Chroma recently sponsored an HSC Intensive Studio Practice program run by the National Art School. The program was designed to enhance and extend students’ technical and conceptual knowledge and skills through intensive practical study.The National Art School has the longest continuing history as a public art school in Australia. It is located in Sydney's Darlinghurst within the old goal designed by Francis Greenway The school has run the course over the last 10 years with the aim of extending and enriching the students’ visual arts practice technically, conceptually and intellectually. This is a NSW Board of Studies endorsed course for HSC Visual Arts students.

The students had the choice of working with ceramics, digital imaging, painting, photography, printmaking or sculpture. Life drawing was included as part of the course for all disciplines. The applicants under went a rigorous selection process to be accepted into the course, after being put forward as the best performers in visual arts at their schools.

The Intensive Studio Practice program took place over 2 full weeks in the recent October and winter, 2009 term breaks. It culminated in a day of assessment, critique and exhibition held on the last Saturday of the holidays in conjunction with the Big Draw event, also sponsored by Chroma. 220 Year 11 students from schools from all major regions of the State were represented. To give an idea of the inclusiveness of the program students were drawn from the North Coast, Western region, New England, North western region, South Coast, The Illawarra, the Riverina, the Hunter and the Southern Highlands in addition to the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Sydney Metropolitan areas.

Over 500 people, friends, families and supporters were in attendance at the exhibition opening. In the opening address, Director of the NAS, Professor Anita Taylor was most appreciative of Chroma’s involvement in the course and support for the National Art School. We supplied 79 litres of A2 strongly pigmented, student acrylic paint that has similar handling properties to Atelier Interactive artists’ quality paint. A2 was used throughout the course in the painting studio and final works. This one day HSC program exhibition took place in the main hall (Cell Block) and project spaces throughout the school.