Bachelor of Fine Arts in Indigenous Visual Culture
Toronto, Canada
Bachelor's degree
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
The Indigenous Visual Culture program honours the creative traditions of First Nations, Métis and Inuit art and design practices. In this program, you will take electives in painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, installation, digital media and more. As an INVC student, you might have a variety of experiences or interests in beadwork, drawing and painting, regalia making, sculpture and installation, storytelling and performance, or you might be interested in exploring screens, games, digital media production or computer programming. You might also be passionate about the relationships between objects and spaces or places they’re found in.
In this program, you will contribute to and continue the history of innovative artistic production by our Ancestor artists. This program is for you if you are interested in social justice and honouring family, community, culture and nation. Join INVC if you are open to taking risks, experimenting, decolonizing, and are motivated by contributing to your home communities.
What You’ll Do in the Program
First Year
In the first year, you’ll take intro classes in topics such as:
- Indigenous Sculpture Strategies
- Indigenous Materials & Methods
- Electives in media, printmaking, painting, wearable art, photography and more …
Second Year
In the second year, you will study topics such as:
- Indigenous Time-based Media
- Turtle Island Visual Culture
- Language and the Land
- Indigenous Literature
Third Year
The third year will feature an open elective and more advanced courses, such as:
- Beadwork
- Abstraction: Indigenous Views
- Sovereign Screen
- Indigenous Art Experimentation
- Indigenous Art and Activism
Fourth Year
In the fourth year, you'll complete a year-long thesis project, developing an original portfolio designed for self-promotion.
You’ll showcase your work at GradEx _ OCAD U’s Graduate Exhibition, the biggest free art and design exhibition in Toronto with more than 40,000 visitors.
This unique program develops Indigenous and Non-Indigenous students’ knowledge of Indigenous cultural and artistic practices, including painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, installation, and digital media.
Students in the program receive academic, cultural, social, and wellness support through the Indigenous Visual Culture Student Center.
Students in the program are creative, innovative, and curious and have many different skills and interests. Most have storytelling instincts and strong imaginations. Some have a drawing and painting ability or dance experience, some are DJs or VJs with an interest in communication. Many have well-developed visual-spatial skills and are interested in screens, games or performance, digital media production, or computer programming.
At the end of this four-year program, you will earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Jobs You Can Get
Graduates of the program work at:
- Publishing companies
- Advertising and graphic design firms
- Digital studios
- Community organizations
- Freelance illustration
Co-ops/Internships
OCAD U offers so much more than co-ops because creative careers take many forms. Our approach is specialized and individual to every student’s needs and goals. You will be able to take advantage of:
- Short experiential learning placements from among hundreds of organizations
- Creative in-class projects with real-world industry partners
- Exclusive summer internships
- Gallery exhibitions of your work
- Freelance creative opportunities
- Jobs after graduation
OCAD University’s dedicated support services will help you build a professional community, valuable experience and skills necessary for a meaningful career.