Master of Fine Arts - Application Guide 2020 Graduate Intake - NIDA
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2020
Master of
Fine Arts
Application Guide 2020
Graduate Intake
Front Cover
Ex-Machina 2019 Production
Photographer: Patrick Boland
Copyright: © NIDA 2018
TABLE OF CONTENTS
APPLICATION PROCESS ....................................................................................... 3
APPLICATION PREPARATION DETAILS
MASTER OF FINE ARTS (CULTURAL LEADERSHIP) ................................................. 5
MASTER OF FINE ARTS (DESIGN FOR PERFORMANCE) ......................................... 7
MASTER OF FINE ARTS (DIRECTING) .................................................................. 12
MASTER OF FINE ARTS (VOICE) ......................................................................... 15
MASTER OF FINE ARTS (WRITING FOR PERFORMANCE)..................................... 17
FAQS ABOUT INTERVIEWS ................................................................................ 19
APPENIDX A – THEATRE PLAN ........................................................................... 20
APPENIDX B – THEATRE SECTION ...................................................................... 21
NIDA Masters of Fine Arts Application Guide for 2020 Intake
Page 2 of 45
APPLICATION PROCESS
APPLICATION PERIOD
Applications for admission to 2020 NIDA postgraduate courses are open from 1 July – 30
September, 2019. NIDA is unable to accept applications outside of this timeframe.
BEFORE APPLYING
You should read the following information carefully:
• Course information, including unit content, semester dates, fees and frequently asked
questions can be found at: https://www.nida.edu.au/courses/graduate
• The NIDA Student Handbook, Policies & Procedures and Course Regulations for your
intended course: https://www.nida.edu.au/courses/undergraduate/nida-student-policies
• Advice on how to apply for each course can be found from page 5 of this guide
If you have any further questions at this stage, please contact us at: applications@nida.edu.au
APPLYING
There are six steps to successfully apply for a NIDA course:
STEP 1
Create your application account (link to be provided from 1 July).
You will then be sent an automatic email with your log in details to continue your application.
STEP 2
Log in, select the green ‘New Application’ button and complete the online form.
STEP 3
Upload the following documentation to the online form:
• Evidence of your most recent qualification (e.g. school report, Higher School Certificate,
university transcript or testamur)
• Proof of identification (e.g. passport, driver’s licence, birth certificate; ID must show your
date of birth)
NIDA Masters of Fine Arts Application Guide for 2020 Intake
Page 3 of 45
• A passport style photograph (less than six months old, in colour, well lit, plain
background)
• Academic IELTS or equivalent (international applicants only)
(NIDA requires an overall band of 7.0 Academic IELTS for all Master of Fine Arts
courses)
• Any course related documents/portfolios (refer to the course information in the following
pages for more details).
STEP 4
Make payment of the AUD$75 administration fee by credit/debit card. Accept Terms and Conditions. Once
you’ve accepted these you will not be able to amend your application.
STEP 5
Book your interview date in your nearest capital city.
STEP 6
Attend your interview, having prepared the relevant material for your course (refer to the course
information in the following pages for more details).
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF APPLYING
• The 2020 intake administration fee is AUD$75 (including GST) per application. This is a
non-refundable fee.
• Applications for NIDA's higher education courses commencing in 2020 close on 30
September 2019. NIDA cannot accept applications after this date.
• There are a limited number of places available in each course. Selection is based on
merit; not all applicants who meet the published entry requirements will receive a study
offer.
• All applicants are required to review the course requirements and tuition fees as stated
on the NIDA website.
• It is not possible to provide applicants with individual written or oral feedback on their
audition/interview.
• Applicants who receive a study offer for 2020 must accept the offer within the timeframe
indicated. It is not possible to defer a study offer at NIDA.
NIDA Masters of Fine Arts Application Guide for 2020 Intake
Page 4 of 45
MASTER OF FINE ARTS
(CULTURAL LEADERSHIP)
APPLICATION PREPARATION DETAILS FOR 2020 INTAKE
NB: The Master of Fine Arts (Cultural Leadership) is only available to study part time.
SUBMIT WITH YOUR APPLICATION
The following should be uploaded with your application:
1. PROFESSIONAL CV
You should upload a detailed CV highlighting your education and training, professional
work and other relevant information.
2. ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
You will need to provide proof of your university degree/s or five years of professional
experience in a relevant area. This can be a scan/photograph of your transcript or
testamur from the awarding institution; if you are offered a place in the course you will be
required to provide a certified copy.
3. PERSONAL STATEMENT
You upload a personal statement of no more than 600 words outlining your interest in
the course, new knowledge you hope to acquire, and how you see the course
intersecting with your current work/projects.
ON THE INTERVIEW DAY
Interviews are conducted by at least two NIDA staff members in person, or by video. All
applicants will be interviewed to assess their capacity for leadership. Interviews will run for
approximately 30 minutes.
During the interview we will discuss your ideas about current issues related to the arts and
cultural sector and why you want to be a Cultural Leadership student at NIDA. There will also be
an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the course, or about NIDA.
NIDA Masters of Fine Arts Application Guide for 2020 Intake
Page 5 of 45
THINGS TO NOTE NIDA recognises that interviews can be stressful, but every effort will be made to ensure your experience will be as relaxing and enjoyable as possible. The more time and effort you put into your application in advance, the better prepared you will be and the more you will benefit from the interview and discussion. Ensure you keep a copy of all written work, as this will not be returned. The interview process is friendly, informal and open, and is designed to give you the very best opportunity to indicate your potential and readiness to study at NIDA. However, should you have any concerns with the interview process or with what is said to you during the course of the interview, please express your concern immediately, or talk it over with a member of the interview panel before you leave. NIDA Masters of Fine Arts Application Guide for 2020 Intake Page 6 of 45
MASTER OF FINE ARTS
(DESIGN FOR PERFORMANCE)
APPLICATION PREPARATION DETAILS FOR 2020 INTAKE
SUBMIT WITH YOUR APPLICATION
The following should be uploaded with your application:
1. PROFESSIONAL CV
You should upload a detailed CV highlighting your education and training, professional
work and other relevant information.
2. ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
You will need to provide proof of your university degree/s or five years of professional
experience in a relevant area. This can be a scan/photograph of your transcript or
testamur from the awarding institution; if you are offered a place in the course you will be
required to provide a certified copy.
3. PORTFOLIO
You may upload a digital portfolio with your application; otherwise you can bring one with
you to your interview. You should prepare examples of past work that you feel will
support your application and demonstrate your suitability for a career in design and the
arts and entertainment industry. These may include (but are not limited to) photos, life
drawings, renders, illustrations, technical drawings, models, sculptures, and paintings.
The purpose of the portfolio if to provide an insight into how you think as an artist.
PREPARE FOR YOUR INTERVIEW
If you are articulating from the NIDA Bachelor of Fine Arts (Design for Performance) you are
required to prepare items 1-3 only.
If you are NOT articulating from the NIDA Bachelor of Fine Arts (Design for Performance) you
are required to prepare items 1-3, as well as the following design project (items 4 and 5).
NIDA Masters of Fine Arts Application Guide for 2020 Intake
Page 7 of 45The following should be prepared in advance to be discussed at your interview:
4. DESIGN PROJECT
Select one production from the list below for your project. The texts that have been
nominated should be readily available from your local library, bookstore, or online.
Should you have any difficulty obtaining any of these texts, please contact NIDA.
• The Golden Age by Louis Nowra
• Away by Michael Gow (play)
• The Tempest by William Shakespeare (play)
• Cabaret by John Kander and Fred Ebb (music theatre)
Your design project specifications will either be targeted towards EITHER a) Set and
Costume Design OR the b) Lighting Design.
a) SET AND COSTUME DESIGN STREAM
• Prepare a scale set model of how you would like to see the production staged
(See Appendices A and B on pages 20 and 21 to download the plan and section
of the theatre).
• Make your model from any suitable materials that effectively show how you
would stage the production in the Parade Theatre at NIDA – common examples
are balsa, cardboard or foam-core, but you can choose anything, that is
appropriate to communicate your idea (See David Neat’s Model-Making:
Materials and Methods, 2008).
• Use the scale of 1:25 and use a scale ruler for accuracy – this is essential.
• Build the model on a strong base – plywood or thin particleboard.
• Your model should indicate the colour and finishes of the set.
• Your model should include at least one human figure (at 1:25 scale) and scale
furniture to give a sense of scale.
• Demonstrate your lighting ideas – create at least three lighting states. These may
be used to convey temperature, mood, time of day, change of seasons etc. This
can be done through sketching or photographing the model and manipulating the
image in Photoshop.
NIDA Masters of Fine Arts Application Guide for 2020 Intake
Page 8 of 45• Prepare at least six full colour costume drawings for the central characters in
your production. Drawings should be on A3 paper.
• Keep all your research and provide this in a research folder and development
sketches etc. as evidence of your process (for all set, lighting and costume
designs).
b) LIGHTING DESIGN STREAM
• Prepare a scale model of how you would like to see the production staged (See
Appendices A and B to download the plan and section of the theatre).
• Make your model from any suitable materials that effectively show how you
would stage the production in the Parade Theatre at NIDA – common examples
are balsa, cardboard or foam-core, but you can choose anything, that is
appropriate to communicate your idea (See David Neat’s Model-Making:
Materials and Methods, 2008).
• Use the scale of 1:25 and use a scale ruler for accuracy – this is essential.
• Build the model on a strong base – plywood or thin particleboard.
• Your model should indicate the colour and finishes of the set.
• Your model should include at least one human figure (at 1:25 scale) and scale
furniture to give a sense of scale.
• Demonstrate your lighting ideas – create at least ten lighting states. These may
be used to convey temperature, mood, time of day, change of seasons etc. This
can be done through sketching or photographing the model and manipulating the
image in Photoshop.
• Keep all your research and provide this in a research folder and development
sketches etc. as evidence of your process (for all set, lighting and costume
designs).
NIDA Masters of Fine Arts Application Guide for 2020 Intake
Page 9 of 455. DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
Consider the following questions when creating your design and for discussion at
interview:
• Why have you chosen this play/opera/musical? Why is it important to you? Why
will audiences want to see it?
• Text: What ideas is the playwright/librettist trying to express? What relevance
does the play/opera/musical have for contemporary Australian audiences?
• Characters and actors: What kind of people are the characters in the
play/opera/musical? In what kind of world do they exist? If you had complete
freedom of choice, which actors would you cast in the production?
• Design: How would you describe the imaginative world of the
play/opera/musical? Where is it located? In what period/time is the production
based? Is the story told in real time, or over a broken time frame?
• Costume, sets, lighting and props: What is required in each of these areas?
• (For guidance on how to develop a design, please see Stephen Curtis’s
STAGING IDEAS: Set and Costume Design for Theatre, 2014)
Bring your entire project along to the interview – do not send it in advance.
ON THE INTERVIEW DAY
Interviews are conducted by two NIDA staff members, in person. Interviews will run for
approximately one hour. The interview is in two parts:
1. First, there will be a brief talk about NIDA, the MFA (Design for Performance) course
and what will happen during the interview. There will be an opportunity for you to ask
any questions you may have about NIDA or about the interview itself.
2. Each applicant will then be interviewed for around 45 minutes. During the interview, we
will discuss your project; your ideas about theatre, film and the broader creative
industry; and why you want to study Design for Performance at NIDA.
NIDA Masters of Fine Arts Application Guide for 2020 Intake
Page 10 of 45THINGS TO NOTE NIDA recognises that interviews can be stressful, but every effort will be made to ensure your experience will be as relaxing and enjoyable as possible. Remember, the more time and effort you put into the project in advance, the better prepared you will be and the more you will benefit from the interview and discussion. NIDA may keep all or part of your project until the final selection of applicants is made. Make sure your name is clearly marked on all project materials. Ensure you keep a copy of all written work, as this will not be returned. The project will then be available for collection from NIDA during office hours. Interstate applicants’ projects will be returned on request. Be prepared to take your project away with you as well, as we may choose not to keep any material. The interview process is friendly, informal and open, and is designed to give you the very best opportunity to indicate your potential and readiness to study at NIDA. However, should you have any concerns with the interview process or with what is said to you during the course of the interview, please express your concern immediately, or talk it over with a member of the interview panel before you leave. NIDA Masters of Fine Arts Application Guide for 2020 Intake Page 11 of 45
MASTER OF FINE ARTS (DIRECTING)
APPLICATION PREPARATION DETAILS FOR 2020 INTAKE
SUBMIT WITH YOUR APPLICATION
The following should be uploaded with your application:
1. PROFESSIONAL CV
You should upload a detailed CV highlighting your education and training, professional
work and other relevant information.
2. ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
You will need to provide proof of your university degree/s or five years of professional
experience in a relevant area. This can be a scan/photograph of your transcript or
testamur from the awarding institution; if you are offered a place in the course you will be
required to provide a certified copy.
3. A CRITICAL ESSAY
Prepare a two page critical essay or report on your practice, or a particular cultural event
you have witnessed. This should be uploaded with your application.
4. PORTFOLIO
You may upload a digital portfolio with your application; otherwise you can bring one with
you to your interview. You should prepare examples of past work that you feel will
support your application and demonstrate your suitability for a career in directing and the
arts and entertainment industry.
PREPARE FOR YOUR INTERVIEW
The following should be prepared in advance to be discussed at your interview:
5. DIRECTING PROJECT
Prepare a project based on EITHER Medea by Euripides OR The Black Sequin
Dress by Jenny Kemp.
The nominated should texts be readily available from your local library, bookstore, or
online. Should you have any difficulty obtaining the text, please contact NIDA.
NIDA Masters of Fine Arts Application Guide for 2020 Intake
Page 12 of 45Consider the following questions in relation to the specified play and be ready to discuss
them at your interview:
• Text: What ideas is the playwright trying to express? What is the relevance of the
play to contemporary Australian audiences?
• Characters and Actors: What kind of people are the characters in the play? In
what kind of world do they exist? If you had complete freedom of choice, which
actors would you cast in your production?
• Design: How would you describe the imaginative world of the play? Where is it
located?
• Lighting: How should lighting be used to reveal and expose areas of this play and
the design of your production?
• Costume, Sets and Props: What particular requirements are there in each of
these areas?
• Music and Sound: What kind of music or sound effects would you use, and why?
• Theatre: Where would you stage your production? What kind of theatre will it be
in? What kind of equipment will you require? What challenges might arise in the
staging?
• Production Design Concept: Communicate your production through collected
material. This could include drawings or models of sets and costumes,
impressions in collage or electronic; anything that will help the selection panel to
understand your production concept.
ON THE INTERVIEW DAY
Interviews are conducted by two NIDA staff members, in person. Interviews will run for
approximately one hour. The interview is in two parts:
1. First, there will be a brief talk about NIDA, the MFA (Directing) course and what will
happen during the interview. There will be an opportunity for you to ask any questions
you may have about NIDA or about the interview itself.
2. Each applicant will then be interviewed for around 45 minutes. During the interview, we
will discuss your project; your ideas about theatre, film and the broader creative
industry; and why you want to study Directing at NIDA.
NIDA Masters of Fine Arts Application Guide for 2020 Intake
Page 13 of 45ON THE RECALL DAY If the selection panel would like to see more, you may be asked back for a recall interview on a separate date. Here you will be asked to work with one or two actors on an excerpt from the text and respond to direction from the panel in regard to directing the performers. Should you be short-listed for acceptance into the course after the recall, you may be asked to submit a list of three referees who have seen your work, or worked with you in some arts- related capacity. NIDA may contact these referees before making a study offer. Please note if you are not invited to attend a recall, you should consider your application unsuccessful this year. Please note applicants who do not make it through to the recall stage for Master of Fine Arts (Directing) should consider their application unsuccessful for the 2020 intake. THINGS TO NOTE NIDA recognises that interviews can be stressful, but every effort will be made to ensure your experience will be as relaxing and enjoyable as possible. Remember, the more time and effort you put into the project in advance, the better prepared you will be and the more you will benefit from the interview and discussion. NIDA may keep all or part of your project until the final selection of applicants is made. Make sure your name is clearly marked on all project materials. Ensure you keep a copy of all written work, as this will not be returned. The project will then be available for collection from NIDA during office hours. Interstate applicants’ projects will be returned on request. Be prepared to take your project away with you as well, as we may choose not to keep any material. The interview process is friendly, informal and open, and is designed to give you the very best opportunity to indicate your potential and readiness to study at NIDA. However, should you have any concerns with the interview process or with what is said to you during the course of the interview, please express your concern immediately, or talk it over with a member of the interview panel before you leave. NIDA Masters of Fine Arts Application Guide for 2020 Intake Page 14 of 45
MASTER OF FINE ARTS (VOICE)
APPLICATION PREPARATION DETAILS FOR 2020 INTAKE
SUBMIT WITH YOUR APPLICATION
The following should be uploaded with your application:
1. PROFESSIONAL CV
You should upload a detailed CV highlighting your education and training, professional
work and other relevant information.
2. ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
You will need to provide proof of your university degree/s or five years of professional
experience in a relevant area. This can be a scan/photograph of your transcript or
testamur from the awarding institution; if you are offered a place in the course you will be
required to provide a certified copy.
PREPARE FOR YOUR INTERVIEW
The following should be prepared in advance to be discussed at your interview:
3. RECITAL/PERFORMANCE
Prepare and memorise a piece of poetic or dramatic text of no more than two minutes in
length.
4. PORTFOLIO
Prepare examples of past work that you feel will support your application and
demonstrate your suitability for a career in voice coaching and teaching in the
performing arts.
ON THE INTERVIEW DAY
Interviews are conducted by two NIDA staff members, in person. You should be prepared to
spend half a day at your interview. The interview is in three parts:
1. First, there will be a brief talk about NIDA, the MFA (Voice) course and what will
NIDA Masters of Fine Arts Application Guide for 2020 Intake
Page 15 of 45happen during the interview. There will be an opportunity for you to ask any questions
you may have about NIDA or about the interview itself.
2. You will then be asked to work creatively and collaboratively through a physical and
vocal workshop, along with the recital/performance of your chosen text. The
workshop will be no longer than one hour in duration, during which the work presented
will be discussed and interrogated.
3. After the workshop, individual interviews will be held where you will be able to
discuss your reasons for applying to the course, provide evidence of intellectual
enquiry, and reflect on your personal voice practice and pedagogy.
THINGS TO NOTE
NIDA recognises that interviews can be stressful, but every effort will be made to ensure your
experience will be as relaxing and enjoyable as possible. Remember, the more time and effort
you put into your application in advance, the better prepared you will be and the more you will
benefit from the interview and discussion.
NIDA may keep all or part of your portfolio until the final selection of applicants is made. Make
sure your name is clearly marked on all materials. Ensure you keep a copy of all written work,
as this will not be returned.
The interview process is friendly, informal and open, and is designed to give you the very best
opportunity to indicate your potential and readiness to study at NIDA. However, should you have
any concerns with the interview process or with what is said to you during the course of the
interview, please express your concern immediately, or talk it over with a member of the
interview panel before you leave.
NIDA Masters of Fine Arts Application Guide for 2020 Intake
Page 16 of 45SUBMIT WITH YOUR APPLICATION
The following should be uploaded with your application:
1. PROFESSIONAL CV
You should upload a detailed CV highlighting your education and training, professional
work and other relevant information.
2. ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
You will need to provide proof of your university degree/s or five years of professional
experience in a relevant area. This can be a scan/photograph of your transcript or
testamur from the awarding institution; if you are offered a place in the course you will be
required to provide a certified copy.
3. PORTFOLIO
You should prepare examples of past work that you feel will support your application and
demonstrate your suitability for a career in writing for performance, and the arts and
entertainment industry
• Prepare your three best pieces of creative writing
• They do not have to be plays or scripts for actors, but at least one piece
should display dramatic qualities
• At least one piece should contain a sample of dialogue
• Each extract or example should be no more than 2000 words
• Please merge your three pieces into ONE document, and upload as part
of your application
NIDA Masters of Fine Arts Application Guide for 2020 Intake
Page 17 of 45ON THE INTERVIEW DAY
Interviews are generally conducted by two NIDA staff members, in person or by video.
Interviews will run for approximately 40 minutes. The interview is in two parts:
1. First, there will be a brief talk about NIDA, the MFA (Writing for Performance) course
and what will happen during the interview. There will be an opportunity for you to ask
any questions you may have about NIDA or about the interview itself.
2. Each applicant will then be interviewed for around 30 minutes. During the interview, we
will discuss your portfolio; your ideas about theatre, film and television; your worldview,
concerns, ambitions, creative process experience, and why you want to study Writing
for Performance at NIDA.
THINGS TO NOTE
NIDA recognises that interviews can be stressful, but every effort will be made to ensure your
experience will be as relaxing and enjoyable as possible. Remember, the more time and effort
you put into your application in advance, the better prepared you will be and the more you will
benefit from the interview and discussion.
The interview process is friendly, informal and open, and is designed to give you the very best
opportunity to indicate your potential and readiness to study at NIDA. However, should you have
any concerns with the interview process or with what is said to you during the course of the
interview, please express your concern immediately, or talk it over with a member of the interview
panel before you leave.
NIDA Masters of Fine Arts Application Guide for 2020 Intake
Page 18 of 45FAQs ABOUT AUDITIONS AND INTERVIEWS CAN I APPLY FOR MORE THAN ONE COURSE? Yes, however a separate online application form and payment of the AUD$75 administration fee is required for each course you would like to apply for. WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVEN’T RECEIVED DETAILS OF MY APPLICATION ACCOUNT? If you do not receive any automated emails from NIDA regarding your application account, please check your junk/spam/promotions filter. If you are still experiencing difficulties please contact us at applications@nida.edu.au WHERE WILL MY AUDITION/INTERVIEW TAKE PLACE? NIDA travels to most Australian capital cities for audition and interviews. Where necessary, NIDA may conduct some interviews for non-Acting courses via video. Auditions however, must take place in person. During your online application you will have the opportunity to select the date and location of your audition/interview. Please note that NIDA reserves the right to amend your audition/interview date and location at any time, depending on availability. DOES NIDA GIVE AUDITION/INTERVIEW FEEDBACK? Due to the large number of people being auditioned and interviewed, it is not possible for NIDA to provide individual feedback. However, you may view the audition process as a learning experience by observing the re-direction suggestions provided to you, or other applicants, by members of the audition panel. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER MY AUDITION/INTERVIEW? Final selections are made for each course by mid-December when study offers will be distributed to successful applicants via email. NIDA Masters of Fine Arts Application Guide for 2020 Intake Page 19 of 45
APPENDIX A –
THEATRE PLAN
NIDA Master of Fine Arts Application Guide for 2020 Intake
Page 20 of 21APPENDIX B –
THEATRE SECTION
NIDA Master of Fine Arts Application Guide for 2020 Intake
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