The University of Tasmania's 2011 Creative Arts School has been officially opened with a performance from the Taiko drummers.
The summer school runs until January 21, offering 16 courses to 350 students on a wide range of creative disciplines.
Summer school director Peter Hammond said: "Each year this summer event grows in its breadth of offerings and the quality of the tutors we are able to attract.
"For participants this means the educative experiences are profoundly personal and revelatory."
The UTAS summer school is offering courses on effective speaking, culinary design, scriptwriting, sculpture, multimedia, and contemporary dance, among others.
The program, which is run from the Academy of Arts at Inveresk, is now in its fifth year.