Emily Carr University and UNBC are colouring outside their usual lines to offer a northern teen arts intensive program.
The two-week summer seminar will give northern youth a pre-university arts experience only available in the Lower Mainland under normal circumstances. The focus will be on creative arts and their practical applications to topics like mapping, architecture, urban planning, community research and design.
"There is definitely going to be artistic skill development, but also some local cultural elements and learning techniques to understand your sense of community and your sense of place within our region," said Lisa Haslett, the continuing studies co-ordinator at UNBC.
It is not the first time Emily Carr has partnered with Prince George institutions for its offerings, but the province's only arts-dedicated university has no current programs in the north.
"[We have] an important role to play as a champion of high quality, innovative and integrated education within our province," said Emily Carr's dean of continuing studies Sadira Rodrigues. "What we offer to regional partners is efficient leverage of Emily Carr's institutional reputation and expertise in art, design and media education, all toward community engagement and strategic growth [of our B.C.] creative economy."
Haslett said UNBC could have built a program like this in-house, but felt that northern students would be better served by combining forces with the institution named for British Columbia's most famous painter and social arts advocate.
"They have considerable drawing power of their own, based on a reputation they have built over many years. Emily Carr does something unique within Canada and certainly within B.C., and UNBC also does something unique within Canada and certainly B.C. This partnership, because of who we each are as institutions, can offer our region's students an educational experience that is world class."
Emily Carr is offering a similar summer session in Whistler, but both sides wanted the Prince George edition to be specifically northern in its content. Work is underway to infuse the program with PG-specific content.
"Both programs are strategic, multi-stakeholder collaborations, and will co-ordinate participation and input from various relevant councils, community groups, cultural organizations and educational institutions," said Rodrigues, so the education received by these youth will be "responsive to community needs and objectives."
Cost for the two-week program is $1,500, which includes most supplies and food vouchers. Registration opens on Monday via the UNBC Continuing Education department.
It is hoped that this initial program will stimulate more interest in fine arts education in the region, and foster closer ties between UNBC and Emily Carr. Both schools feel more frequent and more complex joint ventures are possible in the future.
