Victorian College of the Arts

"This is not about the American pornographic movie studio VCA Pictures."

The Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) is a leading Australian visual and performing arts training institution. As of January 1 2007, the VCA became known as the Faculty of the Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne. [ [http://www.unimelb.edu.au/HB/facs/VCA.html Faculty of Victorian College of Arts ] ] VCA is also in consultation with the University of Melbourne over implementing the controversial [ [http://www.vcasu.org.au/2008/04/24/arts-college-to-follow-us-model-2/ "Arts college to follow US model"] The Age, April 23, 2008] Melbourne Model at the VCA in 2009. [ [http://www.vcasu.org.au/2008/04/29/vice-chancellor-lies-about-introduction-of-melbourne-model-at-vca/ Vice Chancellor Lies About Introduction of Melbourne Model at VCA] Victorian College of the Arts Student Union. April 29, 2008. Accessed May 3, 2008]

It is located in Melbourne, Australia, on St Kilda Road just outside the Melbourne central business district, and offers courses and training in six academic disciplines: fine art, dance [ [http://www.ausdance.org.au/outside/furtherstudies/vic.html#vca Further Studies in Dance - Victorian Institutions ] ] , drama, film and television, music and production, and two centres — The Centre for Ideas and The Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development.

There are 1000 students at the St Kilda Road campus which employs approximately 200 staff.

History

The VCA has its origins in the National Gallery School, which was founded in 1867 to teach Fine Art. The VCA was proclaimed in 1972 and in 1973 the School of Art became the first school of the Victorian College of the Arts. The VCA Music department was founded in 1974, followed by Drama (1976), Dance (1978) and Film and Television (1992). In 2006 the VCA was an affiliated college of the University of Melbourne, and as of January 1 2007, the VCA became known as the Faculty of the Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne. [ [http://www.unimelb.edu.au/HB/facs/VCA.html Faculty of Victorian College of Arts ] ]

Alumni

Some well known Alumni from the VCA include: Actors
* Jonny Pasvolsky
* Hannie Rayson, actor and playwright
* Vince Colosimo
* Alice McConnell
* Sibylla Budd
* Angus Grant
* Stephen Phillips

Visual artists
* Steve Cox - painter and watercolourist
* Lewis Miller - painter, Archibald Prize winner
* Bill Henson - photographer and artist
* Patricia Piccinini - 2003 Venice Biennale representative
* Ricky Swallow - 2005 Venice Biennale representative
* Callum Morton - 2007 Venice Biennale representative
* Susan Norrie - 2007 Venice Biennale representative
* Nick Managan - 2007 Samstag scholarship recipient
* Paul Knight - 2007 Samstag scholarship recipient
* Nicholas Jones - book sculptor
* Martin Grant - fashion designer
* Marcus Wills - painter, Archibald Prize winner
* Azlan McLennan - artist and activist

Dancers
* Phillip Adams - Artistic Director of Balletlab
* Prue Lang - dancer with Ballet Frankfurt
* Kate Denborough - Co-Artistic Director of Kage Physical Theatre
* Gerard van Dyck - Co-Artistic Director of Kage Physical Theatre
* Rebecca Hilton - choreographer
* Elissa Meyer-Thomas - choreographer
* Hellen Sky - choreographer
* Sandra Parker - former Dance Works Artistic Director
* Jo Lloyd - dancer and choreographer

Filmmakers
* Gillian Armstrong - director
* Adam Elliot - animator and Academy Award winner
* Sarah Watt - writer and director
* Robert Luketic - director
* Jill Bilcock - editor
* Ian Baker - cinematographer
* Anthony Lucas - animator and Academy Award nominee

Musicians
* The Cat Empire
* Liza Lim - composer
* Natalie Christie - opera singer
* Patrick Savage - Principal First Violin with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and film composer
* John Butler Trio
* Shannon Burchell
* Michael Barker
* Caroline Almonte - pianist
* Diana Doherty - Oboe soloist with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra

econdary School

The VCA has a strong link with the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS), a leading state government school and trainer of talented young dancers and musicians. VCASS was founded in 1978 (as the VCA Technical School) and teaches Year 7 to 12. As of 2008 it has an enrolment of approximately 300 students.

Dancers and musicians are accepted after annual auditions. The school also provides academic classes to secondary students from other institutions including the Australian Ballet School [http://www.australianballetschool.com.au/index.asp?section=Organisational-Structure Australian Ballet School] , Tennis Australia and the Victorian Institute of Gymnasts. It currently shares buildings on the same site as the VCA, with a planned move in 2009 to new premises at 57 Miles Street, Southbank.

Principals

*1977 – 1985 Founding Principal: Jack Pitt
*1985 – 1992 Graham Goetz
*1993 Alistair Gunn (Acting)
*1994 – 2004 Sylvia Kolarik
*2004 - Colin Simpson

Alumni

Some well known alumni from VCASS include:

Musicians
* Natalie Gauci, vocalist [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/btvb-melbournes-natalie-gauci-named-the-2007-iaustralian-idoli/2007/11/25/1195975877369.html Melbourne singer claims Idol crown - TV & Radio - Entertainment - theage.com.au ] ]
* Aaron Choulai, jazz pianist and composer [ [http://www.move.com.au/artist.cfm/900 Aaron Choulai - Move Records ] ]
* Marshall McGuire, harpist
* Teresa Blake, cellist, actor
* Miki Tsunoda, violinist, soloist
* Rob Burke, saxophonist [ [http://www.vcass.vic.edu.au/alumni/halloffame/ Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School : Hall of Fame ] ]
* John Arcaro, percussionist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra [ [http://www.vcass.vic.edu.au/alumni/halloffame/ Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School : Hall of Fame ] ]
* Rebecca Chambers, 1995 Young Australian of the Year [ [http://www.vcass.vic.edu.au/alumni/halloffame/ Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School : Hall of Fame ] ]
* Simon Fordham [ [http://www.vcass.vic.edu.au/alumni/halloffame/ Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School : Hall of Fame ] ]

Dancers
* Annabel Knight, Sydney Dance Company
* Rachel Rawlins, Principal Artist with the Australian Ballet [ [http://www.vcass.vic.edu.au/alumni/halloffame/ Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School : Hall of Fame ] ]
* Tristan Message, Senior Artist with the Australian Ballet
* Rarmian Newton currently one of four boys playing the title role in "Billy Elliot the Musical"

References

External links

* [http://www.vca.unimelb.edu.au/ VCA website]
* [http://www.vcass.vic.edu.au/ VCA Secondary School website]
* [http://www.futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/pdf/ug_prosp_2007/vca.pdf VCA Undergraduate Prospectus]