News
VanArts visits Partner Universities
April 30th, 2013
One of the most exciting developments at VanArts has been our degree pathway partnerships with universities and colleges around the world, which give our graduates the option of continuing their studies towards a Bachelors' degree in their chosen field.
VanArts' President Alan Phillips and Student Services Director Ken Priebe both had the recent opportunity to visit some of these schools in person, see their beautiful campuses and meet their staff and students. The schools visited were Bond University in Queensland, Australia (above left and below), Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, and Media Design School in Auckland, New Zealand. All three campuses are beautiful, dynamic, and full of creative energy, with excellent programs and facilities for students to pursue their studies.
At Bond University: (Left to right) Professor Raoul Mortley, Dean of Faculty in Humanities & Social Sciences, Mr. Alan Phillips, President of VanArts, Ms. Veronica Boulton, Faculty Business Manager, Dr. Michael Sergi, Director of Film & Television
At Deakin University (above photo: Motion Capture Lab), we also got to catch up with our fellow VanArts 2D Animation graduate Rhin Kelly (below), who is currently studying at Deakin pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Film and Digital Media under the pathway program (and really enjoying the experience.) We look forward to seeing more of our graduates choose this option of pursuing their degree at these fine institutions!
For a detailed look at which VanArts programs are eligible for applications to these degree pathways, visit our Degree Pathways page here >>
Degree Pathways with University of Gloucestershire
April 29th, 2013
VanArts is pleased to announce a new degree pathway available for qualified graduates who wish to pursue an honours degree after acquiring their diploma with us.
The University of Gloucestershire, located in Cheltenham Spa, UK, can accept applications for advanced standing into the 2nd year of a 3-year honours degree program. Graduates of the following VanArts programs can transfer into the following degrees:
Game Art & Design = BSc (Hons) Interactive Games Design
Broadcasting for Radio & Television = BA (Hons) Radio Production
Digital Photography = BA (Hons) Photojournalism and Documentary Photography
Web Development & Interactive Design = BA (Hons) Multimedia Web Design
Contact us for more information, and find out more about University of Gloucestershire by visiting them at http://www.glos.ac.uk/international
Australia & New Zealand - attend VanArts & ski Whistler
April 9th, 2013
It often seems the real capital of Australia is Whistler, BC. The beautiful world class ski resort, home to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, attracts visitors from around the world, particularly those from "down under."
Given this strong connection, VanArts is running a special offer for students from Australia and New Zealand. To receive a free trip to Whistler you must apply, be accepted and enrol in the September 2013, March or September 2014 intakes.
The package includes:
- Three day ski or snowboarding pass
- Two nights hotel accomodation
- Free equipment rental
- Bus shuttle to/from Whistler
All application requirements must be submitted by June 30, 2013 to qualify. The trip voucher will be issued to students in good standing three months after the start date of your qualifying intake, and the trip must be taken during your year of study at VanArts. This offer is open to students from Australia and New Zealand, is non-transferable, non-redeemable and does not include airfare or travel to Canada.
Visit by VanArts Grad at Ubisoft
March 26th, 2013
Yesterday our students in Game Art & Design and Visual Effects programs received a special visit from Genseki Tanaka, a fellow VanArts graduate and Assistant Art Director at Ubisoft in Montreal. Genseki is en route to attend the Game Developers’ Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, and gave his time generously while stopping in Vancouver to speak to our students about working in the game industry. He shared a presentation about the art direction for Far Cry 3, and spent some time in the computer labs looking at the students’ work.
After graduating from the Visual Effects Diploma Program at VanArts, Genseki worked as a Modeler at Electronic Arts Canada on the titles Need for Speed and Skate 2, then moved on to Ubisoft as a Shader Artist and Senior Concept Artist. He said the knowledge and contacts he made at VanArts were a great help in launching his career, and that he was impressed with the programs’ current focus on production, to help our students with the skills they need.
Thanks Genseki for coming back to spend time with our students!
Degree Pathways with Deakin University
March 26th, 2013
VanArts is pleased to announce that all of our programs now feature articulations for degree pathways with Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia.
Various Bachelor Degrees specific to each program can be earned in as little as one full year (3 trimesters) at Deakin, after graduating from the diploma program of their choice at VanArts.
VanArts graduates from 2D/3D Character Animation are eligible to receive up to 12 credit points of advanced standing towards the 24-credit point Bachelor of Film and Digital Media (Animation Major) or Bachelor of Animation and Motion Capture degree programs. The latter degree is also available to VanArts graduates in Game Art & Design and Visual Effects.
VanArts graduates may have the option of completing these Deakin degree programs over one full calendar year (three consecutive trimesters) of full-time intensive study (4 credit points of study per trimester x 3), or over two years (two trimesters per year x 2) of reduced load full-time study (3 credit points of study per trimester x 4).
VanArts graduates in Acting for Film & Television, Broadcasting for Radio & Television, Web Development & Interactive Design and Digital Photography are now also eligible for 8 credit points into various degree programs at Deakin, for completing 4 credit points each in four trimesters. An additional 12-credit articulation is also available for Digital Photography into their Bachelor of Creative Arts - Photography major.
For international students at Deakin, their work permit is part of the student visa allowing them to work up to 20 hours per week.
Detailed assessments for the VanArts-Deakin articulations can be explored and accessed at the following link: deakin.edu.au/courses/credit/search.php
From this link, up-to-date information can be found by simply:
1. Selecting Canada from the first drop box;
2. Selecting VanArts from the second drop box;
3. Selecting the VanArts Diploma program from the third drop box; and
4. Selecting the Deakin degree program from the fourth drop box
For more information, you can also visit Deakin at www.deakin.edu.au
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Novel Published by Game Art & Design Graduate
February 13th, 2013
VanArts is proud of our Game Art & Design graduate Samuel Blondahl, who has written and published his first science-fiction novel, Mercury: The Anahita Chronicles (Volume 1).
According to the book's description: "Sabotage and mutiny strand the Mercury and all hands deep in uncharted space. The ship damaged, and the crew subject to the horrible stress of knowing they may never see Earth again, they accidentally stumble across something amazing that will shake our understanding of the universe, and our place in it. a story of human determination, achievement, and curiosity, set against all too human hatred, madness, and fear."
After graduation from VanArts, Samuel began working as a photo retoucher and also as a book cover illustrator for Freedom of Speech Publishing. Before too long, he found himself writing his own story and getting it published, also creating his own cover in Maya and Photoshop, all skills he learned here at VanArts. His fellow staff and classmates are given special thanks on his book's dedication page, and he still creates digital art and 3D models.
Samuel Blondahl will be a featured guest, with books available, at Fan Expo Vancouver this April, where VanArts will also be present as an exhibitor along with more of our graduates. Hope to see you there!
Game Art & Design Graduate featured on Digital-Tutors.com
January 29th, 2013Ashish Dani, a VanArts Game Art & Design graduate from India, has contributed to the CG Training Library at DigitalTutors.com with his latest tutorial on Sci-Fi Set Modeling in MAYA.
This is a 3-hour tutorial for people who are new to Maya and want to understand and build the workflow to start their own concept development.
Check out Ashish's amazing tutorial here >>
Ashish is also currently working at Zoic Studios in Vancouver as a matte painter and 3D generalist. In this video, he tells us what it was like studying at VanArts and working in Canada.
VFX Student wins Second Place in Matte Painting Challenge
January 29th, 2013Rohit Nayak, a student from Mumbai, India currently in our Visual Effects Diploma Program, won second place in an international Matte Painting challenge on cguniverse.net. The challenge was judged by world-renowned matte artists in the industry who have worked on feature films and games.
Click here for the results along with the critiques from judges >>
Click here for a detailed breakdown of his workflow >>
Congratulations Rohit!
Part-Time Courses 2013
January 8th, 2013Happy New Year from VanArts! If your New Year's Resolution for 2013 is to learn some new skills or explore the arts, VanArts presents its annual part-time courses throughout the year which typically meet once a week in evenings or weekends.
For a list of courses, click on any of the following links by category:
Click on any course to learn dates, times and costs. We hope to welcome you into our part-time courses in 2013!
Questions? Contact us at 604-682-2787 x104
VanArts' Food Drive Morning Show
December 18th, 2012Last week VanArts hosted our special Food Drive Morning Show to celebrate the Christmas season, collect food for the needy, and with the help of our Broadcasting Department, provided a fun way for staff & students in all departments to mingle and connect.
Enjoy our Inside VanArts video highlights below and thanks to all who pulled together to make this fun event happen!
