GENERAL REGISTRATION POLICIES

The Dutch Atelier of Realist Art (DARA) accepts students of any nationality, race or ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, medical status, marital or civil status, religion, or creed. Enrolment is open to students ages 12 and up. For students under the age of 18, a parent or legal guardian must provide DARA with his or her express written permission for the student to participate as a condition of enrolment.

Unless stated otherwise, all courses offered at DARA use English as the primary language for group discussions and/or demonstrations. Frequently, instructors can offer students individual feedback in Dutch or other languages; however, working fluency in English is a required condition of enrolment.

Regular attendance is expected of all students. Students who know ahead of time that they cannot commit to attending a minimum of 80% of studio lessons should not apply. DARA reserves the right to refuse further enrolment to students who show a continued pattern of poor attendance.

APPLICATIONS & RIGHT OF REFUSAL

To register for any course, students must first complete an online application via DARA's website.

Entrance to our Trimester Programme is application-based, and has stricter entrance requirements. Students must meet all relevant criteria as a condition of acceptance.

For Workshops and Bootcamps, there are no stringent entrance requirements and registration is generally open to all on a first-come, first-served basis.

Right of Refusal
DARA reserves the right to refuse enrolment under the following circumstances:

• Applicants who are deemed, at the sole discretion of DARA instructors and/or administrative staff, to be insufficiently qualified for a course, or otherwise not in alignment with our stated mission.
• Applicants who have previously demonstrated a consistent pattern of poor attendance.
• Applicants who have previously been dismissed from DARA due to refusal to follow studio policies, or have violated DARA's Code of Conduct.

PAYMENT OF TUITION FEES

To review current tuition fees for all study programmes, please visit our Tuition Fees page states current fees for all study programmes. ​Tuition fees are subject to annual increase.

Tuition fees always include:

• Storage space for artwork and supplies for the duration of the course;
• Basic studio equipment - easels, stools, and drawing boards;
• Live model fees;
• Coffee, tea, and light refreshments served during all hours;
• (Workshops Only) Complimentary light lunch served daily;
• (Workshops Only) End-of-workshop borrel (light drinks & snacks) on the final evening of lessons.

If a course includes anything extra, this will be indicated on the materials list. For most courses, drawing and painting materials are supplied by students at their expense.

Reserving Space in a Course with a Deposit
Once a student has been accepted into a course, a tuition payment is required before the start of class. The amount due, and any payment plans available, depend on how much time is left before the start of the course. This information is also stated in the pro-forma invoice for tuition fees sent together with the student's acceptance letter.

Acceptance when there are fewer than 4 weeks before the start of the course:

• The full cost of tuition is due 4 weeks before the start of course / trimester. If this date has already passed, then the payment is due within 5 working days of your acceptance in order to keep a space reserved in the class. Tuition fees must be paid in full before the first day of lessons in order to participate.

Acceptance when there are more than 4 weeks before the start of the course: In this case, a deposit payment is due within 14 days of the student's acceptance letter in order to keep a  acceptance in order to keep a space reserved in the class. The options available are the following:

• Paying in 2 parts. The first half is considered the deposit. The second half is due 4 weeks before the start of the course or trimester. This option is always available.
• Paying in 4 to 6 monthly instalments. Students may sign up for monthly billing via DARA's ecommerce platform; the first instalment is considered the deposit. A 5% surcharge is applied with this option. This option may not be available for some workshops - please check the pro-forma invoice sent by DARA to see what payment plans are available for your course. DARA does not accept instalment payments in cash or by bank transfer.
  

 
Late / Overdue Payments

• The first deadline for a tuition payment was missed: DARA will always send students a reminder before the payment deadline. If the deposit was not paid on time, this is considered a cancellation. DARA can no longer guarantee availability in the course, and if there is already a waiting list established, the space will immediately be offered to someone on the wait list.

​

• A deposit was paid, but the student is late with paying a later instalment: If the course has a waiting list, and overdue tuition fees are not settled within 5 working days, DARA reserves the right to refund the student's deposit and offer the space in the class to someone on the wait list instead. Otherwise, there is a late fee of €40,- per week if the overdue payment is not settled within 5 working days.
  

• A monthly instalment was missed: The student will be notified and given the opportunity to change the payment method on file. Another attempt will then be made to charge the student's account. If this second attempt to collect the payment is unsuccessful, the student must pay the full outstanding balance within 5 working days. If the outstanding balance is not settled within this time, a late fee of €40,- per week is applied. If the overdue balance remains unsettled after one month, DARA reserves the right to refer the account to a collection agency to demand the unpaid balance plus late fees.

CANCELLATION POLICY & CREDITING TUITION FEES TOWARDS OTHER COURSES

Crediting a tuition payment towards another class
Any request to credit a tuition payment towards a different course is considered a transfer. Transfers are permitted under the following circumstances:

1) There is a sufficient amount of advance notice before the start of the course the student was initially accepted into:

• Workshops: There are more than 6 weeks before the start of the original workshop;
• Bootcamps: There are more than 6 weeks before the start of the original bootcamp;
• Trimester Programme: There are more than 4 weeks before the start of the trimester. If transferring to a different trimester course, note that it is only possible to transfer to another course within the same trimester. It is not permitted to cancel and keep a payment on hold for a future trimester. Registration is only open for one trimester at a time - please refer to point 2 below.

2) The student will transfer to a specific course which is currently open for registration at DARA. If the registration period has not opened to students yet, e.g. the student cancels for the fall trimester and asks to credit tuition fees towards the spring trimester which will only be open for registration in several months, this is not an option. We are not able to keep tuition fees on hold for a hypothetical course at some unfixed time in the future.

3) The course that the student would like to transfer into has places available. If there are any eligibility requirements, the student meets all of them. Please note that there are entrance requirements in place for our Trimester Programme which do not apply to Workshops or Bootcamps.

4) If there is a price difference between the two courses, such that the tuition fee of the course the student wants to transfer into costs less than the original course, DARA will refund the difference in tuition fees up to €300. Any amount left over is retained by DARA.

If these conditions are not met, course transfers are not possible. Please refer to DARA's Cancellation & Refund policy below.

Cancellations & Refunds

• Sketch Session / Event Cancellations

Cancellations made more than 24 hours ahead of the sketch session, lecture, or other event are fully refunded. After this time, it is not possible to reschedule or receive a refund.

• "Cool-off" Period

Students who cancel their course enrolment within 14 days of the initial tuition payment* are fully refunded, regardless of the amount of time between the cancellation date and the start of the course.**

* "Initial tuition payment" means the first payment made towards the course fee. For example, if the student has chosen to pay in monthly instalments, the initial payment refers to the first instalment.

** If the course already started and the cancellation falls within the "cool-off" period, then the student is still required to pay the total cost of services rendered. This is calculated by the number of lessons that were completed at the time of the cancellation, regardless of whether or not the student attended class. The remaining balance is refunded.

• Full Refund

> Trimester Programme: The cancellation is made more than 8 weeks before the start of the trimester.
> Bootcamps: The cancellation is made more than 8 weeks​ before the start of the course.
> Workshops: The cancellation is made more than 6 months before the start of the workshop.*

* Why 6 months? There are significant expenses and efforts involved in coordinating the visiting artist's travel, accommodation, etc. and DARA needs to know well in advance if the workshop has sufficient student numbers to run.

• Partial Refund*:

When cancellations are made more than 4 weeks before the start of the course or trimester, DARA retains 50% of the total cost of tuition. If the student has paid an amount greater than 50% of the tuition fee, the difference is refunded. Please see exceptions, below.*

• Cancelling when there are fewer than 4 weeks before the start of the course*:

Students who cancel when there are fewer than 4 weeks from the start of the course / trimester are not eligible for any refund. Crediting tuition fees towards another course is also not allowed at this time.

* When does DARA make an exception? DARA will waive our standard policy and refund the student in full if another person is available to take the cancelled space before the course starts. We will do our best to make this happen, but cannot guarantee that this will always be possible. Refunds are processed 14 days after the alternate student's tuition fees have been paid. If we are unable to fill the cancelled space before the course starts, then our standard policy written above applies.

• Cancelling or withdrawing from class after the course begins:

Students who withdraw from a course at any time after it begins, for any reason, are not eligible for a refund. Crediting tuition fees towards another course is also not allowed at this time. Absences from class are neither refunded nor made up in a private lesson at the instructor's expense.

If the student is still paying in monthly instalments at the time of his or her withdrawal, it is required to complete the full billing term.

STUDIO CANCELLATIONS & INSTRUCTOR ABSENCES

In the event that DARA must cancel a course (for example, due to lack of sufficient enrolment), students are immediately notified by phone and / or email. Except in the case of emergencies or other exceptional circumstances, any cancellations made by the studio are announced one month in advance of trimester courses and bootcamps, and two months in advance of workshops.

In this circumstance, students can opt to:

• Keep a space reserved to attend the course at a postponed date;
• Transfer enrolment to another available course;
• Receive a full refund of tuition fees.

If a single class is cancelled (for example, due to the instructor falling ill), every effort will be made to schedule a make-up session at a time convenient for the majority of students. A refund for the lesson is offered to any students who cannot attend the make-up session. DARA reserves the right to substitute in another qualified instructor or model in a class if necessary.

STUDENT ABSENCES

All courses offered by DARA require a commitment of regular attendance from students. This means arriving on time, prepared with the correct supplies, and in attendance for at least 80% of the course at minimum.

If there are any recorded demos, images, written material, or other homework assignments given in class that can be shared with students online, instructors will do so. However, absences from class are not refunded, and it is not possible to receive a private lesson at the instructor's expense.

If a student knows ahead of time that attending at least 80% of the course will not be possible, the student should refrain from applying until his or her circumstances change. DARA reserves the right to refuse further enrolment to students who show a consistent pattern of poor attendance.

MATERIALS USE & PROHIBITED MATERIALS

All supplies needed to participate in class are stated on the course page. This list is also provided to students in PDF format upon acceptance. It is the student's sole responsibility to ensure that this information is reviewed in full before class starts, and that the correct materials are brought to class in order to participate. Any substitutions to items on the supply list need to be discussed and approved with the instructor and/or studio ahead of class.

To ensure the health and safety of all artists working in our studio, DARA has strict rules in place regarding the use of drawing and painting materials, particularly those which contain toxic substances.

These rules are not negotiable. Wilful disregard of studio policy will result in permanent expulsion from DARA.

Toxic Pigments
The use of pigments which contain heavy metals (lead, cadmium, etc.) is not recommended for beginning painters, but is allowed under the following conditions:

• Paints are stored in labelled tubes, and paint tubes are sealed with a cap when not in use;
• All paint spills / stains are cleaned by the student with soap and warm water;
• The student is strongly urged to wear gloves while painting;
• No paint is allowed in common areas outside of the classrooms;
• Brushes must be properly cleaned in a brush washer before rinsing in the brush sink (this applies for all oil paints, toxic and nontoxic).

It is strictly forbidden to bring in powdered pigment to the studio, or to sand down the surface of a painted canvas or palette in the studio.

Paint Solvents
The only solvent allowed for use inside DARA classrooms is Gamsol Odourless Mineral Spirits. This is one of the safest solvents currently available for painters, and has virtually no odour. This is a strict rule and there are no exceptions. Gamsol is sold at DARA, in case students have trouble finding it in their local art supply stores.

If a student arrives to the studio with another type of solvent, or a painting medium which contains some odorous solvent as one of its ingredients, it will be banned from the classroom. Repeatedly refusing to use the correct solvent will result in permanent dismissal from the studio.

Gamsol must be stored properly, in labelled glass containers or metal palette cups, while inside the studio. Containers with solvent must be sealed at all times while not in use. Plastic or paper containers are not suitable for storing Gamsol. If a student attempts to pour solvents in a communal drinking cup or bowl that was taken from DARA's kitchen, he or she will be expelled from the studio.

Disposal of Oil Painting Waste
All painting waste must be disposed in one of the sealed metal waste bins which are labelled for paint disposal. This is both to reduce the risk of fire hazard, and to eliminate odour from painting mediums within the classrooms. Waste bins should be sealed with a lid at all times.

For disposal of dirty solvents: solvents should be recycled by using a brush washer or sieve to separate out the paint sediment. Do not pour solvents or oils in the toilet or down the drain.

Brush Cleaning
After painting, brushes should first be cleaned in an airtight brush washer, or a glass jar which can be sealed with a lid. As much paint as possible should be removed from the brush by swishing the brush in Gamsol or oil. After the brush is nearly clean of paint, it should then be thoroughly rinsed out with soap and warm water in the brush sink. It is forbidden to use any other sink to clean brushes.

Pencil Sharpening & Dust
Pencils and charcoal should be sharpened over a waste bin to reduce dust in the air, which can be irritating to other students. Any pencil shavings or dust that are left on the floor, easels, etc. should be cleaned up by students at the end of the work session.

Use of Spray Fixative
It is strictly forbidden to use spray fixative indoors. There is a designated area in the courtyard outside the studio where drawings can be set with fixative. Wait at least 5 to 10 minutes after spraying before bringing the drawing back indoors, so that the odour wears off.

General Rules
Communal studio equipment such as easels and stools must be handled respectfully and with care. Any broken equipment that is discovered should be reported to a member of staff immediately. Students should clean any messes made at the end of the work session, and leave the studio in the same condition in which they found it.

STORAGE OF MATERIALS

All students are given a designated storage space to keep supplies, drawings, and paintings for the duration of the course or trimester. It is the sole responsibility of students to place personal belongings in their correct storage spaces. Items left behind in classrooms are moved to a "Lost & Found" area at the entrance to the building, and DARA accepts no responsibility or liability for the loss of such items.

It is strictly forbidden to enter the storage space of another student or instructor. Storage areas are under camera surveillance. Theft or deliberate tampering with someone else's personal belongings or artwork will result in permanent expulsion from DARA. Theft or destruction of property will be reported to the police.

All personal belongings must be taken out of the studio as soon as a student's enrolment period ends. Our space is limited. Unless DARA administration has made a predetermined agreement with a student, we do not agree to store personal belongings for any person after his or her enrolment ends. This policy is communicated to students on numerous occasions before and during each course. If this policy is ignored, DARA accepts no responsibility or liability for any items left in our building beyond a student's enrolment period. Our studio is not a free storage facility.
​​

WORKING IN THE STUDIO

In order to maintain a comfortable, safe, and focused class environment for all of our students, instructors, and staff, classes are only open to registered students. Non-registered guests such as family members or friends are not permitted to join lessons, and should stay in the entrance lounge area while classes are in session.

It is not permitted to bring pets into the studio. Students who require a working service animal should contact the office ahead of time.

Studio doors are open to students 30 minutes before class starts, and close 30 minutes after class ends. It is not permitted for students to work in the building outside of designated class hours, unless they have booked a studio pass* or have made some other predetermined agreement with the office.* Studio passes are available only to students currently enrolled in DARA's Trimester Programme.

It is expected that students and guests will treat the studio respectfully. All studio equipment, plaster casts, still life props, and other studio property should be handled with care. Any broken equipment that is discovered should be reported to a staff member immediately.

Students should properly clean up any messes they made and not leave it for someone else to deal with.

All health and safety guidelines must be observed while working in the studio. This includes, but is not limited to, the correct disposal of painting waste, the proper handling of toxic materials, and agreeing not to bring prohibited materials into the building. Refusal to comply will result in dismissal from class or permanent expulsion.

It is never allowed to enter another the personal storage space of another student or instructor. Instances of theft or deliberate destruction of property will result in permanent expulsion from the studio, and will be reported to the police.

DARA's supply shop located inside Studio C is not self-service. There are numerous signs indicating this. Students must check out at the register with a member of staff. If items are not fully paid for, the student is not permitted to take them. Instances of theft will result in permanent expulsion from the studio and a report to the police.

POLICIES FOR WORKING WITH MODELS

There are certain rules in place for classes in which models are posing. This applies to both instructed lessons and non-instructed open model sessions.

• No one other than students and instructors are permitted in the room while the model is posing.
• The classroom doors stay closed while the model is posing. Students who arrive late may not enter the room and disrupt the session for everyone; they must wait outside until the next break.
• Everyone works quietly - no chatting while the model is in pose. Keep the conversation to the breaks, or take the conversation out of the classroom.
• The instructor / session monitor calls the breaks. After a break ends, the pose starts again promptly without delay.
• If the pose needs to be corrected, this will be done by group consensus at the direction of the instructor or model coordinator. Models should be given instructions to adjust the pose in a respectful, clear manner. If the pose needs to be adjusted mid-session, this should be done at the direction of the instructor or coordinator; students should not interrupt the pose to call out directions.
• There is a zero-tolerance policy for any behaviour towards models which is deemed, at the discretion of DARA administration, to be demeaning, discriminatory, intimidating, or otherwise inflammatory.
• For instructed classes, easels around the model are chosen by random lottery to ensure fairness to everyone.

Nude Poses

• For instructed classes: students under age 18 must have a parent or legal guardian provide DARA with express written permission for the student to attend. Open model sessions in which models pose nude are not open to participants under age 18.
• Doors and curtains in the classroom remain closed at all times while the model is posing.
• During breaks, models must be clothed, either in a robe or something similar.
• Taking pictures or videos of a nude model is not allowed under any circumstances. Students photographing their own work need to wait for a break in the pose. There is clear signage on the model stage that indicates this policy, and violating this rule will result in permanent expulsion from the studio.

Photo / Video Policy

• Open Sketch Sessions: No photos or videos allowed of models.
• For instructed classes: Photography is heavily discouraged, but permitted for clothed poses only if both the instructor and student have obtained the model's permission. Permission needs to be obtained during a break, students should never interrupt the pose to ask to take a photo. Photos / videos are never allowed for nude poses under any circumstances, and violation of this rule will result in permanent expulsion from the studio.
• Students photographing their own work need to wait for a break in the pose. (On the other side of the easel, it is not clear to the model if he or she is being included in the picture or not.)
• Always ask other artists for permission before taking photos of their work.

CODE OF CONDUCT

In order to ensure a safe and professional working environment, the Code of Conduct establishes guidelines for appropriate behaviour while on the DARA premises. The Code of Conduct applies to all students, staff, models, and guests of DARA.

Behaviour which is in violation of the Code of Conduct will result in dismissal from class and/or permanent expulsion from DARA and all future events. DARA reserves the right to refuse admittance to classes, workshops, programs and events based on violation of this Code of Conduct.

Expected Conduct

Students at DARA are expected to attend classes and events at the studio with a sincere commitment to learn the fine arts training DARA provides. It is the student's sole responsibility to read DARA's Studio Policies as a condition of enrolment, and to ensure that their behaviour is compliant with the terms established therein. Students are expected to respect themselves, DARA staff and other members of the community, and studio facilities. 


Prohibited Conduct
Any conduct which threatens the safety of a member of the DARA community, or hinders the functions or operation of the studio, falls under the purview of this Code of Conduct. This including instances in which the unacceptable conduct occurred off the DARA studio premises.

Prohibited conduct includes but is not limited to the following:

1. DARA has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment towards students, staff, models, or other members of the DARA community. Harassment includes, but is not limited to: bullying, inflammatory remarks, unwelcome advances, and behaviour which creates a hostile or intimidating environment. Instances of harassment will result in disciplinary action, up to and including permanent expulsion from DARA or legal action.
2. Discrimination or harassment towards a member of the DARA community based on race, ethnicity, country of national origin, sex and/or gender expression, sexual orientation, creed, religion, age, disability, veteran or military status, pregnancy, genetic information, marital status, or citizenship status.
3. DARA has a zero-tolerance policy for any form of sexual violence towards a member of the DARA community. This includes, but is not limited to: sexually demeaning language, inappropriate touching, stalking, all forms of sexual assault or misconduct, and the exploitation of an authority position to groom underage or otherwise vulnerable individuals. Instances of sexual violence will be met with immediate disciplinary action, up to and including permanent expulsion from DARA, prompt reporting to law enforcement, and/or legal action.
4. DARA has a zero-tolerance policy for any form of physical violence or intimidation towards a member of the DARA community. This includes, but is not limited to: threats of injury or bodily harm, domestic violence, and any form of physical assault. Instances of physical violence will be met with immediate disciplinary action, up to and including permanent expulsion from DARA, prompt reporting to law enforcement, and/or legal action.
5. Deliberate destruction or theft of property belonging to DARA, or to a student or staff member. Instances of theft or deliberate destruction of property will result in permanent expulsion from DARA and reporting to law enforcement. If a piece of equipment is damaged accidentally or breaks from prolonged use, it must be reported to a member of staff.
6. Disrespectful conduct in the classroom which disrupts the instructor's ability to proceed with the lesson, or undermines the tone he or she has established for the class.
7. Communication with members of the DARA community, both in-person and online communications, should strive to maintain a tone which is professional and respectful. The use of derisive or offensive language towards students or staff is not in accordance with DARA's practices. Recurring instances of such behaviour may result in dismissal from the studio. 
8. Abusive behaviour directed towards a member of the DARA community, including the use of profanity or slurs.
9. Obscene, lewd, or indecent behaviour on the DARA premises.
10. Conduct which disrupts the functioning of DARA's classes or events, or discredits the studio's professional ethical standards.
11. Failure to observe safety guidelines, including policies regarding the use of artist materials. Repeated instances of this behaviour will result in dismissal from the studio.
12. Failure to observe fire safety guidelines, including but not limited to: engaging in arson, blocking emergency exits, improper disposal of flammable substances such as oils or solvents, failure to switch off space heaters, and/or falsely activating fire alarms.
13. Smoking and/or drug use is not permitted inside DARA premises. Working under the influence of illegal substances is prohibited.
14. The consumption of alcoholic beverages during events at DARA is only permitted for those over the age of 18. Excessive intoxication is prohibited.
15. Possession or use of dangerous chemicals, explosives, fireworks or deadly weapons on the DARA premises is strictly prohibited and will result in expulsion from the studio and reporting to law enforcement.
16. Attending an instructed class in which a model poses nude is not permitted for students under 18 years of age without the express permission of the student's parent or legal guardian.
17. Refusal to comply with the posted building/studio hours. Please clean up promptly after class and be respectful of closing staff.
18. Attending a class, sketch session, lecture, or other paid event without full term payment.
19. Disregard of the studio's Model Policies (please refer above.) Repeated instances of this behaviour will result in dismissal from the studio.
20. Recording photos or videos of nude models is never allowed, and will result in expulsion. Recording photos or videos of clothed models is only permitted with express permission from both the model and the studio.
21. Recording photos or videos of other artists and/or their work is not allowed without his or her express permission.
22. Students who arrive late must enter the building quietly and may not disrupt lessons. If the student arrives late for a model class, he or she must wait outside the classroom until a break in the pose.
23. Trespassing and/or unauthorised use of studio facilities.
24. Refusal to follow instructions given by DARA staff, such that it may result in bodily harm to oneself, other students, guests, or members of staff.
25. Violation of any published rules and regulations now or later in effect.