Long before the Perth Technical School offered training in ‘mechanical drawing’ to a small group of students on the banks of the Swan River in 1900, First Nations people were sharing knowledge, culture, and creative practices that shaped the artistic and cultural landscape of Western Australia.
Steeped in the traditions of many cultures, North Metropolitan TAFE is proud to have served as a creative hub for thousands of Western Australian artists, designers, and media producers and is celebrating 125 years of contribution to the social, cultural and economic development of Western Australia.
More than 2,000 creative industries students converge on the college's city campus in Perth's cultural precinct each day to learn their craft under the guidance of vocational experts in state-of-the-art facilities that mirror current industry practice. Our graduates have made outstanding contributions in fields such as arts, graphics, jewellery, fashion, photography, electronic media, film, animation, music, interior and industrial design.
TAFE 125: Creativity in the City is a yearlong series of events involving alumni, staff (past and present), industry leaders and community members that celebrates the history of North Metropolitan TAFE and looks to the future of creative industries in Western Australia.
Current and upcoming events
Artist. Teacher. 125.
26 May to 26 June
Gallery Central, Perth campus
Artist. Teacher. 125. features works from the NMTAFE collection and highlights the rich tradition of established and emerging practitioners and recent graduates that are part of the NMTAFE Art collection.
The artists are associated with the long history of NMTAFE, that includes the Claremont School of Art, Perth Technical College, St Brigid’s and the Central Institute of Technology.
TAFE to FAME: 125 years of art and design in Perth
5 July to 23 August
Holmes à Court Gallery @ no.10, Douglas Street, West Perth
After gracing the walls of City of Perth’s Council House, this exhibition travels to Holmes à Court Gallery @ no.10.
Curated by Connie Petrillo, this collaboration between the City of Perth and North Metropolitan TAFE, celebrates 125 years of creative education at TAFE.
From its beginnings at the Perth Technical School in 1900 to the creative hub it is today, this exhibition of works by lecturers and graduates in photography, industrial design and visual art, honours the journey and impact of TAFE education in WA.
Image: Judith Forrest, Needlework, 2016, oil on canvas. Courtesy of Janet Holmes à Court Collection
From One to Another
27 September to 31 October
Gallery Central, Perth campus
Connected through their time at the School of Visual Art at TAFE, this group of artists, comprising current and former NMTAFE lecturers, maintains fluid roles — lecturer, student, peer, and critic — within a supportive creative network.
Their work explores psychological, sensory, ecological, and cultural relationships to place, prioritizing process over polished outcomes.
Settled in the vernacular of women’s art practices, their materials range from snail bites and feathers to pudding bowls, expressed through textiles, ceramics, painting, sound, printmaking, and ephemeral sculpture.
Image: Swing by Gail Russell; wood, charcoal, salt, cast silver.
2025 Graduate Exhibitions
17 November to 5 December
Gallery Central, Perth campus
The Creative Industries Graduate Exhibitions highlight the fantastic work our talented students have produced throughout the year across the different creative areas including Photography; Animation, Game Art & VFX; Building Design and Drafting; Fashion and Textile Design; Graphic Design; Interior Design; Jewellery Apprentices; Refine Ceramics; and Visual Arts.
Image: Garments by Alessia Edmondson - Fashion Graduate 2021
Past events
Creative Industries Open Day May 2025
4:00pm to 6:00pm, 28 May
Pink Sea Container, 12 Aberdeen Street, Perth campus
We threw our doors open and invited the public to explore our vibrant Perth campus with a mini Creative Industries Expo in the foyer, an exhibition in Gallery Central and tours. We held tours of our facilities to showcase our diverse range of creative courses and visitors had the opportunity to chat with our expert lecturers.
We would love for you to join us at our next Open Day to discover the opportunities that could kick-start your career in the creative industries! Come back to the website for details of the next showcase.
TAFE to FAME: 125 years of art and design in Perth
1 April to 16 May
Council House, 27 St Georges Terrace Perth
Part of the Boorloo Heritage Festival, TAFE to FAME honoured the success stories of artists and teachers who honed their skills through the TAFE system, showcasing their diverse contributions to the arts and their impact on the creative community.
The exhibition celebrated the transformative power of TAFE and included works from contemporary graduates.
PASTE & PLACE: Celebrating Northbridge’s Diversity
1 April to 30 April
Nick's Lane, Northbridge
Part of the Boorloo Heritage Festival, PASTE & PLACE: Celebrating Northbridge’s Diversity invites you to follow the poster trail designed by NMTAFE Graphic Design Students and explore the rich cultures of Northbridge.
A collaboration with the Chung Wah Association, Two Centuries of Chinese Heritage at UWA and the National Archives of Australia
Image: PASTE & PLACE Kaya, wanju Welcome poster. Photo credit: Sav Subedi for NMTAFE.
Metal + Memory
1 April to 30 April
Trinity Arcade Cabinets, off Hay St Mall
A display from NMTAFE Jewellery Design Students, and part of the Boorloo Heritage Festival, Metal and Memory explores Perth's architectural and structural details from historic buildings and translating them into unique contemporary jewellery pieces.
SHINE: A Group Exhibition
19 March to 3 April
Gallery Central, Perth campus
SHINE brings together a diverse range of creative expressions from our recent graduates in Interior Design, Fashion and Textiles, Visual Art, Building Design, and Graphic Design.
The exhibition provides a unique glimpse into contemporary artistic practices, highlighting the innovative approaches of emerging artists across various disciplines.
LEVEL 3
26 March
Building 1, Perth campus
The North Metropolitan TAFE Fashion Department presents LEVEL 3, a bespoke runway experience showcasing a diverse selection of garments by recent NMTAFE fashion alumni and current students.
Part of Perth Design Week(opens in a new tab) LEVEL 3 will be held on a hidden roof terrace tucked behind the State Library and WA Museum Boola Bardip.