Established in 1946 as an independent institution, it now is one of three faculties of Beit Berl College.

The head of the school was Eliyahu Beiles and it was affiliated with the "Workers' Trend" in the educational system.

Under his influence, a group of artists formed, who would later be known as the core of the Want of Matter movement in Israeli Art.

In 1995 HaMidrasha moved to Kalmania, a part of the Beit Berl campus and a former agricultural farm.

In 2008 the school was further accredited to award a graduate degree – MEd in art education.

In 2009 Doron Rabina was appointed as head of the school, and a bachelor's degree filmmaking program was launched.

Over the years, "HaMidrasha" operated several galleries, both in the Kalmaniya campus and in Tel Aviv.