nida open program

What nida open program does

NIDA Open Program is the public-facing short-course division of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), Australia's national drama school. Established in 1990 to extend NIDA's training methods beyond degree students, it delivers performing arts education to young people (Grades 7-12), adults (18+), schools, community groups, and equity-eligible participants across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, plus an online channel. The catalogue comprises 177+ courses spanning acting, musical theatre, screen acting, directing, writing, design, technical production, and public speaking, structured across multiple product lines: Term and Holiday Courses for Young People, Adult Short Courses (Introduction through Advanced), Studio Programs (6-12 month part-time intensives), Lab Series (2-3 week bi-annual intensives), Masterclass Series for working professionals, and Community/Schools Programs for institutional partners.

The product is fundamentally a live teaching service, with online delivery via Zoom for a small subset of courses; there is no proprietary technology platform beyond a standard website-based enrollment system. Revenue is generated primarily through course tuition, with pricing ranging from $215 for the online Introduction to Acting to $5,215 for annual Studio programs; the business also sells gift vouchers and charges non-refundable $38 audition/interview fees. Discounts include 10% early bird, 15-20% multi-booking, 5% concession, and 50% Equity and First Nations subsidies. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the website (open.nida.edu.au) and phone hotline, supplemented by a TAFE Queensland venue partnership in Brisbane and community/school partnerships for institutional enrollment. NIDA Open is supported by the Australian Government and operates as a non-profit extension of NIDA; the program has 9 listed employees and no externally disclosed revenue.

Name

nida open program

Legal name

National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)

Website

https://open.nida.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NIDA Open Program is the public short-course division of Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art, offering performing arts education to young people, adults, schools, and community groups across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and online through 177+ courses in acting, musical theatre, writing, design, and production.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs (EDAAAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Workshops, Webinars & Live Masterclasses (MPACALAD)

Keywords

• Performing arts education
• Drama school short courses
• Acting training programs
• Creative arts workshops
• Theatre education courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Kensington

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Short Course Tuition: NIDA Open generates revenue through course fees charged to participants. Courses range from single-session workshops to multi-week programs. Fees vary by course type, duration, and location, with early bird discounts available for advance booking.
2. Gift Vouchers: Gift vouchers are sold in customizable denominations, allowing recipients to apply credit toward any NIDA Open course enrollment.
3. Studio Program Fees: Extended part-time Studio programs (6-12 months) generate higher revenue through installment payment plans. Actors Studio costs $5,215 annually, payable in four installments or upfront with 10% discount.
4. Audition/Interview Fees: Non-refundable audition fee of $38 for Studio program entry, covering application processing and assessment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NIDA Open is the public short-courses division of Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art, delivering face-to-face and online performing arts instruction in acting, musical theatre, writing, directing, design, and technical production. The program offers a structured portfolio ranging from one-off workshops to 6-12 month part-time Studios for young people (Grades 7-12) and adults, delivered across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane venues. Courses are taught by active industry professionals and grant access to NIDA's decades-old training methods, including pathways to NIDA's full-time BFA programs.

Product overview

NIDA Open is an educational division of the National Institute of Dramatic Art offering a comprehensive portfolio of performing arts short courses. The program consists of multiple product lines: Term and Holiday Courses for Young People (Grades 7-12) focusing on drama, acting on screen, musical theatre, writing, filmmaking and public speaking; Adult Short Courses available at Introduction through Advanced levels; intensive Lab Series (2-3 weeks) held bi-annually for emerging artists; part-time Studio Programs (6-12 months) for serious performers and creatives; Masterclass Series for working professionals; Community and Schools Programs for institutional partners; and Online Courses for remote learners. The programs are delivered across Sydney (Kensington), Melbourne (Southbank, Brunswick), and Brisbane (South Bank) locations, with financial support through Equity and First Nations Subsidies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Term Courses for Young People

Quantifiable outcome

• Certificate of Attendance issued for all Young People courses; Certificate of Achievement for Studio students meeting minimum attendance requirements

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• TAFE QueenslandcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNIDA Open courses in Brisbane are delivered at TAFE Queensland's Southbank campus. TAFE Queensland is Queensland's largest vocational education provider and serves as NIDA Open's Brisbane venue partner. The partnership provides modern facilities in Brisbane's cultural precinct. Additional TAFE Queensland courses are promoted to NIDA Open students, including Certificate III in Community Dance, Theatre and Events, Certificate III in Live Production and Technical Services, and Bachelor of Creative Industries (Acting and Performance) in partnership with University of Canberra.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Victorian College of the Arts (VCA): University of Melbourne's performing and visual arts school offering acting, theatre, and film training. Comparable to NIDA Open as a leading Australian performing arts institution with community-facing short course and youth programming serving Melbourne and national students.
• London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA): UK conservatoire offering short courses, summer programs, and public workshops in acting and performance. Comparable to NIDA Open as a top-tier drama training brand extending core conservatoire training to lifelong-learning short-course audiences.
• Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA): London's premier drama school running short courses, summer schools, and masterclasses for adults and youth globally. Comparable to NIDA Open's Lab Series, Masterclass, and term courses in discipline mix and target learner; a NIDA Open program manager completed RADA's Shakespeare summer semester, evidencing direct category overlap.
• Stella Adler Studio of Acting: NYC acting school offering short courses, conservatory programs, and youth classes in acting technique. Comparable to NIDA Open's adult short courses and Studio programs in offering depth and aspirational learner profile.
• Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA): ECU-affiliated national conservatoire offering performing arts training across acting, music theatre, and production, with short courses and holiday programs comparable to NIDA Open's term and intensive offerings. Comparable as a peer Australian performing arts school serving similar youth and adult learner segments.
• Atlantic Theater Company / Atlantic Acting School: New York-based acting school running adult and youth short courses, summer intensives, and workshops. Comparable to NIDA Open's Lab Series and Masterclass tiers in format (intensive performance workshops) and target segments (aspiring and working performers).
• Sydney Theatre Company (STC School): Australia's flagship theatre company with a school offering short courses, holiday workshops, and youth programs in acting and performance. Directly comparable to NIDA Open's term and holiday course lines, with overlap in student demographics and Sydney market.
• National Youth Theatre (UK): UK organization running short courses, summer schools, and holiday programs for young people aged 14+. Directly comparable to NIDA Open's Young People term and holiday programs in age cohort (Grades 7-12) and performing arts focus.

Broad incumbents

• The Juilliard School: US conservatoire offering summer programs, intensives, and pre-college training across performing arts. Comparable to NIDA Open at the elite end of the workshop/masterclass tier and as a global aspirational benchmark for conservatoire-brand short courses.
• National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA full programs): NIDA's full-time degree and vocational programs (BFA, MFA, etc.), of which NIDA Open is a public-facing extension. Comparable as the parent institution and pipeline; NIDA Open acts as a feeder for these higher-ticket degree programs and shares brand and faculty.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NIDACommunity
• Facebookfacebook.com/NIDAcommunity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nida-open-program
• Instagraminstagram.com/nidacommunity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about nida open program