Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University

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Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD University)

Motto:	Head, Heart, and Hand
Established:	1887
Type:	Public
President:	David B. Smith
Faculty:	85 (regular staff)
Students:	1025
Location:	Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Campus:	Urban
Colours:	Purple and Green
Affiliations:	UACC
Website:	http://www.nscad.ns.ca/

The Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD University) is a post-secondary art school located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

During the 1970s NSCAD was hailed as a cutting edge art school, which emphasized artistic innovation, and political art. Currently the university is forging relationships with galleries, museums and other cultural institutions in Canada and around the world.

1 Academics
2 History
3 Notable alumni
4 Faculties
5 University History
6 External links

[edit] Academics

NSCAD offers Bachelor's degrees in Fine Art and Design, and a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts. It also offers graduate degrees such as an Master in Fine Arts, an Master of Arts in Art Education, and an Master of Design including both a "Domestic" and "International" stream.

[edit] History

NSCAD was founded in 1887 by Anna Leonowens of "Anna and the King of Siam" fame. It was originally called the Victoria School of Art and Design to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee.

One the notable artists to be associated with the school in its early years was Arthur Lismer, who was a member of the Group of Seven and spent several years as the school president.

In 1967, a young artist named Garry Kennedy was appointed President, and he immediately moved to remake the College from a sleepy provincial art school into an international hotbed of artistic activity. He invited many "art stars" to come to NSCAD as visiting artists, particularly those involved in conceptual art. Some the notables who made significant contributions during this period were Vito Acconci, Sol Lewitt, Dan Graham, Eric Fischl, Lawrence Weiner, Joseph Beuys and Claes Oldenburg and many more artists popular at that time.

In September 2006 alumnus David B. Smith (an arts administrator, educator, and artist) was appointed President of the university, following the resignation of President Paul Greenhalgh.

[edit] NSCAD University Press

Under the direction of Kennedy, The Press of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design was established as a vehicle to publish books by and about leading contemporary artists. The Press was important in establishing the university's international reputation. Between 1972 and 1987, 26 titles by such artists as Michael Snow, Steve Reich, Gerhard Richter and Yvonne Rainer were published. Re-launched in 2002, The Press has once again become a source for the publishing of primary documents and scholarly works in the fields of contemporary art, craft and design.

[edit] NSCAD Continuing Studies

Founded in 1887, NSCAD has established a long and distinguished history of offering the public the opportunity to study in a visual arts environment. The Division of Continuing Studies continues this tradition by offering the public a wide variety of non-credit studio and audit lecture courses in fine arts, media arts, craft and design. The Division also manages the 30-credit Visual Arts Certificate for Teachers program, the 30-credit Visual Arts Certificate in Studio and the pre-university summer study credit program. Credit programs have admission requirements. Noncredit programs have no admission requirements although prerequisites must be met for some courses.

Adult Programs The adult studio-based and audit lecture courses are available to individuals who are 16 years or older. These courses are designed to meet personal and professional development interests and to prepare for studies in an undergraduate visual arts degree program. Curricula incorporate skills, processes, and health and safety issues. New approaches and ways of seeing, analyzing, experimenting and problem solving through observation are promoted. To ensure program quality, planning is ongoing with other areas of NSCAD University. New courses are added regularly to introduce different subject matter and in response to public demand.

Children and Teen Programs Saturday Children’s Art Classes began in 1887 and are one of the earliest known examples of such programs in North America. Children in grades 1 – 6 participate in a variety of fun age-appropriate activities that introduce basic visual arts skills.

Teen Art Studio courses for students in Grades 7 -12 introduce fundamental visual art skills and processes, introduce NSCAD facilities and provide older teens an opportunity to build a portfolio for admission to an undergraduate visual arts degree program. Saturday teen courses are offered during the fall and winter and week-long courses are offered during summer. One-day March Break workshops are offered during the Provincial school break.

Night Shift Exhibit An annual Night Shift Exhibition to display student work completed in a Continuing Studies course is held in the Anna Leonowens Gallery located on the NSCAD Granville campus. Family and friends are encouraged to attend this popular exhibit and enjoy a variety of different works of art created by all ages.

[edit] Timeline

NSCAD has existed under various names and locations.

1887 the Victoria School of Art and Design opens in the Union Building
1890 the school moves to Halifax Academy
1903 the school moves to the old National School
1925 the school is renamed the Nova Scotia College of Art
1957 the school moves to a four storey church hall on Coburg Road
1969 the school is renamed the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design
1978 NSCAD moves to its current location in the Historic Properties buildings on Granville Street
2002 the school is renamed NSCAD University
2004 NSCAD expands into its second campus – the Alliance Atlantis Academy Building for film studies
2007 NSCAD expands into its third campus, the Port Campus, on the Halifax Waterfront at Pier 21

[edit] Notable alumni

Thomas Bezanson - pottery
Luc Courchesne - interactive artist
Thierry Delva - sculptor
Thom Fitzgerald - film maker
Hedwig Gorski - performance poet and artist
Steve Heineman - ceramics
Steven Holmes - curator
Bruce Johnson - curator
Laura Kipnis - media critic
Kelly Mark - sculptor, conceptualist
Sarah McLachlan - singer/songwriter
Lisa Moore - writer
Chris Murphy - musician
Graeme Patterson - sculptor
Peter Soucy - comedian
Andrew Scott - musician

[edit] Faculties

[edit] University History

Donald Soucy and Harold Pearse 'The First Hundred Years: A History of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design' (Halifax: Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University Press)