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The Creative Student's Guide to Vancouver Art Education and Careers

...for students of art, design, fashion design, photography, film/video, advertising, interior design and other creative fields.

Visit our Complete Directory of
Vancouver Art Schools and Art Colleges!

by C.J. Gustafson
ArtSchools.com Contributing Writer

art schools in Vancouver On orders from the Hudson Bay Company, James McMillan paddled up the Fraser River in 1827, turned inland, and chose a location for a new fur trading post. The spot, which later grew into one of Canada's most prominent areas, was named for famed mapmaker Captain George Vancouver. With 600,000 residents in the city proper, which covers 46.7 sq. miles, Vancouver ranks as Canada's third largest city. Water surrounds the city on three sides, ensuring a temperate climate averaging 38F in winter and 65F in summer, with seasonal peaks. The mild weather allows visitors to enjoy the more than 200 parks and to view the city by trolley or skyride. The Vancouver Art Gallery exhibits offer a cultural break from outdoor sightseeing, including traveling exhibits featuring the works of artists such as Andy Warhol.

Vancouver is one of those cities that truly has it all; stunning scenery, ocean ports, exceptional educational opportunities, majestic mountains, remarkable architecture, a vibrant nightlife, world-class cultural attractions, and a well-developed infrastructure. Yet is relaxed and laid back, offering a wide variety of lifestyles and activities from high society to rustic and remote. As travel writer David Lansing notes, "Vancouver can dress up and act quite sophisticated when she wants to. But she'd rather put on her woollies and galoshes and go splash in a puddle."

Arts and Other Attractions

Greater Vancouver covers a large area and makes up nearly half the population of the province of British Columbia. With dozens of villages and neighborhoods to explore, historic sites, and unique weather and geography, Vancouver is full of things to see and do, from skiing and boating (in the same day), to shopping or taking in an opera. This list of must-see attractions includes the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden located in the heart of the city, Hell's Gate Airtram, the Greater Vancouver Zoo, Grouse Mountain, The Peak of Vancouver, and Vancouver Lookout! Harbour Centre Tower -- the city's tallest building, affording visitors a stunning 360-degree view of the surrounding area.

In addition to the Vancouver Art Gallery, which houses the world's most extensive works of BC artist Emily Carr in addition to ever-changing exhibits of contemporary and historical art, the city's has many notable museums including several devoted to art. These include the two Buschlen Mowatt Galleries, specializing in contemporary Canadian and international fine art, and the Spirit Wrestler Gallery and Marion Scott Gallery with their exceptional collections of Inuit art. In all, Vancouver has more than 100 art galleries.

Surprising Facts and Common Misconceptions

photo degrees in Vancouver Some people may be surprised at what Vancouver has to offer. Michael Payne, a freelance graphic artist and webpage designer, moved to the city from the United States. "My wife is from Vancouver and she was adamant that she wanted to live in the area, so I agreed to move here since my work is more portable." Payne admitted he had some misgivings at first. "I think many Americans have this misconception about Canada and especially cities like Vancouver. I know I did. I guess I pictured this stark, cold and remote country with no culture or technology," he shared. "But Vancouver is nothing like that. I'd put it on a level with cities like Chicago, Minneapolis, or Seattle."

Another aspect of Vancouver that is not widely known is its reputation as a significant player in the film and television arena. A large portion of the $1 billion spent on the industry in British Columbia is in the city, which has come to be known as the heart of 'Hollywood North.' According to Vancouver's tourism office, some of the most prominent players in the movie and television industry have based productions in Vancouver in recent years, including ABC, NBC, CBS, Disney, Polygram, Trimark, Showtime, Viacom, Universal, Warner Brothers, and 20th Century Fox. It also has been the on-camera location of several recent films, including The X-men and The Sixth Day.

Art Schools and Programs

The wealth of opportunities for careers in film, advertising, architecture, design and other visual arts brings thousands of students to Vancouver to study art. The city has many higher education institutions dedicated to offering accredited visual arts degrees. Some popular facilities include the Vancouver Institute of Media Arts (VanArts), the Center For Digital Image & Sound (CDIS), and the Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design. The Art Institute of Vancouver has two locations in the area.

art student in Vancouver In addition, the Clark College Art Department and the University of British Columbia School of Architecture are two examples of general studies colleges or universities with programs for arts and architecture students. Enrollees in these schools can earn many types of visual arts degrees including Advertising degrees, Interior Design degrees and Graphic Design degrees. They can also receive training leading to architectural careers, photography careers, fashion careers, and a number of other careers in the arts.

Vancouver also has a large cluster of schools that offer certificates, workshops, and residency programs in arts. Vancouver Film School, Focal Point: The Visual Arts Learning Center Photography School; the Ampro Photo Workshops Photography School; Paint Asia Japan Art Workshops; Arts Desire Art Instruction; and the Columbia Academy - Vancouver's Broadcasting, Recording, and Digital Video Production Schools are all examples of the various certificate and "hands-on" types of training visual artists can receive. In addition to the film, painting and photography topics indicated in the schools' titles, there are also classes in animation, design, and other interesting mediums.

The city's schools and arts programs are a reflection of the numerous visual arts employment opportunities available in Vancouver. The film and photography industries are particularly popular, but the plethora of businesses and the growing community make ideal conditions for all graduates of visual arts programs.

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