About Us
Overview of the Institute
The Seychelles Institute of Art and Design (SIAD) currently offers professional studies oriented for learners to join the world of work, specifically within the developing cultural industry of Seychelles. Students are also encouraged to apply their learning experiences to realise richer and better understood lives, regardless of their professional destinations.
The institution enrols learners after completion of secondary five education, including mature candidates on a full time as well as a part time basis. SIAD is currently located on the Anse Royale Education Campus.
As such, SIAD offers programmes at Certificate and Diploma Levels on a full-time basis. The various programmes on offer are aimed at providing learners with the necessary knowledge, skills and outlook required for a career in the Visual Arts. In today’s world various aspects of contemporary life necessitate creative and artistic people.
Therefore, the Institute’s mandate is to prepare and train learners to service the growing needs of the creative and cultural industries in Seychelles so as to create employment and promote innovative thinking.
History
The Seychelles Polytechnic opened its doors to students on the 24th January 1983. The School of Art and Design as it was formerly named was based at Mt Fleuri and was one of the schools of the Seychelles Polytechnic under the Ministry of Education and Information.
During the late 90’s, it was generally felt that the vocational schools would be better of integrated with their respective Government Ministry. Henceforth, the School was administered by the Ministry of Culture under a new name, National College of the Arts, while remaining in the same location.
Further changes took place in 2005-2006 when the College became a programme area. The Visual Arts Programme Area became part of the Seychelles Polytechnic under the umbrella of the Ministry of Education and Youth. In 2006, the Visual Arts Programme Area moved to Anse Royale, Seychelles Polytechnic campus.
In 2009 with the setting up of the University of Seychelles, the Visual Arts Programme Area moved to the ex-Industrial Training Centre premises (ITC) workshops areas at Anse Royale.
The Seychelles Polytechnic was phased out in March 2011 and the School of Visual Art was created as an institution with its own management.
Today with the enactment of the Tertiary Education Act 2011, where all Post-Secondary institutions are now called professional centres, the School of Visual Arts once again was changed to Seychelles Institute of Art and Design (SIAD), where it is expected to enjoy greater autonomy in the near future now that it has a Board of Directors.