The University of South Australia is celebrating its rich creative heritage with the release of two new books that document the legacy, influence and evolving identity of its creative contributions, including those of its historical institution, the South Australian School of Art.
Award-winning writer and UniSA academic Dr Nathan James Crane has this week launched his latest edited book, Degrees of Impact, which captures the contributions of UniSA's creative disciplines and their role in shaping South Australia's cultural identity.
The release follows the publication of South Australian School of Art: 170 Years Shaping South Australian Visual Arts and Culture, written by Adjunct Research Fellow at UniSA Creative Dr Jenny Aland to mark the school's 170th anniversary.
Together, the two publications highlight the creative, educational and cultural impact of UniSA's creative community ahead of the transition to the new Adelaide University in 2026.
Dr Crane's Degrees of Impact presents a series of academic-to-academic conversations exploring how the University has influenced the state's cultural and professional landscape over several decades.
Nationally recognised as a hub for innovative education and research, UniSA's creative disciplines have shaped many of South Australia's leading architects, designers, filmmakers and artists.
"Through its graduates, projects and public engagement, UniSA has influenced everything from city planning and arts festivals to screen production and visual arts education," Dr Crane says.
"Staff and students in the creative disciplines have contributed to urban renewal, designed public buildings, created award-winning films, and helped elevate Adelaide's reputation as a UNESCO City of Music."
Contributors to the book include past and present UniSA academics such as Dr Jane Andrew (former MatchStudio Director), Benjamin Altieri (Lecturer, Product Design), David Morris (former Design Construct Program Lead), Joti Weijer-Coghlan (current Design Construct Program Lead), Stephen Yarwood (former Lord Mayor of Adelaide), Damian Madigan (Associate Professor, Architecture) and Julie Nichols (Senior Lecturer, Architecture).
Their conversations explore the human stories behind the programs, the evolution of teaching and research, and the shifting relationship between creative practice and industry.
Degrees of Impact by Dr Nathan James Crane
Degrees of Impact also examines how creative education shapes cultural identity, how curriculum and pedagogy have developed across disciplines, and how industry partnerships influence student outcomes. It reflects personal and institutional transformation during periods of change.
"Degrees of Impact is an invitation to honour what has come before while imagining what comes next," Dr Crane says.
"It captures the spirit of a team that wasn't afraid to experiment, evolve and care deeply about its people."
Meanwhile, Dr Aland's South Australian School of Art anniversary book documents the history and enduring significance of the first and oldest art school in Australia.
"From its inception, the South Australian School of Art has been a wellspring of our arts and cultural life, and not merely in its home state where it predates all three Adelaide universities," says Dr Aland, who is a historical researcher and writer in visual arts.
"This richly illustrated, lovingly researched book tells the lively story of the school's 170 years to the present day, set against a background of social, political and cultural progress and change."
The book features many influential artists and educators who studied or taught at the school, including Sydney Ball, Annette Bezor, Dorrit Black, Barbara Hanrahan, Fiona Hall, Franz Kempf, Trevor Nickolls, Jeffrey Smart, Angela Valamanesh, Hossein Valamanesh and Margaret Worth.
Degrees of Impact is available as a free digital edition through UniSA's website and library. South Australian School of Art: 170 Years Shaping South Australian Visual Arts and Culture is available for purchase.
