance.

We teach through lectures, seminars and practical workshops. Our courses provide you with the foundational skills in areas such acting, directing for the stage, stage management and lighting design, playwriting, as well as the application of drama techniques to the primary and secondary teaching curricula. Our performance programme allows you to try out your skills as a performer, director or designer and to develop your understanding of the craft basis of theatre.

Fine Art

Fine Art at the University of Newcastle has a growing reputation as a centre of excellence in Australia. Our award winning staff and students consistently exhibit in local and national venues, and play a major role in Newcastle's dynamic public art program. Our courses have recently been restructured to respond to changing community and educational needs and to the exciting multi-disciplinary trends of contemporary art. Consequently, the broad range of subjects on offer provides great scope for students to specialise or diversify.

Our obligation is to provide the intellectual and technical resources to support the development of professional artists who view art-making as a process of inquiry and self-discovery. A comprehensive Art Theory program offers a wide range of subjects appropriate to the interdisciplinary studio choices in two dimensional studies - Painting, Drawing and Printmaking; three dimensional studies - Sculpture, Ceramics, Fibre; and Photomedia - traditional and digital photography. We have excellent workshops and highly-skilled academic and technical staff to assist in all aspects of art-making. Our courses also provide training for a range of art-related vocations.

The School boasts a vibrant autonomous student exhibition venue, Watt Space Galleries, and the University Gallery, which hosts important national and international exhibitions. The School also has an active Artist-in-Residence program and established links with national and international exchange programs, to interact with the many visitors who undertake our courses. Our postgraduate program (Honours, MFA and PhD) is rapidly expanding and has contributed to the lively and diverse learning environment enjoyed by so many.

Music

The Bachelor of Music degree prepares students for a musical career at a professional standard. Important components in the program are the development of performance and creative skills, collaboration with other musicians and creative artists, and the use of up to date technologies.

The degree is conducted over three years of full-time study or part-time equivalent. It aims to develop musical skills by providing every opportunity to develop individual creativity while receiving high quality training in music. Students receive individual and group tuition in the area of their principal study and have the opportunity to study a variety of electives. Students specialise in performance (instrumental/voice), composition, creative music production, musicology, or may combine these areas into a double major.

There are many opportunities to perform in and create for a diverse array of ensembles and bands such as jazz, pop and world music, symphonic and wind orchestras, chamber and large choirs, small, medium and hybrid groups. These ensembles normally rehearse weekly during semester time and often give concerts in the Conservatorium Concert Hall as well as at local, national and occasionally international venues.

Improvisation is an important activity. Laptop orchestras and MIDI based ensembles are also on offer. Music production skills are crucial to the modern musician, and all students have the opportunity to develop skills in this area. The Creative Production Laboratory at the University of Newcastle Conservatorium boasts state of the art Music Technology facilities.

Every year the Conservatorium devotes one week in second semester to do activities based on a theme. In 2010, the theme is performing medieval and renaissance music. In 2009, the theme was the relationship between the composer and performer in the 21st century, and in 2008 the theme was world music, hip hop and Bartok. As well as offering a wide variety of performance experiences within the degree, important are the many opportunities students have in working and performing in the community and region.

For more information, please contact one of our offices

Last Updated: 29 September 2012

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