"Attendance at the ANAT National Summer School has become something of a rite of passage for Australian artists working in this field". Acclaimed digital artist, Jon McCormack.

ANAT has pioneered Australia's most prestigious skilling program for artists working with technology. Since 1989 ANAT have managed the annual ANAT National Summer School (NSS) in computer media which have provided the catalyst for profound conceptual shifts and directions in practice for participating artists. Working closely with various host organisations over the years, and in close consultation with highly skilled and critically astute artist tutors, ANAT has created a series of deeply immersive learning environments.

ANAT's Summer School evolved out of a recognition that to nurture art which utilises technology, it is important to provide skill-based education for artists wishing to extend their practice into this area. The technologies taught at the Summer School have changed over the years, underscored by the aim to provide artists with subsidised technological skilling of the highest quality and most relevance to contemporary new media practices. ANAT identified that although there are opportunities for study within public/commercial institutions, there were no training opportunities specifically tailored to artists needs. The National Summer School addresses this issue by appointing trained artists as tutors, by providing a intensive training and by ensuring it is cost accessible to artists.

The 1999 ANAT national Summer School is being run in partnership with Metro Screen Ltd., and is being held in Sydney for the first time. Artists attending the 1999 National Summer School are:

Rodney Berry, Sydney, NSW
Liz Hughes, Sydney, NSW
Geni Weight, Adelaide, SA
Melinda Burgess, Werri Beach, NSW
Solange Kershaw, Sydney, NSW
Jordan Wynnychuk, Melbourne, VIC
Lea Collins, Canberra, ACT
Gordon Monroe, Sydney, NSW
Yonat Zurr, Perth WA
Adam Donovan, Brisbane, QLD
Stephen Poljansek, Hobart, TAS
Jeremy Yuille, Brisbane, QLD
Chris Fortescue, Sydney, NSW
Rea, Sydney, NSW

1999 National Summer School Press Releases and information

The National Summer School is supported by: the Federal Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body; the Queensland Government's Office of Arts and Cultural Development through Queensland Artworker's Alliance; the New South Wales Film and Television Office; and the Minister for Education and the Arts through Arts Tasmania. This year's School also receives support from Metro Screen, the University of Sydney's Vislab and the University of New South Wales' College of Fine Arts. Stelarc's attendance has also been assisted by dLux media arts and Casula Powerhouse.