The Visual and Aboriginal Arts program provides professional preparation for careers in the visual arts. The program offers a technical, academic and practical environment for the creative visual process. As a well-rounded education in visual art, it includes studio practice and the exposure to issues, ideas and histories of both Western and Aboriginal art.

Visual arts studio classes accommodate both beginner and advanced levels of study. Introductory courses in ceramics, painting and drawing offer basic technical skills and a historical overview of each discipline. Courses in art history and visual culture offer a broad exposure to both historical and contemporary art concepts.

Once a major in either painting, ceramics, Aboriginal art or drawing is determined, students further specialize their studio practice through more advanced technical and academic knowledge. Studio art can serve as a teachable major in an education degree. A non-studio minor in Art and Visual culture focuses on art history and contemporary art theory towards specialization in careers including arts administrator, curator and art historian.

Students may combine the two year diploma in Interactive Media Arts from Assiniboine Community College with two years of university courses in Visual and Aboriginal Art for a BFA with a major in Digital Media and Design.

Special Features

Students will be actively engaged with the local art community through the student run art gallery, the Glen P. Sutherland. This experience will allow them to further branch out to other national and international exhibition opportunities. Guest speakers from across the country add enrichment and keep BU students abreast of current trends in art.