Considered as one of Australia's leading arts institutions, Victorian College of the Arts & Music had its origins in the National Gallery School, which was founded in 1867. The National Gallery Art School, was part of the National Gallery of Victoria from 1867 to 1968 and was one of the first public institutions to teach Fine Art in Australia. Eugen von Guérard was the first ‘Instructor of Painting and Master of the School of Art’. Among the earliest pupils were Tom Roberts and Frederick McCubbin, who was then, in 1886, appointed as Master of Drawing, a post he held until his death in 1917. The VCA was officially proclaimed in 1972, and over the next twenty-nine years the College grew to encompass a School of Art (1973), School of Music (1974), School of Drama (1975), School of Dance (1979), School of Film and Television (1992) and the School of Production (2001).
In 1992 it was merged with the Prahran Faculty of Art (Victoria College) which also dates back to the mid-nineteenth century.
On January 1 2007 the VCA became a faculty of The University of Melbourne.
In 2009, the Faculty of the VCA and Music was founded, combining two Melbourne arts institutions and former faculties of the University of Melbourne; the Victorian College of the Arts and the Faculty of Music

The Faculty of the VCA and Music has two campuses, at Southbank and Parkville. The Southbank campus is home to the majority of their programs. The purpose-built facilities in the heart of Melbourne’s arts precinct encourage our students’ creative talents. The campus sits alongside the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Theatre Company, Melbourne Recital Centre, The Australian Ballet, Chunky Move, the Arts Centre and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art.
The Parkville campus – which is home to many of the Conservatorium of Music’s programs – is situated in the heart of the University of Melbourne, and boasts the grand 340-seat Melba Hall, the scene of many memorable recitals and performances. Music Programs are offered both at VCA and Music Campuses.
The Victorian College of the Arts comprises 6 different academic areas: Art, Dance, Drama, Music, Film & Television, Production and three centres; The Centre for Ideas, The Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts & Cultural Development and Centre for Cultural Partnership.

VCA has produced artists of national and international standing; including successful filmmakers, musicians, writers, choreographers, theatre and costume designers, composers, conductors, dancers, actors, directors, visual artists, arts administrators, managers and teachers.In 2003 Alumni Adam Elliot (1996) received an Academy Award for his short animation “Harvey Krumpet”, and in the same year, Alumni Glendin Ivin (1998) received the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or for “Crackerbag”. In 2005, artist Ricky Swallow was selected to represent Australia at the Venice Biennale.
Ricky Swallow was the tenth member of the VCA School of Art community selected for this honour. Between 1978 and 2005, twenty one artists represented Australia at the Venice Biennale, including eight VCA alumni and two past staff members. These were: John Davis, Peter Booth, Arthur Boyd, Trevor Nicholls, Jenny Watson, Bill Henson, Howard Arkely, Lyndal Jones, Patricia Piccinii and Ricky Swallow. A publication 10/21 was produced with the support of Arts Victoria to mark the occasion.

The Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) at the University of Melbourne received, in October 2010, Commonwealth and State government funding totaling almost $20 million over the next three years.

The VCA also runs short course programs, workshops and part time, year long courses allowing students to specialise in areas such as contemporary painting techniques, drawing, sculpture, life drawing and digital art. Courses are taught by practicing artists and VCA alumni with strong connections to the School of Art and art community.

Courses at the Victorian College of the Arts
By Discpline

Art

Bachelor of Fine Art
Drawing
Printmaking
Painting
Photography
Sculpture
Spatial Practice

Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours)
Ceramics
Drawing
Painting
Photography
Printmaking
Sculpture
plus Research Paper

Graduate Certificate in Visual Arts

Postgraduate Diploma in Visual Arts

Master of Visual Art (by Coursework)
Master of Fine Arts (by Research)

Doctor of Philosophy

Dance

Bachelor of Dance
Bachelor of Dance (Honours)

Postgraduate Diploma
Classical ballet teaching
Contemporary Dance Teaching
Choreography for the screen
Performance Creation (Dance)
Dance Science

Master of Dance (Performance) (by Research)
Master of Animateuring (by Research)
Master of Choreography (by Research)
Master of Choreography (by Coursework)

Drama

Bachelor of Dramatic Art
Conversion Course - Diploma of Dramatic Art to Bachelor of Dramatic Art
Postgraduate Diploma in Performance Creation
Master of Theatre Practice (by Coursework)
Master of Dramatic Art (Direction) (by Research)
Master of Animateuring (by Research)

Film & Television

Bachelor of Film and Television
Bachelor of Film and Television (Honours)
Graduate Diploma in Film and Television
Postgraduate Diploma in Film and Television (Producing)
Master of Film and Television (by Coursework)
Master of Film and Television (by Research)
Master of Film and Television (Producing) (by Research)

Music
Foundation Program (Music Performance)
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music Theatre (this course has been suspended - may be reinstated in 2012 - pending decision)
Bachelor of Music (Honours)
Bachelor of Music Performance
Bachelor of Music Performance (Honours)
Diploma in Music Performance (Practical)
Postgraduate Diploma in Music Performance
Master of Music Performance (by Research)
Graduate Diploma in Guided Imagery and Music
Graduate Certificate in Music
Postgraduate Diploma in Music
Master of Music Studies
Master of Music Therapy
Master of Music (by research)
Doctor of Music (by research)

Production
Bachelor of Production
Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Arts Management
Postgraduate Diploma in Production (Puppetry, Design, Sound, Production Management, Lighting Streams) - this course has been incorporated into the Postgraduate Diploma in Performance Creation for 2011.
Master of Production (by Coureswork)
Master of Theatre Design (by Research)
Master of Sound Design (by Research)

Puppetry
Postgraduate Diploma and Masters in Puppetry (This course has been suspended - may be reinstated in 2012 - pending decision)

Community Cultural Development
Postgraduate Diploma in Community Cultural Development Practice - (mid year intake)
Master of Community Cultural Development Practice

Wilin Courses
Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Arts Management

Non-Award courses
Life Drawing
Ceramics workshops
Drawing workshops
Sculpture Workshops
Contemporary Painting techniques
Digital workshop
Contemporary art

Past students - Established and famous artists
Find a list of established and famous artists that studied at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA). Includes biographical information.

Awards & Scholarships

John Vickery Scholarship - Total Value approximately $20,000. A number of scholarships are offered from this.

Victorian College of the Arts Contact Details
The University of Melbourne
234 St Kilda Road
SOUTHBANK Victoria 3006
AUSTRALIA
.www.vca.unimelb.edu.au