Adelaide Centre for the ARTS was formed by the amalgamation of two leading tertiary arts training institutions - the North Adelaide School of Art (NASA) and the Centre for the Performing Arts (CPA). Both centres enjoyed strong reputations which have continued to grow since the 2001 amalgamation.

North Adelaide School of Art (NASA)

The North Adelaide School of Art (NASA) was established in 1979 and was located in Stanley Street, North Adelaide. The school’s building was designed and purpose built as an art school in the late 1950s and first opened its doors in 1963. It was originally occupied by the South Australian School of Art until its relocation to Underdale in 1978. TAFE then re-established its own art school – the North Adelaide School of Art – in 1979.

NASA was dedicated to practical studio-based studies in visual art, providing a broad interdisciplinary knowledge of the visual arts supported by relevant theoretical studies. The focus of NASA’s education and training activity was to develop each student’s artistic vision, aesthetic sensibility and skills to meet the needs of the arts industry. Training was provided in the studio areas of photography and electronic imaging, ceramics, sculpture, painting, drawing, printmaking, jewellery and textiles.

Surrounded by galleries and coffee shops, NASA was the hub of arts in the 1960s and 1970s. NASA had a lively social life, with the sunny open courtyard area in the centre of the building creating a natural meeting place for staff and students. The Kentish Arms Hotel conveniently located across the road from the school was also a popular venue.

NASA was the training ground for some of SA’s most renowned artists, including David Bromley, Aldo Iacobelli, Zhong Chen, Bronwyn Platten and Silvio Apponyi. Rowley Richardson, NASA’s former Head of School, points out that most of Adelaide's visual arts people either trained or taught within the building.

The building saw a major refurbishment in 1984-85 at a cost of approx $2 million, and closed in 2000 when NASA was amalgamated with the Centre for Performing Arts and relocated to the newly built Adelaide Centre for the ARTS.

Centre for the Performing Arts (CPA)

The Centre for the Performing Arts (CPA) was established by in 1978 by Dr Barry Young. It was housed in the old Adelaide Girls High School building in Grote Street, next to the Central Markets. The Centre commenced with the dance and technical production and design courses and had 26 students and three staff members.

In the beginning, dance and technical production were offered as two year certificate courses, working in partnership with each other to provide practical experience in mounting productions. The dance course is now a three year Degree course and technical production is a three year Diploma course. From the start, lecturers were employed directly from the industry, providing industry standard levels to work to and important industry contacts.

The acting course was introduced in 1987 and was headed by David Kendall and supported by two part time instructors. The inaugural intake consisted of 12 students. A few years later the course was expanded to accommodate two year levels of acting simultaneously. In 1997 an introductory acting course was established called Prologue. This was extremely successful, with five students going on to train and graduate in the acting course. A three year Diploma course is now offered in acting.

The buildings at the Grote Street site were adapted for the specific nature of theses courses and as the numbers of students expanded to capacity point, transportable studios were located on site to house the dance and acting disciplines. The Grote Street site was a vibrant space with an open courtyard area which created a natural and creative meeting place for staff and students. The Hampshire Hotel across the road and the Central Markets next door to the school were popular venues for artistic minds to meet.

In March 2001 a new, purpose built performing and visual arts complex was officially opened to house both the CPA and the North Adelaide School of Art (NASA) under a new banner, Adelaide Centre for the ARTS.