Accredited by Brazil’s MEC, SP Escola Superior de Teatro opens 100+ free spots in Performing Arts Production Technology starting in 2026.
A historic step for performing arts education in Brazil
São Paulo is gaining a brand-new option for free public higher education in the performing arts. The renowned SP Escola de Teatro has been officially accredited by Brazil’s Ministry of Education (MEC) and rebranded as SP Escola Superior de Teatro – Faculdade das Artes do Palco (College of Stage Arts). The institution is part of the São Paulo State Secretariat of Culture, Creative Economy and Creative Industries, managed by the cultural organization ADAAP.
The upgrade to college status preserves the school’s signature teaching model, built over 16 years. It now also offers the Higher Technology Degree in Performing Arts Production — a two-year program totaling 1,920 hours, completely free of charge, structured around eight study tracks in stage arts.
How to apply
Admissions are twice a year, in two elimination rounds: a written essay and interview, followed by in-person activities per area. The first 2026 intake opens applications from March through April, offering more than one hundred spots. Classes run in the morning and afternoon shifts.
The process includes a 20% quota for Black students, people with disabilities, and Indigenous applicants, broadening access to professional arts training.
“The creation of SP Escola Superior de Teatro is a strategic decision by the São Paulo State Government to expand access to public higher education and recognize the performing arts as a structural field of training, work, and development. By transforming a reference school into a college, the State consolidates a permanent policy that strengthens professional qualification, values artistic careers, and broadens opportunities for new generations.” — Marília Marton, Secretary of Culture, Creative Economy and Creative Industries of São Paulo State
A global benchmark with 88% employment rate
Founded in 2005 and inaugurated in 2009, the school started classes in 2010 and has since become a model for theater education in Germany, Finland, Sweden, and Switzerland. Institutions such as the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts, Stockholm University of the Arts, Zurich University of the Arts, and University of the Arts Helsinki have studied its pedagogical approach.
Between 2015 and 2024, 88% of graduates are employed, with 92.5% working directly in the performing arts. Their employers include the Theatro Municipal de São Paulo, the Sesc network, and major audiovisual and streaming companies such as Globo, Netflix, Amazon, and HBO.
“We worked very hard to transform the School into a college. It took years of planning and implementation, with the advantage of having kept our entire pedagogical system — our greatest asset — which has resulted in high employability rates and has also inspired curriculum reforms at universities in Germany, Finland, Sweden, and Switzerland, something we are very proud of. Now, with our higher education degree, our students will have even more opportunities, both academically and professionally.” — Ivam Cabral, Executive Director of SP Escola de Teatro
More than a degree program
Becoming a college doesn’t change the school’s broader offering. SP Escola Superior de Teatro will continue providing more than 20 free Cultural Extension courses per year, artistic residencies with public performances, financial aid grants for low-income students, and international partnerships for academic and artistic exchanges. The degree program is expected to enroll around 400 students in total.
“The accreditation of SP Escola de Teatro as a higher education institution represents a historic milestone for artistic training in Brazil. This recognition consolidates a trajectory built on the pedagogical excellence led by ADAAP over 16 years at the helm of the project. More than an institutional advancement, it is a victory for the cultural field, which now has a public school capable of integrating higher education, artistic experimentation, and cultural policies — recognizing the performing arts as a strategic field of knowledge and the creative economy.” — Elen Londero, Institutional Development Advisor
Key Info
SP Escola Superior de Teatro – Faculdade das Artes do Palco
Program: Higher Technology Degree in Performing Arts Production
Duration: 2 years | 1,920 hours
Spots: 100+ per semester
First 2026 intake applications: March–April 2026
Second 2026 intake applications: August–September 2026
Tuition: Free, admission by selection
Quota: 20% reserved for Black students, people with disabilities, and Indigenous applicants
Location: Praça Roosevelt, São Paulo, Brazil
Photo: Divulgação
