The Canberra School of Music first opened in 1965 in the suburb of Manuka and the School’s foundation director was Ernest Llewellyn. In 1976 it moved to a new building in the grounds of the old Canberra High School and this building incorporated a concert theatre that was later named Llewellyn Hall. In 1977 both the Canberra Schools of Art and Music became part of the ACT Training and Further Education system. In 1987 the ACT Administration Central Office acquired responsibility for the school and in 1988 the Canberra Schools of Art and Music amalgamated to form an autonomous statutory authority, the Canberra Institute of the Arts.

The School of Art had its beginnings in the art classes of the Canberra Technical College. In 1976 the College’s Art School gained independence and was reconstituted as the Canberra School of Art. Its first Director was Udo Sellbach 1977-1985. In 1988 the Canberra Schools of Art and Music amalgamated to form an autonomous statutory authority, the Canberra Institute of the Arts which later amalgamated with the Australian National University.

In early 1988 the Canberra School of Music and Canberra School of Art merged as an autonomous statutory authority known as the Canberra Institute of the Arts. It was governed by a Board comprising the directors of the two school and Peter Karmel as part-time Executive Chairman. The Canberra Institute of the Arts amalgamated with the The Australian National University in January 1992, becoming the Institute of the Arts.

The Canberra Institute of the Arts amalgamated with the The Australian National University in January 1992, becoming the Institute of the Arts under the Australian National University Act 1991. The Institute comprised the Canberra School of Art, the Canberra School of Music and the Australian Centre for the Arts and Technology. In October 2001 the Institute of the Arts became the National Institute of the Arts to reflect a restructure of University governance.