Named after the legendary landscape painter of the Pacific Northwest, Emily Carr University of Art + Design is more than a world-class centre for fine arts education. The university offers undergraduate degrees in fine art, media art and design, as well as graduate degrees and certificate programs. Each concentration aims for a healthy mix of in-studio learning and theory. Facilities include a visualization and motion-capture lab, sound-mixing studios and a wearables and interactive products studio.

ECU is one of the few institutions in Canada with full stereoscopic 3D film and animation equipment. Multiple gallery spaces allow students to curate and exhibit their work, while a 400-seat theatre hosts film screenings, speaker series and other events. The campus, located in False Creek Flats, is on the Central Valley Greenway, a 24-kilometre pedestrian and cyclist route. The Shumka Centre for Creative Entrepreneurship gives students the guidance and resources they need to launch a variety of projects, from companies and products to curatorial initiatives and events.

“Students who choose to make art, design and digital media the focus of their education bring a crucial set of skills and experience to solving problems, challenging dominant ways of thinking and fostering innovation,” says Gillian Siddall who is wrapping up five years as president. A state-of-the-art virtual production stage has been created in partnership with Showmax Event Services. This real-time special effects facility gives students access to cutting-edge equipment and industry professionals.