Each spring at the International School of Nice (ISN), the school’s reception area is transformed into a fabulous art gallery. Paintings, photography, film, sculpture and digital work fill the space as students present the culmination of two years of intensive artistic exploration within the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme.
The exhibition on 31 March 2026 – known as the Grade 12 Art Vernissage – is one of the highlights of the ISN school calendar, when students, teachers and invited friends and family gather to celebrate the final stage of the IB Visual Arts course. (ISN is also hosting an Open Morning on 31 March.)
A Celebration of Student Creativity
We asked ISN’s Creative Arts Coordinator, Nalinka Kalder, who teaches Visual Arts at HS and IBDP level, to take us behind the scenes and tell us more about the Vernissage and the school’s art programme. Nalinka grew up in London and completed an MA in Art and Design Education at UCL before moving to France with her husband over 25 years ago. In addition to teaching and working as an IB examiner, she is also a practising artist, painting in her spare time with a focus on the natural world.
The Vernissage is “a moment of celebration”, says Nalinka. “It showcases the creative highlights of the IB Visual Arts students (14 this year), and signals the closing phase of all the IBDP work students are doing.”
Visitors will not only see the artwork but also meet the young artists themselves. For many students, it is the first time presenting their work in a gallery-style environment – an experience that mirrors the professional art world.
The exhibition itself reflects the remarkable diversity of media explored within the school programme. Works range from drawing and painting to printmaking, 3D design, film, photography and digital art, demonstrating how contemporary art education increasingly blends traditional techniques with new technologies.
Balancing Creativity and Academic Rigour
Like all subjects within the IB Diploma Programme, Visual Arts at ISN combines creative freedom with demanding academic requirements.
“The demands of the IB programme are far reaching and challenging for all students,” says Nalinka. “We try to strike a balance between the requirements of the curriculum alongside creative explorations that nurture individual development.”
Inspired by the Côte d’Azur
Studying art in Nice offers a unique advantage: the region itself is one of Europe’s most celebrated artistic landscapes.
From the legacy of Henri Matisse to the contemporary gallery scene, the French Riviera has long attracted painters, photographers and designers.
“We always encourage our students to visit galleries and museums in the region. We have links with the photography museum in Nice and have taken students to private views when we can,” says Nalinka. “We make use of the Asian Art museum and Parc Phoenix which are only a short tram ride away.
“We also have an annual trip to the Villa Rothschild with Grade 11 plus an annual London Arts trip that I have been organising for over 20 years. This is also a great highlight of the academic year for many of our talented students.”
A Truly International Creative Community
As one of the Riviera’s most international schools, ISN brings together students from across the globe. That diversity is reflected in the artwork produced within the department.
“Our students are all unique and come with different ideas, specialisms and backgrounds which definitely sparks interest in the work they produce,” says Nalinka. “The sharing of ideas and approaches to art is important and we strive to collaborate in the department as much as possible.”
Graduates of the programme have gone on to study at some of the world’s most respected creative institutions, including University of the Arts London, Savannah College of Art and Design, Parsons School of Design, the Bartlett School of Architecture, Glasgow School of Art, and the Rhode Island School of Design, among others.
First Prize Winner. Photo: ISN
Students also gain opportunities beyond the school through the Globeducate Arts competition, where ISN students have repeatedly received awards and honourable mentions – particularly in the High School photography category.
Creativity Beyond the Art Studio
While some students pursue careers in art and design, the programme also develops broader skills valued across many professions.
Visual Arts students, Nalinka notes, become strong communicators and creative problem-solvers. They learn to approach challenges with flexibility and an open mind – skills that translate far beyond the studio.
Digital tools also play an increasingly important role. Students use a variety of apps for screen-based, video and digital work, and the latest Visual Arts curriculum now includes filmed documentation of projects. For example, Higher Level students create a site-specific artwork installation, which they then record and discuss on video as part of their assessment, reveals Nalinka.
The 2026 Vernissage
This year’s Grade 12 Art Vernissage will take place on Tuesday 31 March at 4:15pm.
“The work normally remains in place for some weeks after the private viewing which means that visitors to ISN benefit from seeing the work beyond the vernissage,” says Nalinka.
“The show is always diverse and showcases work in a range of media. Our reception area becomes a gallery and really celebrates the unique artistic styles of our students and volume of work undertaken over the IB Visual Arts course.”
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YOU CAN ALSO BOOK NOW for ISN’S Open Morning on 31 March 2026.
