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Dutch Atelier of Realist Art

Academic education in figurative drawing and painting

DARA is a private vocational fine arts school in Haarlem offering courses in the classical tradition.
2026 Workshop Registration Open

Register for multiple workshops and earn a discount!

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Next Open Day: 14 December

Explore our classrooms, chat with instructors, and get a behind-the-scenes look from current students about what you an learn with us here at DARA!

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2026 Winter Trimester

Registration Open until 30 December

Trimester Dates: 5 January to 22 March 2026

Intensive study in academic drawing and painting, accessible for part-time or full-time study

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Open Model Sketch

Opportunities to sketch the portrait or figure from life in a structured studio environment, for both students and artists outside the DARA community.

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Open Studio: Model Sketch Sessions

Opportunities to sketch the model from life at DARA

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Welcome to DARA

The Dutch Atelier of Realist Art (DARA) is a unique vocational school in Haarlem dedicated to academic study in drawing and painting. We work fully from life, true to the classical tradition, with a balanced approach that combines observation with conceptual understanding. Our instructors are classically trained professionals, and our teaching methods are rooted in the classical European tradition.