College of the Arts, Windhoek
The College of the Arts is an institution of arts education in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. It employs 39 lecturers full-time and 75 on part-time basis. 450 students are studying towards a Diploma degree, a further 650 are enrolled in fee-financed courses, and 4,800 students participate in community-based programs organised by the college.
COTA was established by citizens of German heritage in 1971 as a Whites-only State Conservatory of Music. In the mid-80s drama and visual arts were added to the Conservatory's programs, and in 1990 it was renamed College for the Arts.
The seven full-time degree programs currently offered are African Performing Arts, Visual Art and Fashion Design, Television Production, Radio Production, New Media Design, and Music and Sound Production. Tertiary programs are offered as three-year courses of studies. COTA's leitmotiv is "Lifelong learning through the arts".
