Today we will be talking about the best art schools in Canada. Our reason for doing that is to help future students who want to study art in Canada but are yet to choose the school that will be right for them.
Overview
Students looking to create and surround themselves with art should ensure that Canada is on their list of places to consider attending college.
Canada has a wide range of excellent art schools. Canada offers a range of unique degree programs in schools within Canada proper and its neighboring suburbs.
We have compiled a list of the best art schools in Canada, where there is a niche for any kind of artist/student.
Some programs specialize in a particular media form, like traditional arts, such as illustration and painting, to new media and performance art, drawing, while others approach the curriculum through a more interdisciplinary lens, blending student experimentation with inquiry-based discussion.
Read ahead to learn about the unique course opportunities, on-campus initiatives, and community partnerships that make each Canada school an appealing choice for emerging artists.
Lists of the best Art Schools in Canada
- Emily Carr University of Art and Design
- Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
- Alberta University of the Arts
- Concordia University Faculty of Fine Arts
- Nova Scotia College of Art and Design
- Ottawa School of Art
- Simon Fraser University School for the Contemporary Arts
- Vancouver College of Art & Design
- New Brunswick College of Craft & Design
- Yukon School of Visual Arts
1. Emily Carr University of Art and Design
Founded in 1925 as the Vancouver School of Decorative and Applied Arts, the Emily Carr University of Art and Design changed its name in 1978 to honor the great Canadian artist.
In addition to standard courses, such as industrial design and visual arts, Carr also features forward-thinking programs, such as sustainable design, new media, and interactive media.
These programs embrace current technology to create art that reflects our daily lives.
To that end, Carr has enjoyed partnerships with some of the most important institutions in the world.
Kerner Studios, a spinoff of Lucasfilm, joined with Carr in 2009 to create a stereoscopic 3-D research studio.
In 2014 and 2015, Carr added three Canada Research Chairs, the first art school in the country to do so.
See: Emily Carr Acceptance Rate and Tuition Fees
2. Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
One of the largest schools on this list, the Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning features perhaps Canada’s finest animation program.
The highly selective program almost single-handedly created the Canadian animation scene, beginning with classical animation courses offered in 1968.
In the decades that followed, Sheridan graduates went on to create Academy Award-winning works and hold important positions in studios such as Walt Disney Animation, Pixar Animation, and DreamWorks Animation.
Sheridan graduate Domee Shi became the first woman to direct a Pixar film, with her highly-acclaimed Turning Red.
The bachelor’s of animation degree takes students on every step of the cartoon-making process, from pitch to projection. Taught by artists with decades of industry experience, the program focuses on combining the latest technology with classical fine-arts techniques.
With this focus, it’s no wonder that Sheridan has gained the reputation of being one of the world’s finest animation schools.
3). Alberta University of the Arts
One of the country’s oldest art schools, the Alberta University of the Arts traces its roots to the Provincial Institute of Technology and Art, founded in 1916.
With this over a century of history, Alberta Arts has established itself as the starting point for Canada’s finest artistic talents.
Alumni include Blackfoot and Cree artists Brittany and Richell Bear Hat. The sisters and 2011 Alberta Arts graduates have enjoyed exhibitions by the Ociciwan Contemporary Art Collective, the Audain Gallery at Simon Fraser University, and elsewhere.
After graduating from Alberta Arts, Thomas Kerr embarked on a career as one of the most recognizable illustrators. His work has been featured in the New York Times and other major publications.
As these few examples show, Alberta Arts is a great starting point for those who want to impact the larger art world.
See: Alberta University Acceptance Rate and Tuition Fees
4. Concordia University Faculty of Fine Arts
The Concordia University Faculty of Fine Arts is more than just an art school. Rather, the school celebrates every aspect of the fine arts, from creating new works to studying the classics.
Concordia Arts prides itself on being a place where artists create alongside scholars and researchers.
Concordia Arts features 60 undergraduate and graduate programs, enrolling 3,700 students each year. These programs combine the best in new technologies and time-honored techniques.
The pride of Concordia Arts is the Engineering, Computer Science, and Visual Arts Complex, a 17-story tower that opened in 2005.
In addition to galleries and museums, the Complex also featured numerous studios and tech centers, letting artists follow their muses with traditional tools and the latest technologies.
See: Concordia University Acceptance Rate and Tuition
5. Nova Scotia College of Art and Design
Established in 1887 as the Victoria School of Art and Design, the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design is Canada’s first degree-granting art school.
Thanks to this rich history, NSCAD has developed a reputation for not only artistic achievement but also scholarly excellence.
In fact, NSCAD is one of the few art schools in the world to feature a university press. The press has published dozens of monographs about artists, as well as collections of works by contemporary artists.
Nova Scotia College of Art and Design’s commitment to scholarly pursuits is further demonstrated by its fully-featured university library.
With over 50,000 books and 140,000 visual works, the library has everything needed for the study and practice of art.
Likewise, the school features several museums and gallery spaces, including the Anna Leonowens Gallery.
Starting in 1968, the Leonowens Gallery displays work from faculty members, students, and visiting artists. In 2016, the gallery expanded to add the Art Bar + Projects space for performance art.
Conclusion
The article was written on the best art schools in Canada. Was it helpful to you in terms of selecting the art school that is right for you? We will be waiting for your response in the comment box.
Last Updated on November 27, 2022 by Admin
