Choosing between the best art schools in Auckland comes down to matching the tuition to your stage, whether that is a first drawing class, a structured painting programme, or a full fine arts qualification. The schools below teach drawing, painting, printmaking and digital art to children, teenagers and adults across the city, several of them supplying materials and running clear pathways from beginner level upward. Browne School of Art and Elam anchor the list.
1Browne School of Art
Browne School of Art is an independent art school in Grey Lynn, on the edge of the Auckland central business district and within easy reach of public bus services. Founded by painter and tutor Matthew Browne in 2013, it teaches drawing, painting and printmaking to teenagers and adults through part-time day, evening and short courses, within a structured framework that develops each student’s own direction rather than imposing a house style. It suits complete beginners as readily as artists preparing a submission portfolio for entry to a full-time tertiary art institution.
Services
- Weekly term-time daytime and evening courses in drawing, painting and printmaking
- Year-long Painting 1 to 4 programmes following a sequential study pathway
- Weekend workshops for focused, immersive practice
- School holiday workshops for students aged 13 and over
- One-on-one tutorials and an online art history course
Highlights
- Founded in 2013 by painter and tutor Matthew Browne
- BSA Gallery hosts over 17 shows a year and accepts proposals across painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, sculpture and photography
- Community Spirit Fund has provided $16,202 towards course fees for students with limited means
- Visual Arts Mentoring Programme and a Foundation Portrait Programme alongside the general courses
- Membership plans and bulk booking discounts of 5 to 12 percent across multiple courses
Location & Contact
Name: Browne School of Art
Address: 194 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland 1021
Phone: 09 378 8985
Website: browne.school.nz
2Elam School of Fine Arts and Design
Te Waka Tūhura Elam School of Fine Arts and Design is the University of Auckland’s fine arts school, sitting within the Faculty of Arts and Education on the university’s Auckland City campus. Teaching centres on contemporary practice, process and critical thinking in an interdisciplinary studio environment, with students developing their work under leading artists and researchers. It suits students who want a degree-level fine arts education with full workshop and gallery facilities behind it rather than short recreational classes.
Services
- Degree-level fine arts study through the University of Auckland
- Studio teaching across contemporary interdisciplinary practice
- Printmaking using screen printing, intaglio and lithography facilities
- Photography, film, video and audio work through a digital media hub with an HD suite
- Sculpture and object making across wood, metal, mould, casting, foundry and kiln workshops
Highlights
- Ranked among the top art schools internationally in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022
- Three exhibiting galleries on campus, Elam Projectspace, Window and George Fraser
- Ceramic studio, foundry, kiln spaces, darkrooms and specialist book presses available to students
- Alumni include Turner Prize finalist Luke Willis Thompson and Ane Tonga, Curator of Pacific Art at Auckland Art Gallery
Location & Contact
Name: Te Waka Tūhura Elam School of Fine Arts and Design
Address: Auckland City
Phone: 0800 61 62 63
Website: elam.ac.nz
3Whitecliffe
Whitecliffe is a tertiary arts, design, fashion and technology institution whose head office and main campus sit at 67 Symonds Street in the education hub of Auckland Central, with a second Auckland campus above the public library in Manukau. Its Fine Arts department runs a full pathway from a part-time certificate through to a Master of Fine Arts, taught in dedicated art and design studios. It suits school leavers and career changers who want a recognised qualification rather than short recreational classes.
Services
- Certificate in Fine Arts, offered full time or part time
- Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours)
- Master of Fine Arts, built around four week-long seminars a year
- Certificate in Digital Media + Design and Bachelor of Design + Digital Media
- Postgraduate Diploma and Master of Creative Arts Therapy
Highlights
- Over 40 years of applied, industry-connected teaching
- Two Auckland campuses, the Symonds Street head campus in Grafton and a vocational campus in Manukau
- End-of-year Fine Arts exhibitions where student work is shown publicly
- Campus tours, open days and booked phone calls available to prospective students
Location & Contact
Name: Whitecliffe
Address: 67 Symonds Street, Grafton, Auckland 1010
Phone: 0800 800 300
Website: whitecliffe.ac.nz
4Art Space Studio
Art Space Studio has taught painting and drawing since 2018 and runs five Auckland studios, in Epsom, Albany, Botany, Mt Albert and Takapuna. Classes are grouped by developmental stage across a five-level curriculum for ages 3 to 18, with a separate adult programme, and all materials are included in the class. It suits parents looking for measurable progression for a child rather than one-off craft sessions.
Services
- Kids and teens painting and drawing classes across five levels, ages 3 to 18
- Adult group painting and drawing classes
- Acrylic and oil painting, watercolour and coloured pencil classes
- Comic drawing, illustration and digital painting
- School holiday programmes and private classes for under 18s
Highlights
- Established in 2018
- Five studios across Auckland, in Epsom, Albany, Botany, Mt Albert and Takapuna
- Class sizes capped at six to eight students
- Five-level growth track with milestones, tracking and certification
- Termly exhibitions and national competition entries for students
Location & Contact
Name: Art Space Studio
Address: 75 Great South Road, Epsom, Auckland
Phone: 022 082 4736
Website: artspace.nz
5The Village Art Classes
The Village Art Classes is based in Howick and has been running adult art courses since 2020, with classes also held in Kohimarama, Mt Eden and Remuera. Teaching is built around a 15-week course covering sketching and drawing, watercolour and acrylic painting, which can also be taken as individual five-week modules. Beginner and beyond-beginner levels run alongside each other, and all equipment is provided.
Services
- Full 15-week course covering sketching and drawing, watercolour and acrylics
- Five-week single-medium modules in drawing, watercolour or acrylic painting
- One-day workshops of three to five hours in alcohol ink, mixed media and watercolour pencil
- Portraiture workshops for students who have completed the acrylics module
Highlights
- Operating since 2020, founded by director Lorraine Elliott
- Four Auckland teaching locations, in Howick, Kohimarama, Mt Eden and Remuera
- Three-hour classes with all equipment supplied
- Tutor Reem Taleb graduated from Damascus University School of Fine Arts with a major in oil painting
- Tutor Kavita Lamba is a watercolourist who has received awards from the New Zealand Fellowship of Artists
Location & Contact
Name: The Village Art Classes
Address: St Andrews Presbyterian Church Hall, 11 Vincent Street, Howick, Auckland 2014
Phone: 022 459 5457
Website: thevillageartclasses.co.nz
Art Schools in Auckland at a Glance
| Business | Based in | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Browne School of Art | Grey Lynn | Founded in 2013 by painter and tutor Matthew Browne |
| Elam School of Fine Arts and Design | Auckland City | Ranked among the top art schools internationally in the QS World Univ... |
| Whitecliffe | Grafton | Over 40 years of applied, industry-connected teaching |
| Art Space Studio | Epsom | Established in 2018 |
| The Village Art Classes | Howick | Operating since 2020, founded by director Lorraine Elliott |
How to Choose the Right Art School in Auckland
- Decide whether you want a recognised qualification or recreational tuition, as the two run on very different timeframes, costs and entry requirements.
- Match the medium to the school, since some focus on drawing, painting and printmaking while others add digital art, illustration or jewellery.
- Check the class size, because small groups of six to eight allow far more individual feedback than a large open studio session.
- Confirm whether materials are included, as all-inclusive fees remove a significant extra cost for beginners.
- Look at travel and timing, comparing the campus or studio location against evening, weekend and school holiday options that fit around work or school.
Frequently Asked Questions About Auckland Art Schools
How much do art classes in Auckland cost?
Pricing depends on format. Term-time courses, five-week modules and one-day workshops are all priced separately by each school, and degree-level study at a tertiary provider is charged as annual tuition fees rather than by the class.
Do I need any experience to start?
No. The Village Art Classes and Art Space Studio both run beginner streams, and Browne School of Art teaches part-time courses for all levels of ability. Several schools also run separate beyond-beginner or intermediate streams so returning students are not repeating foundation material.
What is the difference between an art school and an art class?
An art school in the tertiary sense offers accredited qualifications with entry requirements, assessments and a multi-year structure. An art class or studio course teaches practical technique over a term or a series of weeks with no formal assessment. Auckland has strong options in both, so the right choice depends on whether you want a credential or a skill.
Are qualifications from a private art college recognised?
Programmes delivered by private tertiary establishments are approved and accredited through the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, and providers themselves are subject to external quality assurance. You can check a provider and its listed qualifications on the NZQA website before enrolling.
Do art schools supply the materials?
Often, yes. Art Space Studio includes all materials in its class fees and The Village Art Classes provides the equipment for its courses. Tertiary programmes such as Elam and Whitecliffe generally expect students to buy their own studio materials on top of tuition fees.
Are there art classes for children and teenagers?
Yes. Art Space Studio teaches ages 3 to 18 across a five-level curriculum at its five Auckland studios, and Browne School of Art runs school holiday workshops for students aged 13 and over. Most adult courses set a minimum age, so check before enrolling a younger student.
Where can art study lead as a career?
Fine arts graduates work as exhibiting artists, art consultants, curators, photographers, videographers, set designers and secondary or tertiary teachers, while design pathways lead into digital design, illustration and animation. The government’s Careers New Zealand service publishes job outlook and pay information for creative roles.
How long does an art course usually run?
Short workshops run for a single day of three to five hours. Modules typically run five weeks, full courses 14 or 15 weeks, and year-long programmes follow the school calendar. Degree study runs three years for a bachelor’s, with honours and master’s qualifications adding further years on top.
How We Chose the Best Art Schools in Auckland
Every business in this guide was found by searching for art schools in Auckland, then checked against its own website. Names, addresses and phone numbers are taken from the business’s own site rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what they publish themselves. We also check that each one is actually based in or genuinely serving Auckland, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business with no website of its own is not listed, because there is no primary source to verify it against.