Career Support
In addition to the skills taught in the program itself, VanArts is well connected to the industries we serve. Many of our instructors are still active in the industry, able to make recommendations and referrals to art directors and supervisors. Departments also arrange for guest speaker & studio presentations, and tours of local studios. Studio reps have been known to visit classrooms specifically looking for fresh talent, and many of these visits over the years have resulted in job offers. Final demo reels from graduating classes are shared regularly with our own database of industry contacts, and Student Services maintains communication with graduates about job opportunities, animation festivals, and local industry events. Vancouver is considered “Hollywood North” and major studios like Disney, Netflix, Wild Brain, ILM, and Sony have facilities here plus hundreds of others.
Studios are primarily looking for a strong, professional-quality demo reel, a solid work ethic, and good recommendations & referrals from colleagues. Students who put in the long hours, maintain regular attendance, and take advantage of the networking opportunities and friendships they create at VanArts have a good chance at being hired. While the industry goes through cycles, there are always opportunities if students are open to them. Above all else, it’s the relationships made at VanArts with instructors and classmates that lead to golden career opportunities for anyone who works hard, stays in touch, and is dedicated to being professional about their craft.
There are several annual events for these industries in Vancouver, most notably through the SPARK ANIMATION & SPARK FX FESTIVALS hosted by Spark CG Society, Vancouver Houdini User Group (VHUG), and many others.
Other useful resources include, but are not limited to:
Vancouver SIGGRAPH Facebook Group
International students are free to work anywhere in their country of citizenship, but working in Canada requires applying for a work permit. While post-graduate work permits (PGWP) are not available for VanArts graduates to apply for, we do offer pathways with partner universities which students could consider for further study in Canada and potential eligibility for the PGWP. There also may be options, for those who qualify, for other kinds of work permits depending on your country of origin. Although none of these options are guaranteed due to potential changes in IRCC policies, we encourage students to be aware of them, and we offer regular info sessions with a regulated Canadian immigration consultant as a resource. VanArts cannot give immigration advice nor promise that graduates will obtain a work permit in Canada, unless they have a plan and go through the proper guidelines and research.